East West Players (Los Angeles, CA)
Art
by Yasmina Reza
September 10 to October 11, 2009

Imagine: A 4' x 5' white canvas, painted with fine white diagonal lines. Is this art? Serge believes it is and is willing to pay 200 grand for it. When Marc flat out laughs at the ridiculousness of the situation, a third party is brought in for an objective opinion. Yvan agrees with both. When three opinions clash, three friendships are put to the test. At the breaking point, Serge hands Marc a felt tip pen and dares him: "Go On."

See News story.

Reprise Theatre Company (Los Angeles, CA)
East West Players (Los Angeles, CA)
Getting to Know You: Rodgers & Asia
October 5, 2009

The two theatres host a symposium exploring the successes and controversies surrounding THE KING AND I, FLOWER DRUM SONG and SOUTH PACIFIC.

The evening, presented in association with East West Players, will be moderated by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang and will include musical performances by Jose Llana and Jennifer Paz.

**********
DATE: Monday, October 5, 2009
TIME: 8:00 p.m.
LOCATION: David Henry Hwang Theater
120 Judge John Aiso Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
ADMISSION: $40 - $50 Order Tickets On-Line: Here
Or by Phone at 310-954-1595 *********

Want to get David Henry Hwang's impression of Richard Rodgers? Want to see how he feels about having East West Players' home named after him?
Read this Backstage Buzz with David Henry Hwang.
Get to know more about Reprise & purchase tickets for this event.

Pork Filled Players (Seattle, WA)
Pork to the Future!
September 18 to October 3, 2009

Seattle’s oldest sketch comedy group does a prime time salute to that halcyon decade of the 80s, home of the Gipper, CIA riding herd over the Third World, bad Seattle baseball teams, and--say, didn’t we have an election to get rid of those???

With special guest stars, Charles, the Seattle Burlesque All Stars and Canada's Assaulted Fish!

See News story.

Team Venture (Chicago, IL
Scooter Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World
by Peter Parnell
September 24 to October 10, 2009

See News story.

Cold Tofu (Los Angeles, CA)
September 26, 2009

It's COLD TOFU’s first improv show of the season on Saturday, September 26, 7:30 pm. We hope you’ll join us for a night of laughs starring the cast of COLD TOFU! We’ll also feature our recent Level II Workshop graduates at the top of the show.

AATC NewWorks Incubator (San Francisco, CA)
Macho Bravado,
by Alex Park
Directed by Alan Quismorio
Tues. October 13, 7pm

Followed by a brief Q&A at the theater, a social at Lingba Lounge

Blood is Thick by Duy Nguyen
Directed by Matthew Graham Smith
Beijing, California: Installment 1 by Paul Heller
Directed by Duy Nguyen
Weds. October 14, 7pm

Followed by a brief Q&A at the theater, a social at Lingba Lounge
*Act 1 of Blood is Thick will be presented
*Excerpts from Beijing, California: Installment 1 will be presented.

Victory Garden Theatre (Chicago, IL)
Year Zero
by Michael Golamco
September 11 to October 18, 2009

Vuthy Vichea is a 16-year-old Cambodian American. He loves hip-hop and Dungeons and Dragons. He is a weird kid in a place where weirdness can be fatal: Long Beach, California. And since his best friend moved and his mother died, the only person he can talk to is a human skull he keeps hidden in a cookie jar.

Sharp, funny, and packing an emotional wallop, Year Zero is about being chased across an ocean by death, standing firm, and confronting it head on. An Ignition Festival standout, Year Zero subsequently won the Pacific Century Playwriting Competition at East-West Players, and is a finalist at the O'Neill Playwrights Conference. This touching family drama promises to be wonderful pick for Victory Gardens' first world premiere in its intimate new 2nd floor Studio Theater.

SIS Productions (Seattle, WA)
Sex in Seattle: Episode 17
Coming Clean
by Kathy Hsieh
September 18 to October 17, 2009

Sex in Seattle returns with another brand new episode! But not to fear if you've never seen a previous one - they're easy to jump right into. Join Seattle's longest-running quirky romantic comedy about contemporary Asian American women, their lives and their loves. Relationships are messy. Too much is left unsaid. So what's a gal to do? Tess, Jenna and Elizabeth get a little divine inspiration in how to deal with the men in their lives. "Sex in Seattle" - smart and sexy with a sense of humor!

South Coast Repertory Theatre (Costa Mesa, CA)
The Happy Ones
by Julie Marie Myatt
directed by Martin Benson
World Premiere
September 27 to October 18, 2009

Orange County, California, 1975. For Walter Wells, it’s the happiest place on earth. He has a beautiful wife. Two great kids. A house with a pool. Contentment. Until fate strikes a devastating blow, leaving Walter with no reason to put the pieces of his life back together. He resists attempts to help, especially the unexpected — and unwanted — offer from a Vietnamese refugee named Bao Ngo, who bears his own sadness. Then, across a cultural divide, Walter and Bao find a game to share, a song, a meal and then a way back in this uplifting — and surprisingly funny — new play by a rising star in American theatre.

AATC (San Francisco, CA)
#5 Angry Red Drum
by Philip Kan Gotanda
Septebmer 28 to October 17, 2009

See News release.

The fifth work in the celebrated playwright’s Garage Band Series, Philip Kan Gotanda’s #5 Angry Red Drum is the story of two world-refugees determined to survive with style amidst a post-apocalyptic universe gone mad. When a mysterious drum appears, it awakens their lost memories and inspires them to create a new society.

#5 Angry Red Drum is a tragic-comic parable reminiscent of an early David Lynch film. This world premiere features a live original sound score using traditional and found instruments, misremembered fragments of Bob Dylan lyrics, and post-post-post modern dance. This is where Beckett meets Burning Man.

Listen to KCBS’s interview with Philip Kan Gotanda here.

DIRECTED BY
Matthew Graham Smith

STARRING
Rich Bianco, Daniel Bruno, Will Dao, Michael Uy Kelly, Thomas Pang, Anthony Julius Williams

PREVIEWS
September 26, 2009, Saturday • 8:00 pm
September 27, 2009, Sunday • 5:00 pm

OPENING NIGHT
September 28, 2009, Monday • 8:00 pm

PERFORMANCES
October 1-17, 2009
Thu-Sat 8:00 pm | Sun 5:00 pm

MEET THE DIRECTOR AND THE CAST
The Director and Cast will be present for post-show Q&A with the audience following the October 4 and October 11 5:00pm matinee performances.

LOCATION
Thick House
1695 18th Street (between Carolina and Arkansas Streets)
Potrero Hill, San Francisco

AATC is part of the Thick House Presenting Program

TICKETS
$25 (student & senior rates available) | 415-401-8081 or www.thickhouse.org

The commissioning and production of this world premiere is made possible by the Magic Theatre New Works Initiative; Multi-Arts Production (MAP) Fund, a program of the Creative Capital Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; San Francisco Arts Commission; The San Francisco Foundation; Theatre Bay Area New Works Fund; San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund/Grants for the Arts; and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.

Graphic design by Sean Eckols

Ma-Yi Theatre (New York, NY)
LABFEST III
October 5 to 18, 2009

The air is cool and crisp, the leaves are starting to fall... It's a perfect time for a Labfest! Don't miss this: the largest collection of brand new full-length plays by Asian American writers ever presented in one stand, anywhere in the universe. Enjoy!

Theater for the New City
155 First Avenue between 9th & 10th Streets
LabFest tickets $5, available at the door

This is The Ma-Yi Writers Lab third LABFEST, and will be the largest collection of brand new full-length plays by Asian American writers ever presented in one stand, anywhere in the universe throughout the history of recorded time.

Labbers have been known to write about things like space aliens, moustaches, salmon canneries, Darfur, calculus, cheesecake, and Scooter Libby - we make no promises about the content of this year's crop, but we can promise that they will be brand new, first-look readings from the next generation of Asian American playwrights.

All readings are $5, available at the door. To make reservations, email Mariah MacCarthy at mariah.maccarthy@ma-yitheatre.org, or call 212-971-4862. All readings will be at Theater for the New City, at 155 1st Avenue (btwn 9th/10th St).

