James Hong dug into his own pocket decades ago and pooled his resources with fellow actor Mako Iwamatsu to produce “Roshamon” in a small Los Angeles church. It was their attempt to have an Asian-American voice heard in Los Angeles.

“Asians were not getting anywhere and we had to try something. We just wanted a chance to succeed,” the 86-year-old Hong said. “So many talented people have passed through the East West Players doors since then. I feel like a proud granddad, a pioneer, in helping to advocate for better roles, better images.”

Through their efforts and those of Asian-American artists Rae Creevey, Beulah Quo, Soon-Tek Oh, Pat Li, June Kim, Guy Lee, and Yet Lock, the East West Players in Little Toyko was born in 1965.

The Los Angeles-based group is celebrating its 50th year of an artistic avenue for self-expression and as a launching pad for Asian-American artists, directors, producers and playwrights.

Considered the country’s longest-running professional theater of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian-American artistic work, another one of its own will begin its golden season.

‘Chinglish’ starts season

David Henry Hwang, the namesake of the company’s home theater and a Tony Award winner for his “M. Butterfly,” will produce his play “Chinglish” to lead off the works. It’s about an American businessman hoping to secure a lucrative contract for his family’s firm in China only to learn how much he doesn’t understand about the country and its culture. Almost half of the production is done in Mandarin.

“I am honored and thrilled to do this for the 50th anniversary season,” he said.

He grew up on and behind the stage at East West Players. His father was its bookkeeper before establishing the Far East National Bank in Los Angeles’ Chinatown and his mother was a pianist. The pre-teen was given the option of going to rehearsals or to his aunt’s house while his parents worked. He opted for rehearsals. Those gave him a glimpse of the theater and what the company was trying to achieve. “The theater began in 1965. It survived the Watts riots. It survived the Los Angeles riots in 1991 and the street closures around it for nine months following 9/11 and I think the East West Players is still leading the field,” Hwang said. “And it has played a pivotal role in my development as a theater artist.”

National impact

He said the Asian-American community remains under-represented in the industry but has come a long way since 1965.

Today there are about five dozen theaters in the United States modeled after the East West Players, said Tim Dang, the man who has been its artistic director for 23 years and an actor, director and producer for 35.

“I learned through my experiences at East West Players and I believe it prepared me,” he said. “It has succeeded in fostering a dialogue about the Asian Pacific experience and remained true to focusing on the Asian community. The stories we are telling are informing the greater culture about our culture.”

Dang grew up in an assimilated Honolulu household several generations removed from its Chinese roots. He has pushed to focus more attention on South Asian and biracial characters because it represents the population shifts of Southern California and the United States.

The company has collaborated with mainstream theaters in Los Angeles to go beyond sharing the Asian voice but telling what Dang called “truly American stories.”

He said involving Hwang in the 50th anniversary season is fitting.

“David is truly a trailblazer in expanding the spectrum of stories that explore the Asian-American experience and ‘Chinglish’ is his latest and the most relevant in reflecting the global world in which we live. ‘Chinglish’ is a smart and comedic way of examining how lines, and cultures, get crossed in international relations.”

But much credit has gone to Dang and his leadership. Hong credited him with setting the company on solid ground.

“He’s the builder of the East West Players since the moment he took over. He had the foresight to entertain the idea of live theater and theatrical experiences. There should be a law against him quitting (Dang has announced this is his final season),” Hong said.

If you go…

What: Season 50th starting with “Chinglish,” Sept. 16-Oct. 11. Previews are 8 p.m. Sept. 10-12 and 2 p.m. Sept. 13.; “Criers for Hire,” Feb. 11-March 13; and “La Cage Aux Folles,” May 12-June 26.

When: Regular performances are 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Where: David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles.

Tickets: Range from $28-$38. Preview seats for “Chinglish” are $23.

Information: 213-625-7000, www.eastwestplayers.org