December 18, 2023

For his newest work, Playwright Lloyd Suh relied on maternal instincts. His works often take place during pivotal moments in Asian American history – examining the immigrant experience and how history exact can take a toll across culture generations. So for this one, he had long conversations with his mom. They surface in his comedy “The Heart Sellers,” where two young housewives grapple with the isolation that comes from moving to a new country. Lonely in a foreign land, they forge a friendship while undertaking a very American tradition: preparing the Thanksgiving turkey. Suh joins me to talk about this production, onstage now at the Huntington. Then it’s a Public Art, Public Service announcement– artist Julia Swanson gives us a guide to the art hiding in plain sight. Finally, local filmmaker John Stimpson–his new film, “Letters to Santa”, is included in Hallmark’s countdown to Christmas canon. We’ll find out, when it comes to making a holiday movie, what exactly is in the secret Santa sauce. That’s next on The Culture Show.