Monday, October 5 at 7pm
Heartbreak/India by Kyoung H. Park

Tuesday, October 6 at 8pm
Garba Griha: Womb-House by Michi Barall

Thursday, October 8 at 7pm
Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat

Friday, October 9 at 7pm
Infinitude by Sung Rno

Saturday, October 10 at 3pm
The White Knight by Mrinalini Kamath
The White Knight is a about a guy named Eric, a graduate teaching assistant who is teaching Don Quixote as part of a freshman intro. class.  He falls for Mina, an Indian-American art appraiser when her phone is stolen on the subway.  But when Mina brings him home to meet her family, he finds himself drawn to her sister Tina, a pediatrician who has sworn off relationships after her first one went sour.  Intercut with scenes from a student paper on Don Quixote, The White Knight is about following your ideals, however misplaced they may be.

Saturday, October 10 at 7pm
Growing Up for Dummies: A Bank Robber's Guide by Nora Chau
What does it mean to be a grownup, esp. in New York? A group of friends go through the usual growing pains that thirty-something year olds do today- all the while trying to plan a bank heist. Will they succeed or will their relationships and egos get in the way. A (hopefully) comedic first look reading of my new play.

Sunday, October 11 at 3pm
How to Get Rid of the Wife: A Political Romance by Nandita Shenoy

Sunday, October 11 at 7pm
Jesus In India by Lloyd Suh

Monday, October 12 at 7pm
We in Silence Hear a Whisper by Jon Kern

Wednesday, October 14 at 6pm
The Kimono Project by Patricia Jang

Thursday, October 15 at 6pm
A Voice in the Wilderness by Eugene Oh

Thursday, October 15 at 8pm
Particles of Pakistan by Rehana Mirza

Saturday, October 17 at 12noon
Microcrisis by Michael Lew

Saturday, October 17 at 2:30pm
Sharksucker by Dustin Chinn

Sunday, October 18 at 2pm
The Sugar House at the Edge of the Wilderness by Carla Ching
When Hettie dies, Milo doesn't know how to keep the family together anymore. Greta's been sent to the Sugar House to learn how to stop getting arrested and Doc is drowning his sorrows in his new girlfriend, Opal. Inspired by Hansel and Greta, the Sugar House is a play about trying to go home when nobody there wants you anymore.

2nd National Asian American Theatre Festival
New York City
October 8 to 18, 2008

Performances of the 2nd National Asian American Theatre Festival will be held at

Theatre for the New City (155 First Ave. at 10th St)

Julia Miles Theatre (424 W. 55th St.) in Manhattan.

Tickets will be available for purchase via Ovation as the festival dates approach. Stayed tuned to the NAATF website for specific production dates and times. Shows include:

Pan Asian Repertory (New York, NY)
Imelda: A New Musical
book by Sachi Oyama
music by Nathan Wang
lyrics by Aaron Coleman
September 22 to October 18, 2009

Performed with fast moving scenes, songs and dance, IMELDA is an involving portrait of an ambitious woman who wanted to put her country as an equal player on the world stage.

Starring: Alan Ariano | Angelica-Lee Aspiras| Billy Bustamante | Leanne Cabrera | Liz Casasola| Sacha Iskra | Brian Jose| Loresa Lanceta | Jaygee Macapugay | Jonelle Margallo |Mel Sagrado Maghuyop | Romney Piamonte

TICKETS ON SALE JUNE 1 through Telecharge: 212-239-6200 or at www.telecharge.com $55-$20 With discounts for Seniors, Students, Groups And Community and Corporate Partners Sept 22–Oct 18, 2009 • Tue–Sat at 7:30 • Sun at 3:00 Plus Sat matinee Oct 17 at 2:30 No Evening Perf Tue Oct 6 Opening Night, Sept 30 at 7:00–Tickets $100, Includes post-show cast party $10 School Matinee: Sept 22, 23, 30, Oct 2, 6, 8 at 11:00am Call Pan Asian Rep for advance tickets or more info: 212-868-4030 | www.panasianrep.org | info@panasianrep.org

Sharif Don't Like It
by Shishir Kurup

A new one man show about the US Department of Homeland Security's dubiou.s treatment of people of Asian and Middle Eastern descent post 9/11.

Bahu-Beti-Bewi (Daughter-in-Law, Daughter, Wife)
by Sheetal Gandhi

A new dance/theatre piece about the lvies of contemporary women in Northern India, set to ancient songs performed by women from that region

Ma-Yi Theatre
Labfest III

Readings of new plays presented by the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, the resident company of Asian American playwrights under the aegis of the Obie Award winning Ma-Yi THeater Company. Labfest is curated by Qui Nguyen and Lloyd Suh, respectively the authors of the recently acclaimed Off Broadway plays Soul Samurai and American Hwangap.

National Asian American Theatre Company
The Seagull
by Anton Chekhov

This re-imagining of Chekhov's 1896 masterpiece - set during the summer holiday of a renowned actress, her family and admirers on an country estate - will highlight the oft-forgotten comedy/slapstick elements of Chekhov's work.

In addition, there will (I think) be Festival Panels, under the rubric of 20th Century Performances in the 21st Century: The Future of Asian American Theatre. This will be a series of public forums that examine Asian American theatre, past and present, through a variety of performance art, dance and musical performances. These will be presented by Asian Pacific Americans Contemporary Unilateral Neo-Theatre, a collective of playwrights and directions, including Kristina Wong (Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Alice Tuan (Ajax [por nobody]), Katie Pearl (Nita and Zita) and Hatnim Lee.

Workman Theatre (Toronto, Canada)
Gandhi High
by Pierre Tetrault, Jeremy Wright, Neil Ross, and Doris Rajan
October 13 to 25, 2009

Gandhi High is a compelling play, dealing with issues facing urban Toronto (and other cities) today, presented in an entertaining and powerful way. It focuses on Jehan, a teenager who struggles and is influenced by systemic racism, alienation, poverty and violence, but who ultimately decides to fight these issues with the teachings of Gandhi. Actors are: Shawn Ahmed, Sabryn Rock, Antonio Cayonne, Kevin Walker, Sam Moses, and Doris Rajan. Tickets are only $13 – I urge you to support this initiative – it’s a terrific play about the relevancy of heritage to the present. You can buy tickets online at www.gandhihigh.ca. Or reserve them by calling Brian Eastcott at 416 399-0595 (they are also having a raffle of two tickets to India that you can buy at the door! – ask Brian for more details or go to website).

Yes, and... Productions (Los Angeles, CA)
Songs for a New World
by Jason Robert Brown
October 16 to 25, 2009

Directed by Peter J. Kuo
Musical Direction by Lisa Joe

It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back. --Jason Robert Brown

Songs for a New World is about one moment -- or rather, isolated moments in the lives of many characters -- in a variety of eras. Jason Robert Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue to meet a startling array of characters. They range from a young many who has determined that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams and a souless marriage. These are the stories and characters of today, the songs for a new world.

Starring
Randy Guiaya, Myra Cris Ocenar, Helen H. Ota and Michael C. Palma
October 16-25
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 2 pm
National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
111 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012
$35 Opening Night (includes post-show reception)
$25 General
$20 Senior, Students, JANM members and Groups (10+)
To purchase tickets visit www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/78295
or call (800) 838-3006.
If you have questions or would like to purchase group tickets, please e-mail YesAndProductions@gmail.com

Rasik Arts (Toronto, Canada)
Charandas Chor
by Habib Tanvir
October 19, 2009

Rasik Arts Roundtable sponsored by MyBindi.com your online destination for cool South Asian stuff!
7-9:30pm
5th Elementt, 1033 Bay St. (South of Bloor - North of Wellesley- on the East side, corner of Irwin & Bay)

Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble (Los Angeles, CA)
29/12
by Annette Lee
October 19, 2009

Everyone thinks there is something odd about the new boy, but 12 year old Casey is hiding something even stranger than his grandfather can imagine. (Inspired by true and disturbing events.)

"29/12" by Annette Lee was originally developed at Upper Reaches Theatre in Long Beach, Ca.

Rattlestick Theatre (New York, NY)
Musical Mix 'n Mingle
October 19, 2009

BD Wong, Anastasia Barzee, Clarke Thorell, Cindy Cheung, and Orville Mendoza will perform a benefit mini-concert featuring songs by the Asian-American musical writing team of Robert Lee (lyricist) and Leon Ko (composer) (Journey To The West and Heading East), in the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater’s Musical Mix ‘n Mingle, on Monday, October 19, at St. John’s in the Village (224 Waverly Place) in New York.

