National Endowment for the Arts
Big Read
PVTA Awarded Grant to Present Series Honoring Japanese American History IN BRIGHTON
about the program
Platte Valley Theatre Arts (PVTA) is honored to announce it has been selected as the recipient of a Big Read grant from Arts Midwest, funded through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This funding supports an upcoming community-wide arts and humanities initiative that shines a light on the history and legacy of Japanese Americans—particularly relevant to the Brighton community’s own deep cultural and historical ties to that legacy.
Read more below about the different events as part of the Big Read and sign up to participate:
Book readings & discussion
In partnership with Anythink Brighton (Anythink Libraries), PVTA will present a series of public readings and community discussions centered around Julie Otsuka’s acclaimed novel, When The Emperor Was Divine. The novel tells the moving story of a Japanese American family during WWII and the impacts of forced incarceration under Executive Order 9066.
These events are especially resonant in Brighton, where many Japanese American families resettled after leaving internment camps and made lasting contributions to the area—particularly in agriculture, education, and civic life. Their resilience and legacy remain a foundational part of Brighton’s cultural identity today.
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Participants will receive a copy of the novel to read and discuss
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Kickoff and book distribution October 18 at The Armory Performing Arts Center (300 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601)
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Sign ups are now closed. If you'd like to join the waiting list please email info@plattevalleytheatrearts.org.
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Readings/discussion meetings will take place evenings on November 10, December 8, and January 12
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COST: FREE
About the Book
A day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Julie Otsuka’s grandfather was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on suspicion of being a Japanese spy. Her mother, grandmother, and uncle were subsequently interned at a camp in Topaz, Utah. Otsuka draws on both research and personal experience, as well as her background as a visual artist, to craft this crystalline, semi-autobiographical debut novel, winner of the American Library Association's Alex Award and the Asian American Literary Award. The internment experience in the novel is recounted through the varying perspectives of a mother, father, daughter, and son as they survive in the camp and then return home after two years to their old neighborhood that is neither familiar nor hospitable. This is “a gem of a book and one of the most vivid history lessons you’ll ever learn” (USA Today).
pvta production
The Big Read initiative will culminate in a professional production of Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, directed by Kelly Van Oosbree and starring Rob Payo. The powerful one-man play tells the true story of Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese American who bravely challenged the U.S. government's internment policies during WWII.
This compelling theatrical event will be presented for six performances at the Armory Performing Arts Center in Brighton, Colorado on January 30–31 and February 6–7, 2026.
About the Play
An unsung American hero, Gordon Hirabayashi, fought passionately for the Constitution against an unexpected adversary: his own country. During World War II, he refused to report to a relocation camp with thousands of families of Japanese descent, launching a 50-year journey from college to courtroom and eventually to a Presidential Medal of Freedom. An inspiring true story of conscience amidst conflict, it is a one-man portrait of American character at its best.
Produced by special arrangement with Gurman Agency LLC.
and more offerings to come!
In addition to the above events, PVTA will offer:
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creative writing workshops, encouraging community members to explore and share their own family histories, cultural reflections, and personal experiences through the written word
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community events celebrating the nation's 250th birthday
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and more!
about the funders
This project was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
This project was supported in part by Arts Midwest. To find out more about Arts Midwest, visit www.artsmidwest.org.
The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is a program that awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to organizations. These grants support community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book.
The NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of ourselves and our neighbors through the power of a shared reading experience. The goal of this program is to inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.