The evening of music is part of Rattlestick’s ongoing series of musical soirees with some of the company’s favorite theater artists, composers, singers and songwriters.
The evening kicks-off at 7 pm with a wine reception, followed by a performance at 7:30 pm. There is also a post performance reception where the audience can “mix ‘n mingle” with the evening’s artists.
Musical Direction will be provided by Wayne Barker on piano and Dave Phillips on bass. Tickets are $50 and can purchased here. For more information, visit www.rattlestick.org.

MAPID (Los Angeles, CA)
Breaking the Bow
October 22 to 25, 2009

BREAKING THE BOW: The 1st Annual Independent Asian Pacific Islander Performing Artists and Writers Festival Pacific Asian American Women Writers West (PAAWWW) and Mavericks of Asian Pacific Islander Descent (MAPID) and Ken Choy present the BREAKING THE BOW: The 1st Annual Independent Asian Pacific Islander Performing Artists and Writers Festival October 22-25, 2009 at the Miles Memorial Playhouse at 1130 Lincoln Blvd; Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Shattering the disparity between up-and-coming artists and writers and their established professional counterparts, smashing the chasm between Hollywood movers and non-traditional and independent-minded talent, demolishing the divergence between the young, hip, Youtube artists and those who paved earlier inroads, the festival is an artistic explosion of positive images not normally seen in mainstream media. Never before has such a coalescence of diverse groups been brought together with an ultimate goal of education, outreach building and strengthening the community through the arts.

The ground-breaking festival begins with Battle of the Pitches and the Ten-Minute Asian Pacific Islander Play Contest presentation. In Battle of the Pitches, screenwriters compete live with their pitches in an audience- and juror-judged contest. They will be judged on performance and persuasive ability, quality of screenplay log line and ideas, and overall writing ability. Winners are awarded a cash prize.

The second half of the night belongs to the playwrights whose winning ten-minute plays will be performed by both up-and-coming and professional Asian American actors. Any writer can submit their ten minute play to the contest or enter Battle of the Pitches. Both contests focus on promoting and discovering Asian Pacific Islander writers and on scripts that have prominent, non-stereotypical, and strong Asian Pacific Islander characters and themes. Complete entrant information can be found at www.Mapid.us.

Friday and Saturday night, October 23-24, the festival presents AARGH!!, the Asian American cabaret/showcase. Hosted by performance artist/writer Ken Choy and actor/honorary mayor of Little Tokyo Rodney Kageyama, the evening will present new and seasoned artists, musicians, and comics. Lined up to perform are respected theater artist Jude Narita, D'Lo, and several YouTube All-Star musicians.

Sunday brings readings of two exciting new plays by Ken Narasaki and Ken Choy.
At 2PM, the first public reading/performance of award-winning playwright Ken Narasaki's (INNOCENT WHEN YOU DREAM) adaptation of John Okada's groundbreaking novel NO NO BOY. John Okada's powerful work about the fallout of World War II and its devastating effects on a generation of young Japanese Americans is brought to life by an experienced and talented cast (including Sharon Omi and Emily Kuroda), led by award-winning director Alberto Isaac.

Closing the festival will be the 7PM reading of Ken Choy's theatrical extravaganza Lazy Susan. Implementing various forms of artistic expressions such as Hawaiian Ha'a war chants, hula, Tinikling, Chinese Opera, Bunraku, Bollywood musical numbers, and a finale food fight, the play deals with a young girl sucked into the cult of Chinese fast food.

WHAT AND WHEN: Thursday October 22 at 8PM: Battle of the Pitches/Ten Minute Asian Pacific Islander play contest performance $10 admission with $5 additional entrance fee for Battle of the Pitches screenwriter participants. Cash prizes for best screenplay pitch. Kristina Wong special performance. Celebrity judges. ($10 pre-performance VIP reception at 6:30 PM.)

Friday + Saturday October 23-24 October at 8PM: AARGH!!, the Asian American cabaret $15. (Ken Choy, Jude Narita, Rodney Kageyama, D'Lo, Youtube all star musicians, and more)

Sunday October 25 2PM: Ken Narasaki's No No Boy reading. $5. Premiere.

Sunday October 25 7:00PM: staged reading of Ken Choy's theatrical extravaganza Lazy Susan. $5 Premiere

WHERE: Miles Memorial Playhouse 1130 Lincoln Blvd; Santa Monica, CA 90403
FREE PARKING: Structure at 808 Wilshire, Â1⁄2 block South of the Miles, entrance on Lincoln.
For more information and reservations, please contact Ken Choy at ken@mapid.us.

Asian Pacific Friends of the Theatre hosts an
Artist Reception with Playwrights
JULIA CHO and ELIZABETH WONG
moderated by Prince Gomolvilas
October 22, 2009

6:30 -- No Host Reception
7 pm -- Buffet Dinner
7:30 -- Artist Discussion and Q&A

Taipan Restaurant at the Wells Fargo Building
330 S. Hope St., Second Floor
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90017
(3 hours free parking with validation)

$12 pre-sale
$15 at the door

RSVP by October 19
E-mail Katie Tokushige

Or Mail checks payable to "APAFT"
The Phan Law Group
Attn: Katie Tokushige
6080 Center Dr., Suite 610
Los Angeles, CA 90045

For more information or to be added to the mailing list, e-mail APAFT.rsvp@gmail.com.

JULIA CHO's plays include The Language Archive, The Piano Teacher, Durango, The Winchester House, BFE, The Architecture of Loss and 99 Histories. Her work has been produced at The Vineyard Theatre, The Public Theater, South Coast Repertory, Long Wharf Theater, Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, East West Players, Theatre@Boston Court and Silk Road Theatre Project among others. Honors include the Barrie Stavis Award, the Claire Tow Award for Emerging Artists and the L. Arnold Weissberger Award. Durango was also named one of the Top 10 Plays of 2006 by Entertainment Weekly and one of the Best of 2007 by the L.A. Times. An alumna of the Juilliard School and NYU's Graduate Dramatic Writing Program, Julia is also a member of New Dramatists.

ELIZABETH WONG is a playwright and director. Wong is a recipient of the Tanne Foundation Award for artistic achievement. She has been acclaimed for her unique blend of comedy and social commentary. Her award-winning Letters to a Student Revolutionary, about the friendship between two women, premiered OffBroadway and recently was produced at the Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Los Angeles to benefit Amnesty International, commemoratng the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Her other plays include, Dating and Mating in Modern Times is a series of celebratory comic monologues about hookups in the 21st. China Doll pays tribute to the legendary Anna May Wong, America's first Chinese-American movie star, and was produced Off-Broadway by Pan Asian Rep. Kimchee and Chitlins is a serious comedy about the news media and race relations in America. Wong has received commissions from major regional theaters, for both adult-themed plays and plays for young audi! ences. Her commissions include: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for a libretto from her adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, Honolulu Theatre for Youth for her libretto, The Magical Bird. She was a Disney Writing Fellow and a staff writer for the ground-breaking ABC sitcom All-American Girl starring Margaret Cho. She was a guest artist at the New York State Writers' Institute, and she was the inaugural artist in residence at the Ecole Cantonale d'art du Valle, Sierre, Switzerland. She's currently working a play about ancestry The DNA Trail, with seven other writers, including Shishir Kurup, Philip Gotanda and David Henry Hwang. Her website is www.elizabethwong.net

Theatre Passe Muraille Back Space (Toronto, Canada)
Yoga Cannabil
by Nisha Ahuja
October 22 to 26, 2009

Theatre Passe Muraille Back Space (16 Ryerson Ave), October 22 to 26 at 8pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Kawananakoa Backstage Theatre (Honolulu, HI)
Flip Out! Storytelling Performance
October 25, 2009

See News story.

Bindlestiff Studio (San Francisco, CA)
STORIES HIGH XI
An annual production showcasing new works from Bindlestiff Studio's Stories High workshop series
November 5 to 21, 2009

Thursdays thru Saturdays, 8pm

WHERE: The Climate Theater
285 Ninth St. @ Folsom St., San Francisco, CA 94103

TICKETS: $15 - $20 Sliding Scale
Advance purchase: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85312

SAN FRANCISCO, CA. Bindlestiff Studio presents STORIES HIGH XI, an annual showcase of new works for the stage written, acted and directed by Filipino American artists. The show will take place at The Climate Theater, 285 â€" 9th St. at Folsom St. in San Francisco beginning on Thursday, November 5th at 8pm and running every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through November 21st at 8pm each evening. Tickets are $15 - $20 sliding scale and can be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85312.

Lust or Loyalty? Age or Beauty? Your Girlfriend or Fantasy Girl? Lover or Secret Lover? Dolls or Death? How many questions can movie trailers ask?... It's STORIES HIGH XI, the eleven installment of Bindlestiff Studio's annual showcase of new works developed by Filipino American artists through summer workshops in writing, acting, and directing. This year's new works will feature:

• Busy Little B's - By Nina de Torres Ignacio, Directed by Andrea Almario
• Through A Doll Darkly - By Joselito Cordero, Directed by Kevin Correa
• 20 Minutes Past Tomorrow - By Alexis E. Dayers, Directed by Tatiana X. Dayers
• It's So Natural - By Manny Cabrera, Directed by Yato Yoshida
• Adam & Steve - By Ethan Umali, Directed by Allan S. Manalo
• The Multiplex - By Patrick Silvestri, Directed by SHXI Director's Group
  

CAST: Melvign Badiola, Joe Cascasan, Chris Crug, Alex Deguzman, Melanie Espiñueva, Franz Jundis, Jessica Margesson, Aura San Miguel, Jaime Nallas, Dennis Rodis, Sabrina Sandalo, Carlomagno Seletria, Rob Trinidad, Jasmine Ty, Annie Wang

Composer Spotlight Series (Seattle, WA)
Aono Jikken Ensemble - Sounds of Shadow and Light
November 11, 2009

Jack Straw Productions & The Washington Composers Forum presents Aono Jikken Ensemble
discussing their work and performing from The Downfall of Osen in advance of its premiere.

November 11, 2009
at
Jack Straw Productions
4261 Roosevelt Way N.E.
(University District, Seattle)
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Free Admission
Information: www.jackstraw.org

Featuring
Christine Bunuan, Dipika Cherala, Katherine L. Condit, Joseph Foronda, Erik Kaiko, Govind Kumar, David Rhee

Conceived and Curated by Jamil Khoury
Directed by Elizabeth Margolius
Musical Direction by Gary Powell

Silk Road Cabaret: Broadway Sings the Silk Road features songs from popular Broadway musicals set along the Silk Road -- from Pacific Overtures to Two Gentlemen of Verona to Jesus Christ Superstar to Bombay Dreams to Kismet to The King and I to Zorba to Miss Saigon, and many more in between. This bold and harmonious East-West interplay blends music with personal stories and showcases performers of diverse backgrounds as they claim, reclaim, subvert,
and poke fun at a host of old favorites from the Broadway repertoire.

Pierce Hall at the Historic Chicago Temple Building
77 West Washington St,
Chicago, IL 60605
Tickets $30
Box Office: (312) 857-1234 ext. 201.

URL: http://www.srtp.org/

Lark Theatre (New York, NY)
FREE STUDIO RETREAT READINGS
as part of 'Thursdays At The Lark'
Agnes Under the Big Top
written by Aditi Brennan Kapil
directed by Eric Ting
October 29 & 30, 20-9 @ 7PM

A quintessentially American story, it is a surreal journey tracing the intersecting paths of a handful of immigrants as they struggle with their new identity in America, while haunted by the hopes and dreams of their past.

RSVP here.

AGNES UNDER THE BIG TOP has been selected as an NEA Distinguished New American Play as part of the NEA New Play Development Program, hosted by Arena Stage. This project brings the Lark together with Mixed Blood Theatre, InterAct Theatre, 4th World Laboratory for International Theater Research, and The Playwrights’ Center to implement a national, multi-theater development strategy in order to bring more plays to production.

The Lark Studio
939 Eighth Avenue, 2nd Floor (between 55th & 56th)
Transportation
A,B,C,D,1 to Columbus Circle
or: N,Q, R, W to 57th Street

Studio Retreats are part of “Thursdays at the Lark," which is supported in part with funds from the New York State Council for the Arts, a state agency.

Kumu Kahua Theatre (Honolulu, HI)
Art of the Living Dead
October 31, 2009

See News story.

Heart of the City Festival (Vancouver, BC)
Assaulted Fish appearance
November 1, 2009

Brenda Wong Aoki & Mark Izu
Japanese Ghost Stories and Jazz
Yoshi's San Francisco
November 1st, 2009 - 2pm, Halloween Sunday

The haunting eloquence of Brenda Wong Aoki's ghost stories, masterfully performed in concert with composer and Asian Jazz pioneer Mark Izu, the thunder drums of Janet Koike & Maze Daiko, Anthony Brown on drums, Shoko Hikage on Koto and Masaru Koga on Saxophone & Shakuhachi.

The NewSpeak SLAM! (Los Angeles, CA)
November 4, 2009

8 pm @ Da Poetry Lounge
Hosted by Eddie Kim, The NewSpeak SLAM will be doing a special EXCLUSIVE showcase at the Los Angeles Poetry Festival. Featured performers include:

Beau Sia - HBO's Def Poetry
Edren Sumagaysay - Member of Zero3
Johneric Concordia - Host of Tuesday Night Cafe
Earl Baylon & Kris Clemente - Projekt NewSpeak
and more!

Greenway Court Theatre: 544 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Ticket Price: $5 ONLY!!!

LA Comedyfest (Los Angeles, CA)
WHORING FOR HOLLYWOOD: Kristina Wong and D'Lo's BIG Industry Showcase
November 10 and 13, 2009

After years of sticking it to the man as progressive grassroots performance artists Kristina Wong and D’Lo forfeit the high road for the low-brow glitz of showbiz (and the possibility of health insurance). Watch them sanitize and compromise their performance repertoire to gratify their entertainment executive tricks! Because what good is integrity when you can sell your family up the river for a development deal?

Two shows only!
Tuesday, November 10 at 9:30pm
Friday, November 13 at 8pm
(We share the bill with two other acts each night)

The Famous ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood
135 N. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Tickets:
$10 online
$12 at the door
www.LAComedyfest.com

For industry reservations: (323) 463-2942

Kristina Wong is an award winning solo performer, writer, stand-up and back room courtesan who tours her original solo shows across the country. Recently she’s appeared at Comedy Central’s South Beach Comedy Festival, the CBS Diversity Showcase and gave the commencement speech at UCLA English Department Graduation last year. She is pimped by RZO Management 213-622-5100. www.kristinawong.com

D’Lo Described as a "jolt of creative and comedic energy", D'Lo is a Tamil Sri L.A.nkan-American, political theatre artist/writer, music producer and director. Currently, D'Lo is touring with "Ramble-Ations: A One D'Lo Show” which received the NPN Creation Fund Grant co-commissioned by Pangea World Theater and New World Theater. www.dlocokid.com

Asian Arts Initiative (Philadelphia, PA)
BENEFIT CONCERT for
Asian Arts Initiative
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

7:30 p.m.
1219 Vine Street, Chinatown
$10-20 (or more if you can) sliding scale; $8 youth (18 & under)

Join us for a night of music and fun to support Asian Arts Initiative!

The Concert will feature popular Nashville-based singer-songwriter KEVIN SO and Philadelphia's own WAYNE HSU!

BUY TICKETS NOW ONLINE!
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/88154

Or call us at (215)557-0455

SIS Productions (Seattle, WA)
Insatiable 4 (the win)!
November 15, 2009

The fourth iteration of new plays by Asian American writers! Now a Seattle tradition!

See News story.

Aono Jikken Ensemble (Seattle, WA)
The Downfall of Osen
November 15, 2009
SIFF Cinema
McCaw Hall at Seattle Center
(321 Mercer St. at 3rd Ave.)

Aono Jikken returns home after two years of international touring to premiere their lastest project: Kenji Mizoguchi's classic silent film with a new music/sound score and benshi narration performed live by Aono Jikken Ensemble

One show only - Sunday at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $15
SIFF Box Office: (206) 324-9996
www.siff.net/cinema <http://www.siff.net/cinema>
www.aonojikken.net <http://www.aonojikken.net>

Mo'olelo (San Diego)
26 Miles
by Quiara Alegria Hudes
November 17, 2009

Tuesdays at The 10th
Staged Reading of 26 MILES by Quiara Alegria Hudes, Nov 17 at 6 PM

Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company invites you to join us for a staged reading of 26 MILES written by Quiara Alegria Hudes, Pulitzer Prize finalist and book writer for the Tony-winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS.

About the play
The time is 1986. Olivia is a half-Cuban, half-Jewish 15-year old. She doesn't fit in at school and she doesn't fit in at home with her new step-mother's rules. After a failed attempt to swallow sixteen ibuprofens, she calls her estranged mother and the two embark on a spontaneous road trip, searching for antiques, buffalo, and a remedy for their broken hearts.

Featuring: Rachael Van Wormer, Catalina Maynard*, Lance Arthur Smith*, and Claudio Raygoza.
Directed by Seema Sueko*

*member of Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Reading Details:
What: Staged Reading of 26 MILES
When: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: The 10th Avenue Theatre, 930 10th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 (Downtown, on 10th Avenue between Broadway & E Street).
Parking: Metered street parking (free after 6 PM); OR there is a $5 lot at the NE corner of 11th Ave and E Street. The machine accepts Visa, MasterCard or exact cash.

Admission: FREE
Suggested donation of $10 at the door.

Reservations: Space is limited. RSVP to tickets@moolelo.net or call 619-342-7395.

TEADA (Los Angeles, CA)
El Verde Origins
written by Anthony Aguilar
directed by Alejandra Cisneros
Nov 6 to 22, 2009

Fri-Sat 8pm & Sun 2pm
@ Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
starring Anthony Aguilar, Oscar Basulto, Ramona Gonzales, Gabriel Guillen, Angela Imperial, Blanca Melchor, Miriam Moses, Jeremiah Ocanas, Nicole Ortega, George Paez, and Carlos Zelaya

Meet mild mannered Arturo Sanchez, born as an alien from the not so far away world of Mexico and raised in the good old U.S. of A. All Arturo ever wanted was to live an ordinary life, but after a freak elote accident, Arturo became...El Verde!!! Join us as we go back, way back, to see how it all began. This November, TeAda Productions will present EL VERDE ORIGINS. Watch as Arturo becomes the superhero who fights for truth, justice, and the Mexican-American way! Then watch him as he battles the evil La Quinceañera with her ultimate plot to destroy the world. Yes, EL VERDE is the live superhero show that's fun for the whole family. If you've never been to an EL VERDE show before, be sure not to miss this one.

Los Angeles Comedy Fest
OPM (Los Angeles, CA)
Fists of Funny
November 19 and 20, 2009

OPM performs the best from their award-winning "FISTS OF FUNNY," (2009 Best Sketch Comedy, San Francisco Fringe Fest). Featuring Kim Jong-Il & son, the West Covina Spelling Bee, dysfunctional ninjas, Apple snobs, and a tribute to Michael Jackson!

OPM (Opening People's Minds) is L.A.'s award-winning multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-hy-phen-ate sketch comedy troupe.

All shows are shared bills. OPM will perform its 30-minute set on the following dates in the following order.

Thursday, 11/19, 8:00
Iprov, Josh Rencher, OPM

Friday, 11/20, 9:30
The Riot Act, Kevin Avery, OPM

Saturday, 11/21, 8:00
Elon James White, Booth and Pat, OPM

Sunday, 11/22, 8:30
Last Ferry to Hobart, Anzu Lawson, OPM

Starring: Julia Cho, Ewan Chung, Lanny Joon, Charles Kim, Rodney To, Dave Wilder

Directed by Esther K. Chae

Tickets are $9.99 online - http://lacomedyfest.com/groups/OPM.html
$12 at the door

More info at
http://www.lacomedyfest.com

CATS (San Jose, CA) and
18 Mightly Mountain Warriors
9th Annual Asian Comedy Night
November 20 and 21, 2009

18 Mighty Mountain Warriors
In San Jose
Presented by Contemporary Asian Theater Scene

The 9th Annual Asian Comedy Night!
Friday, November 20, 8pm (with cast reception)
Saturday, November 21, 7pm and 10pm
San Jose Woman's Club
75 South 11th Street, San Jose

Tickets at

www.brownpapertickets.org
Friday show and reception with cast: $25
Saturday shows: $20

For info on All CATS events on Facebook, email catstheater@gmail.com, or call 408.298.2287

For info on 18mmw:

WEB: www.18mmw.com
EMAIL: 18mightymountainwarriors@gmail.com
PHONE: 818-754-4500

East West Players (Los Angeles, CA)
Krunk Fu Battle Battle
a presentation of a work in progress
November 20, 2009

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, has gathered a creative team to develop a new musical that utilizes anime, hip-hop and martial arts. A 25 minute presentation of this work in progress will be performed on Friday, November 20 , 7:30pm at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. Q & A discussion will follow.

"When East West Players produced PIPPIN in 2008, which utilized anime, hip-hop and martial arts, it was a huge success," says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. "It showed to us at EWP that there is an interest by audiences to see pop culture aesthetics incorporated and presented with a more traditional theatrical form. We are assembling our best artistic minds to put this piece together and I hope the chemistry and creatively will evolve into a new form appealing to everyone."

The working title for the production is KRUNK-FU BATTLE BATTLE. Description: The heart of hip-hop is in the battle. Young Norman Lee must learn this if he hopes to survive his new high school life as an Upper Westside import now transported to Bushwick, Brooklyn, after his Mom loses her 6-figure salary job. After being bullied, beat-down, and watching his Mom swallow her pride by accepting a job as a fast food fry cook, young Norman Lee enlists the guidance of Sir Master Cert to help him learn the ways of b-boy to compete against the baddest crew in Bushwick for respect, honor, and a chance to prove to his Mom that this life away from material wealth can and will work.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

The creative team includes: bookwriter Qui Nguyen, lyricist Beau Sia, composer Marc Macalintal, hip-hop choreographer Jason Tyler Chong and anime consultant Jane Wu. The presentation is directed by East West Players' artistic director Tim Dang.

This project reunites Tim Dang, Jason Tyler Chong and Marc Macalintal after their successful collaboration of the 2008 hit run of PIPPIN.

Brenda Wong Aoki & Mark Izu (San Francisco, CA)
Free Event
The Legend of the Morning Glory
Nov. 20, 2009

7PM-8:30
De Young Museum, San Francisco

A Promise, a Poem, and a Love Eternal...

The Legend of Morning Glory is a story from the Kabuki about a poor boy and a samurai's daughter, separated from the boy, the girl weeps until she goes blind. Wandering the countryside, she becomes the Morning Glory, an itinerant storyteller famed for her tale of lost love. Until one day, years later, he returns...

A Kabuki Taiko Oratorio featuring:
· Storyteller Brenda Wong Aoki
· Asian Jazz Pioneer Mark Izu
· Dynamic women drummers Maze Daiko
· Shakuhachi master Christopher Yohmei
· Dancers Kai Kane Aoki Izu and Emma

Written by Brenda Wong Aoki,
Directed by Obie-award winning Jael Weisman with
Choreography by Tony-nominated Kimi Okada

Asian Arts Initiative presents:
Bringing Down The Beast: Struggle & Resistance
An Edition of the Family Style Open Mic Series
Friday, November 20, 2009 7:30 p.m.

$5-10 sliding scale admission

Hosted by MICHELLE MYERS & CATZIE VILAYPHONH of Yellow Rage, FAMILY STYLE is a new family-friendly, positive space that honors Asian American artists and extended “family” from all communities and cultures.

November’s open mic will feature spoken word artist KELLY ZEN-YIE TSAI and the theme "BRINGING DOWN THE BEAST: STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE."

KELLY ZEN-YIE TSAI is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based, Chinese Taiwanese American spoken word artist who has performed her poetry at over 350 venues worldwide including three seasons on "Russell Simmons Presents HBO Def Poetry."

Winner of a 2007 New York Foundation for the Arts Urban Artist Initiative Award, Kelly was listed as one of Idealist in NYC's Top 40 New Yorkers Who Make Positive Social Change in 2008 and AngryAsianMan.com’s “30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30” in 2009. She has shared stages with Mos Def, KRS-One, Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Amiri Baraka, and many more.

OPEN MIC GROUND RULES
-Sign up via e-mail (Michelle@yellowrage.com) or in person 30 minutes before showtime (ie, 7 p.m.)!
-Max 12 open mic-ers per show, so sign up early!
-Honor the theme! It's always deliberately broad to ensure wide participation.
-Respect your 5-minute limit (note extension!).
-Arrive 60 minutes early with tech needs (ie, 6:30 p.m.).

Out on the Edge Festival (Boston, MA)
BIRTH OF A NASIAN
by Kate Rigg and Leah Ryan,
with music by Lyris Hung
Performed by Slanty Eyed Mama.
November 10 to 24, 2009

Set, Kathryn Kawecki. Lights, Caleb Jon Magoon.
Presented by Theater Offensive
in Out on the Edge Festival.
At: Dean Hall, Boston Center
for the Arts.

"`Birth of a nAsian'' is a smart, funny, and surprisingly endearing mix of musical parody and character-based comedy from the performing duo Slanty Eyed Mama. This fast-paced evening is so much more than a clever title, managing to slam stereotypes and point out the prejudices and culture clashes confronting Asian-Americans every day." Boston Globe

Company of Angels (Los Angeles, CA)
The Ghost Building
by Damon Chua
November 14 to 27, 2009

Written by Ovation Award winning playwright, THE GHOST BUILDING is a world premiere tragi-comedy murder mystery involving narratives from two clashing time periods -- a 1920s silent movie starlet trying to land the role of her life in "The Blue Temptation", and a modern-day would-be novelist from the Philippines pursuing the American dream.

Inspired in part by the historic Alexandria Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, with references to the landmark movies Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Dr., THE GHOST BUILDING is an intriguing, poignant, and ultimately fun-filled romp through the decades.

It also deals with the questions of ethnicity and country of origin and how that impact one's livelihood here.

Currently playing every Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 7pm, till 11/29. You can get your tickets here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86471

Company of Angels Inside The Black Box at The Alexandria
3rd Floor
501 S Spring Street (right across from LATC)
Los Angeles CA 90013

More information here:
http://www.companyofangels.org/

GENseng (New York)
A Nanking Winter
by Marjorie Chan
December 3 @ 7 pm
December 4 @ 4 pm
December 5 @ 2 pm and 7 pm

Tickets $7.00
Directed by Randy Barbara Kaplan

First Voice, World Arts West and JCCSF (Bay Area, CA) present
Return of the Sun - A dance story drama
December 4 & 5, 2009

Master storyteller Brenda Wong Aoki, weaves together Indian, Afro-Peruvian, Mayan and Korean dance troupes with her own Japanese Noh and Kyogen training, telling the Japanese legend of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. With an original score composed by Mark Izu featuring a blend of Asian and Afro-Peruvian instrumentation and musicians, this story highlights how dance and music can bring light in times of darkness.

This visually alluring multi cultural performance premiered to sold-out crowds at last year's Ethnic Dance Festival and features Shreelata Suresh, De Rompe y Raja Cultural Association, Northern California Korean Dance Association and Ensambles Ballet Folklorico.

Friday, December 4, 8:00 pm - Saturday, December 5 2:00 pm

Public $25 Members $22 Students $15

East West Players (Los Angeles, CA)
Po Boy Tango
by Kenneth Lin
November 5 to December 6, 2009

Shark Fin Soup. Drunken Crab. Black Feather Chicken. Po Mama's Chinese cuisine evokes the joy of cooking and her son, Richie Po has the palette to prove it. When Po Mama dies and passes her secrets on to him, he reunites with Gloria B, a "Soul Food" chef in the making. Together they use Po Mama's TV cooking tapes to discover a deeper understanding of food, culture and the recipe for friendship.

See News story.

Miles Playhouse (Los Angeles, CA)
From the Heart
Jude Narita
November 27 to December 6, 2009

Award-winning Jude Narita in her one-woman play "From the Heart" which celebrates the lives, and brings to life the dreams, of different Asian and Asian American women. From a Korean student to a Japanese American woman, a Cambodian woman to a Chinese American, Narita illuminates the universal humanity of us all.

Performing before the play each night will be wonderful L.A. artists whose work Jude loves.

"...funny, sad, shocking, enlightening, empowering, heart-warming and vitally relevant to all of us . . . a consummate work of art and marvelously
entertaining." The Honolulu Star-Bulletin

The artists joining Jude are:

• Fri. Nov 27 - singer/musicians Dawen & Sue Jin
• Sat. Nov 28 - performance artist D'Lo & singer/musician Sue Jin
• Sun. Nov 29 matinee - performance artist D'Lo & singer/musician Dawen,
• Thur. Dec 3 - performance artist Denise Uyehara & poet Elizabeth Iannaci.
• Fri. Dec 4 - performance artist Denise Uyehara & poet Amy Uyematsu.
• Sat. Dec. 5 - performance artist Dan Kwong & poet Elizabeth Iannaci.
• Sun. Dec. 6 - performance artist Dan Kwong & poet Elizabeth Iannaci.

Filmmaker / Actress Darling Narita will be screening SLAM BAM at the performances.

Evening performances are at 8 PM, Sunday matinees are at 3 PM

TICKETS:

$10 Advance sales Happy Turkey tickets to Nov. 26!
After Nov. 26 - $15 General; $12 Students & Seniors
brownpapertickets.com / 1-800-838-3006

The Miles Playhouse is located at 1130 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica 90403

Theater parking is at 808 Wilshire, block South of the Miles, entrance to underground parking on Lincoln. For map and directions to theater and parking lot, please go to: www.milesplayhouse.org

For more information on the guest artists and their websites, go to www.brownpapertickets.com

For more info on jude: www.judenarita.com

Mu Performing Arts (Minneapolis, MN)
taiko caravan
November 27 to December 6, 2009

Mu Daiko
Nov 27, Nov 28, and Dec 3 at 8 pm
Nov 29 at 2 pm

Mu Daiko with San Jose Taiko
Dec 4 and 5 at 8 pm
Dec 6 at 2 pm

Family Show, Nov 28 at 2 pm
($12 adults, $5 children 17 and under)

Tickets:
Nov 27 - Dec 3: $24 adults, $22 students/seniors, $12 children under 12
Dec 4 - 6: $27 adults, $25 students/seniors, $13.50 children under 12

With San Jose Taiko.

The Liminal Space (New York, NY)
FIRESEEDS
December 5 and 6, 2009

Fireseeds is an original piece of Activated Spoken Word Poetry Theater exploring counter narrative as a revolutionary praxis and the creation of new worlds through imagination, movement and sound. It gives voice to our silenced stories, and takes us on a journey through the bodies of love. These bodies are the spaces around and within the womyn dreamers who have been brought together to explore a personalized journey of Self within the creation of Community; creative collaborative dynamics; leadership, and as Women of Color, how we are named.

The experiment sets up a creative space for collaboration and growth using Gratitude as its basis, Self- awareness and empowerment, and the ideological standpoint of Theater of the Oppressed, to unearth the truth within ourselves and our society.  

This project was designed by Delia Meyer as part of her final Culminating Project for her Master’s studies in Educational Theater at NYU, Steinhardt and will continue to be developed in Spring 2010.

Cast:
Namibia Donadio
Lisa Maria Ewing
Chelsea Johnson-Long
Rocio Lopez
Jessica Nurse
Jana-Lynne Umipig

Directed by: Delia Meyer
Production Manager: Yadira De La Riva  I  Producer: Krystal Banzon

Suggested Donation $5
profits will be donated to a social justice organization

Saturday Dec. 5  I Sunday Dec. 6 @8pm

Project Reach
39 Eldridge Street, 4th floor
Btw Canal and Hester Street
Chinatown
NYC

Please bring a small blanket to sit on. 

LODESTONE THEATRE ENSEMBLE presents
The final installment in the Yellow Box series:
A reading of a new play
Novenas
Written by Vanessa Tamayo
Directed by Kipp Shiotani
December 6, 2009

When Helen returns home to care for her dying father, her teenage daughter is thrust into a new world of Filipino mythology, Catholic ritual, and karaoke-obsessed lolas. Set against the backdrop of Filipino grandmothers in mourning, Helen is forced to confront the community that expelled her from their midst.

SUN, December 6, 2009
7pm

GTC BURBANK
1111-B W. Olive St.
Burbank, CA 91506
(inside George Izay Park, just west of S. Victory Blvd.)

FREE ADMISSION (but donations gladly accepted and encouraged).

FREE PARKING: Park near the jet plane in front of George Izay Park at 1111 W. Olive St. Walk into the park, past Olive Recreation Center. GTC Burbank is behind the Rec. Center, facing the softball fields.

NO RSVPS required, however, please arrive at least ten minutes before curtain for seating (which is limited and on a first-come basis).

THERE WILL BE NO LATE ADMISSION!

For more info. about Lodestone:
(323) 993-7245
www.lodestonetheatre.org
www.facebook.com/lodestonetheatre

The Yellow Box reading/workshop series was created to develop actors, writers and directors through the exploration of new and classic works.

Kumu Kahua Theatre (Honolulu, HI)
Voices from Okinawa
by Jon Shirota
November 5 to December 6, 2009
held over to December 13

Originally produced last year by the East West Players in Los Angeles, Voices From Okinawa tells the story of Kama Hutchins, an American of Okinawan ancestry who teaches English to local Okinawans. He eschews traditional ESL teaching methods to have his students relate personal stories to the class. As the tales are told, the attitudes of the young students toward the American soldiers stationed on the island, change. (For years, Okinawans have protested the U.S. presence, citing crime, rape and the destruction of Okinawan culture.) From his students, as well as from his shaman great-aunt, Kama learns a great about his own cultural heritage. The drama blends with comedy as Kama is compelled to defend his teaching methods to the school principal. The playwright's father left Okinawa in 1907, along with three brothers, and became a pineapple grower on Maui. The brothers eventually returned to Okinawa, but Shirota's family remained.

See News story.

(Tickets available for December 11 and 12; house is sold out Devember 13)

East West Players (Los Angeles, CA)
New Works Festival
December 8 to 13, 2009

Xtra West Cultural Series (Vancouver, BC)
December 9, 2009

Assaulted Fish performs alongside Metta, Brett Owen and The Svelte Ms. Spelt and Aedan Saint. It’ll be a fun, mixed night of dance, songs, spoken word and of course sketch comedy! Come early as seating is limited. See you there! DETAILS Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 Time: 8:30pm to 11:00pm Place: Café Deux Soleils – 2096 Commercial Drive Cost: By Donation Info: http://www.cafedeuxsoleils.com

Desipina (New York, NY)
Desipina Holiday Series
December 10 to 13, 2009

From two lovers trapped by more than Hurricane Katrina, to a love affair with curry, to a surrogate in India, the Out of the Kitchen and Into the Fire series takes a provocative look at modern day women and the playwrights who create them.
 
Holiday Series Kick-off 
Thurs. December 10 @8pm
Paradise by Yasmine Beverly Rana
Directed by Krissy Smith
With: Rajesh Bose & Deepti Gupta
ART/NY, Bruce Mitchell Room
520 8th Avenue, 3rd Floor, NYC

Fri. December 11 @8pm
Samsara by Lauren D. Yee
Directed by Snehal Desai
With: James Chen, Sam Ghosh, Mahira Kakkar, Barret O'Brien, and Aubyn Philabaum
Drama Bookshop
250 W 40th Street, NYC

Sun. Dec 13 @8pm
HOLIDAY PARTY & PERFORMANCES
(A Very Curry Christmas by Jessica Devi, Seven Dates for Mona by Nitika Nadgar and The Language That Jesus Spoke by Thelma De Castro, Directed by Krystal Banzon & Geeta Citygirl)
With: Jessica Devi, Sam Ghosh, Shetal Shah, Nalini Sharma, Reena Shah, John Wu, and more!
Brooklyn ART/NY, South Oxford Space
138 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn (near BAM)
 
Events are FREE but please rsvp to desipina@desipina.org.
 
Following each presentation will be  a small reception, and the opportunity for talkbacks.  

About Us

Desipina (day-see-pee-nah):
(adj.) A slang term describing a person of South Asian (desi) and Filipina (pina) descent; (n.) a group that embraces multiracial identities and fusion lifestyles; (v.) to check outside the box.

Desipina & Company
138 South Oxford St. #1C
Brooklyn, New York 11217 
www.Desipina.org

New York, NY
Friday, December 11, 7:00pm
RANGOON
By Mayank Keshaviah
Directed by Kaipo Schwab

This is a brand-new, contemporary play that spans from the Bible belt to Rangoon, Burma. A family of Indian immigrants must deal with seductions of American life, while trying to keep its heritage and a compelling family story alive. ‘Rangoon’ is both funny and tragic—it is a quintessential 21st century American tale.

Bruce Mitchell Room
520 8th Avenue 3rd Floor
New York, NY

Followed by Q&A and reception

Cold Tofu
Room To Improv (Southern CA)
December 12, 2009

7:00pm and 8:30pm
ROOM TO IMPROV and COLD TOFU will be performing together – two shows in one night! We’re dishing out our first dose of laughter at 7:00pm and seconds at 8:30pm!

Both shows will be benefiting the Philippine National Red Cross to provide continued help for the recovery process from the damages wreaked by the recent typhoons.

Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center Auditorium
222 S. Hewitt Street, Los Angeles 90012
(Located east of Alameda, between 2nd & 3rd streets)
FREE parking available on the property and on Hewitt Street.

ADMISSION is $10 or see both shows for $15!
Cash at the door

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ROOM TO IMPROV: Call (818) 237-6350 or email info@roomtoimprov.com
COLD TOFU: Call (213) 739-4142 or email coldtofu@hotmail.com

Los Angeles, CA
The Snow Show
by Jason Fong and Friends
December 9 to 16, 2009

CAST:
Keiko Agena
Takayo Fischer
Haruye Ioka
Alberto Isaac
Traci Kato-Kiriyama
Emily Kuroda
Ken Narasaki
Sharon Omi
Ryan Suda
Greg Watanabe
Ping Wu

SHOW DATES:
Wednesday, December 9
Thursday, December 10
Tuesday, December 15
Wednesday, December 16

SHOW DETAILS:
- 8:00 pm show time
(7:45 pm doors open)

- $10 admission* (cash only at the door)
*Free for "Pacific Asia Museum" members

To make RESERVATIONS, please email:
1) NAME
2) show DATE
3) # in party to OymunShow@gmail.com.

(You will receive a reply email confirming your reservation)

LOCATION:
Pacific Asia Museum
46 N Los Robles Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101-2071

(Limited free parking available)

Living in Los Angeles, we’ve all become accustomed to one thing when it comes to climate . . .

. . . . arctic winters.

Whether it’s ice storms . . . light flurries . . . or blizzards, frigid winters are one of the trade-offs we make for a life on the West Coast.

So, in honor of our barometric pressures, “The Snow Show” was created in order to spin the tales that we may go through during the cold winter months.

This inventive cast of 11 Asian-American performers presents theatrical story-telling on a bare stage with minimal props and costumes, all in a quest to challenge the imagination.

Written and created by Jason Oymun Fong and Cast, “The Snow Show” looks to create many-a-smiling faces (and the occasional tearful one), all in a fun and whimsical display.

This holiday season, please join us at the Pacific Asia Museum for the orginal program: "The Snow Show".

(snow chains not required)

Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve
aka Ann Harada on 12/14
to benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS
December 14, 2009

On Monday, December 14th, Ann Harada will resurrect her character “Christmas Eve” from the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q for a one night only holiday cabaret entitled Christmas Eve With Christmas Eve. The evening will take place at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space @ WNYC (44 Charlton Street at Varick) with all proceeds benefiting Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Christmas Eve, the beloved, opinionated, heavily-accented therapist from Avenue Q, makes her holiday fantasies come true in this evening of song and comedy that both skewers and pays tribute to the great romantic duets and iconic moments of Broadway. No lyricist will be spared as she re-interprets the modern songbook with the help of some of Broadway’s most talented, hilarious and gorgeous leading men. Scheduled to help Harada “haul out the holly” are Paul Castree, Jeremy Davis, Raul Esparza, Andy Karl, Michael Mindlin, Christopher Sieber, John Tartaglia, Chip Zien and a “very special appearance” by Norm Lewis. Conceived and written by Gary Adler, Ann Harada and Alan Muraoka, the evening will be directed by Alan Muraoka with choreography by Michael Mindlin and musical direction of Gary Adler.

Ann Harada (Christmas Eve) originated the role of Christmas Eve in both the Broadway and London productions of the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q. Her other Broadway credits include 9 to 5, Les Miserables, Seussical The Musical and M. Butterfly. She was also featured in the Actors Fund productions of Chess and Hair. Recent TV work includes “Lipstick Jungle” (as Victory Ford’s mother), “Cashmere Mafia,” “Johnny and the Sprites,” and “The Electric Company.”

Alan Muraoka‘s New York Theatre credits include Falsettoland for the National Asian American Theatre Company (Vineyard Theatre), the world premiere of Karaoke Series for the IMUA Theater Company, four Leading Men benefit concerts for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Empty Handed, a benefit concert starring the puppeteers of Broadway’s Avenue Q, and cabarets for Tony-nominated actresses Stephanie D’Abruzzo and Ann Harada. He directed the Tony-nominated actor John Tartaglia (Avenue Q) in his one-man show, John Tartaglia AD-LIBerty, which ran at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre, and won numerous cabaret awards.

Date: Monday, December 14, 2009
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space @ WNYC
44 Charlton Street at Varick
New York
$50 for General Reserved Seating
$75 for Preferred Reserved Seating ($75 ticket buyers will also receive a poster autographed by the cast).
ORDER TICKETS ONLINE
To order tickets by phone, please call 212.840.0770 x268

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre (New York, NY)
a reading of
News to a Muse
by Richard Chang
December 15, 2009

A Farcedy of Terror! Five journalists are trapped in a short-staffed newsroom during a freak storm and an epic financial crisis that threatens to destroy the world. Part oral history, part fiction a suspected terrorist attack drives the staff to seek safety in the ladies restroom where their individualized closets are exposed and the truth is bared. Followed by a Q&A and discussion.

Lodestone (Los Angeles, CA)
Grace Kim and the Spiders From Mars
by Philip W. Chung
November 14 to December 20, 2009

Directed by Jeff Liu (Texas)
A new comedy about falling in love with your sister's future husband, beginnings/endings and what to do if you suspect you were born on the wrong planet. Written specifically to serve as Lodestone's swan song, this play will be retired permanently after its Lodestone run.

See News story.

Immigrants’ Theatre Project and
Queens Theatre in the Park (New York)
Present the World Premiere of
Sweet Karma
By Henry Ong
Directed by Marcy Arlin
December 4 to 20, 2009

Opening Night, Friday December 4 8:00 PM
Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12, 19 at 2 pm and 8 pm
Sundays, Dec. 6,
13, 20 at 3 pm
Wed. matinee Dec. 9 at 2 pm

2003 OBIE Award-winner, Immigrants’ Theatre Project (ITP), in association with Queens Theatre in the Park’s Immigrant Voices Project, presents the World Premiere of Sweet Karma by Henry Ong, from December 4 - December 20, 2009 in the Studio Theatre at Queens Theatre
in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.

Starring OBIE Award-winning actor JoJo Gonzales (The Romance of Magno Rubio, Law & Order), Sweet Karma is a powerful and haunting new play, based on true events, about a complex and completely unique man who lived an extraordinary life – from a tragic past in a Cambodia ruled
by the Khmer Rouge, to the glitter of Hollywood. This original play tells the tale of a Cambodian doctor who is gunned down outside his Los Angeles apartment after surviving the turbulent years following the Cambodian genocide. In death, he meets a mysterious woman who helps him confront choices he made and find peace. www.sweetkarma.org

Playwright Henry Ong will be attending the Opening Night performance. His next production is Fabric, about the Thai garment workers’ slavery case, at Company of Angels, Los Angeles in July, 2010. He is a 12-time recipient of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department grant. His play, Madame Mao’s Memories, based on the life of the infamous Jiang Qing, has been produced nationally and internationally, including the Edinburgh Arts Festival, London’s Latchmere Theatre, TheatreWorks in Singapore, and the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego.

Sweet Karma is directed by Marcy Arlin, ITP’s Founder and Artistic Director. Honoree at the 2009 American Immigration Council Conference, Arlin has directed at the Public, New York Theater Workshop, LaMama, HERE, National Theatre of Romania, Dublin Fringe, 59E59, Mazer Theatre, LPAC, among other venues. With ITP she has developed over 200 new plays nationally and internationally. She is an original member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, Theatre without Borders, No Passport, and is a Fulbright Scholar to Romania and the Czech Republic. “Director Marcy Arlin pulls maximum drama from each startling reversal…” Marko the Prince, backstage.com “Immigrants’ Theatre Project… celebrates the work and talents of New York City’s
immigrant population.” Showbusiness.com

ITP won an OBIE in 2003 when it presented Journey Theatre, an 8-month project with immigrants affected by 9/11. ITP works with multicultural casts and artistic staff from over 90 ethnicities and nations reflecting the diversity of New York, introducing immigrant and American audiences to challenging theatre works; ITP has presented the American and world premieres of over 250 plays and curates and develops artist exchanges, student and professional development workshops, and consultancies for multi-cultural arts. Over its 20-year history ITP has presented festivals such as Unexpected Journeys: plays by women from Muslim cultures; Women across borders, Czech Plays in Translation, DisLocation and ReInvention (Martin E. Segal Theater Center/New Group), Waxing West in Romania, The Lilac Minyan (Yiddish Book Center). www.immigrantstheat.org

SWEET KARMA features a well-known and talented all-Asian New York cast: JoJo Gonzales*, Ali Ahn* (Chay Yew’s Visible Cities, Naples Theater Festival), Bonna Tek (Shakespeare Lab/Public Theater), Susan Hyon (Yara Arts, Kazakhstan) and Brian Hirono. (* denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association). The Design Team includes Robert Monaco (Sets), Christopher Weston (Lights), Anna-Alisa Belous (Costumes) Elizabeth Rhodes (Sound). Dramaturgy by Don Rebar. Stage Manager: Nicole Marconi. Line Producer: Steve Werner

Tickets: $20 (General Admission), $18 Multi Show Discount, $18
Senior Discount, $16 Student Discount. Groups: Contact group sales
associate Barbara Matovu at 718-760-0064 x128 for groups of 15 or more

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre (New York, NY)
a reading of
Ching Chong Chinaman
by Lauren Yee
Directed by May Adrales
Friday, Dec 18, 7pm

At ART/NY, 520 Eighth Ave, Third Floor
Suggested donation $10
RSVP: call (212) 868-4030 or email info@panasianrep.org

The ultra-assimilated Wong family is as Chinese-American as apple pie: teenager Upton dreams of World of Warcraft superstardom; his sister Desi dreams of early admission to Princeton. Unfortunately, Upton’s chores and homework get in the way of his 24/7 videogaming, and Desi’s math grades don’t fit the Asian-American stereotype. Then Upton comes up with a novel solution for both problems: he acquires a Chinese indentured servant, who harbors an American dream of his own.

This reading is in preparation for Pan Asian Rep's 2010 production of CHING CHONG CHINAMAN and it'll be followed by a cool holiday party.

Hibernating Rattlesnakes
December 21, 2009

New York writer, editor and visual artist RANDY GENER will perform from his own play at the Nuyorican Poets Café (236 3rd Street, bet. Ave. B & C) 7:30–9:30pm on Monday Dec. 21 as part of HIBERNATING RATTLESNAKES, an evening of excerpts and short works for performance.

GENER is also honored to be a contributing essayist in The American Theatre Reader, a 640-page compilation of significant and insightful articles, essays and interviews from the magazine’s first quarter century. The anthology is edited by the staff of American Theatre magazine—where Gener is the senior editor.

Finally, GENER has co-founded a new international web journal, called Critical Stages, at www.criticalstages.org, which was launched in November. Featuring articles and essays in English and French, Critical Stages is the web journal of the International Theatre Critics Association (IATC). In the inaugural issue, Gener interviews IATC first Thalia Prize winner, the esteemed playwright and critic Eric Bentley. IATC, established in 1956, operates through its national sections in some 50 countries.

HIBERNATING RATTLESNAKES, featuring MC Ephraim Lopez, is organized by NoPassport theatre alliance & press in collaboration with Nuyorican Poets Café. NoPassport is an unincorporated theatre alliance & press devoted to expression and advocacy for cross-cultural diversity and difference in the arts. The Dec. 21 evening also features readings from Maria Alexandra Beech, Migdalia Cruz, Kristoffer Diaz, Julian Mesri, Alejandro Morales, Matthew Paul Olmos and Saviana Stanescu. Suggested donation: $5 at the door. http://www.nuyorican.org/