COLD TOFU Offers Improv Workshops Jan 2005

Cold Tofu, the nation's premier Asian American improv comedy group, will offer a Level 1 Improv Workshop designed to help performers and non-performers learn basic improvisation skills and gain confidence in a fun, nurturing environment. The 8-week session meets 7-10 pm on Wednesday nights from January 26-March 16 at Maryknoll Catholic Center just outside of Downtown Los Angeles‚ Little Tokyo District.

"Cold Tofu offers classes to help people explore and expand their potential to laugh, create, play, and just plain have fun! Whether you're a corporate slave who needs to loosen up at meetings, an aspiring actor who needs to brush up on improv skills, or someone who always wanted to laugh and make others laugh, enrolled students will get personal growth, camaraderie and the chance to be a kid again!" said long-time Cold Tofu member and instructor James Huang.

"We've had writers, teachers, accountants, attorneys, even doctors come through our workshop series to develop their improvising skills because improv gives them the tools to adapt to anything unexpected in their day-to-day business, whether it‚s in the classroom or the office," added Artistic Director Helen Ota.

Founded in 1982 by Los Angeles-based artists Irma Escamilla, Denice Kumagai, Judi Momii and Marilyn Tokuda, Cold Tofu provides Asian American actors the opportunity and environment to explore comedy. Cold Tofu is dedicated to promoting diverse images of Asian Pacific Americans through comedy and to developing multiethnic talent through education and performance.

"Cold Tofu has been able to give the public 24 years of great comedy," Ota said. "By having workshops that continually train new Asian American improv performers, we ensure the future of Cold Tofu and its mission, and provide Hollywood with talented artists who can take on real comedic roles."

Instructors for the Level 1 Improv Workshop are Zakiyah Reagan and Aaron Takahashi. Zakiyah Reagan was born and raised in Los Angeles where she began dancing and acting with the Inner City Cultural Center. Reagan first trained in improv with Los Angeles Theatresports and joined Cold Tofu in 1993.

Aaron Takahashi has been part of the Cold Tofu family since 1996 and has previously taught all three levels of Cold Tofu‚s improvisation workshops. He also performs with the Asian American sketch comedy group OPM, just finished working on the upcoming feature film Memoirs of a Geisha and can be seen on television on the International Channel's (ICN) original series Asia Street Comedy.

Cold Tofu's Level 1 Improv Workshop meets 7-10 pm on Wednesday nights from January 26-March 16 at Maryknoll Catholic Center, 222 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles, 90012 (located east of Alameda, between Second and Third Streets in Little Tokyo). Parking is available on the property. The cost for the 8-week session is $240.

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	Asian American comedy improv group Cold Tofu offers Level 1 Improv Workshop Cold Tofu, the nation's premier Asian American improv comedy group, will offer a Level 1 Improv Workshop designed to help performers and non-performers learn basic improvisation skills and gain confidence in a fun, nurturing environment. The 8-week session meets 7-10 pm on Wednesday nights from January 26-March 16 at Maryknoll Catholic Center just outside of Downtown Los Angeles‚ Little Tokyo District. "Cold Tofu offers classes to help people explore and expand their potential to laugh, create, play, and just plain have fun! Whether you're a corporate slave who needs to loosen up at meetings, an aspiring actor who needs to brush up on improv skills, or someone who always wanted to laugh and make others laugh, enrolled students will get personal growth, camaraderie and the chance to be a kid again!" said long-time Cold Tofu member and instructor James Huang. "We've had writers, teachers, accountants, attorneys, even doctors come through our workshop series to develop their improvising skills because improv gives them the tools to adapt to anything unexpected in their day-to-day business, whether it‚s in the classroom or the office," added Artistic Director Helen Ota. Founded in 1982 by Los Angeles-based artists Irma Escamilla, Denice Kumagai, Judi Momii and Marilyn Tokuda, Cold Tofu provides Asian American actors the opportunity and environment to explore comedy. Cold Tofu is dedicated to promoting diverse images of Asian Pacific Americans through comedy and to developing multiethnic talent through education and performance. "Cold Tofu has been able to give the public 24 years of great comedy," Ota said. "By having workshops that continually train new Asian American improv performers, we ensure the future of Cold Tofu and its mission, and provide Hollywood with talented artists who can take on real comedic roles." Instructors for the Level 1 Improv Workshop are Zakiyah Reagan and Aaron Takahashi. Zakiyah Reagan was born and raised in Los Angeles where she began dancing and acting with the Inner City Cultural Center. Reagan first trained in improv with Los Angeles Theatresports and joined Cold Tofu in 1993. Aaron Takahashi has been part of the Cold Tofu family since 1996 and has previously taught all three levels of Cold Tofu‚s improvisation workshops. He also performs with the Asian American sketch comedy group OPM, just finished working on the upcoming feature film Memoirs of a Geisha and can be seen on television on the International Channel's (ICN) original series Asia Street Comedy. Cold Tofu's Level 1 Improv Workshop meets 7-10 pm on Wednesday nights from January 26-March 16 at Maryknoll Catholic Center, 222 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles, 90012 (located east of Alameda, between Second and Third Streets in Little Tokyo). Parking is available on the property. The cost for the 8-week session is $240. For more information e-mail Artistic Director Helen Ota at coldtofu@hotmail.com or visit www.coldtofu.com. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2005, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

Asian American comedy improv group Cold Tofu offers Level 1 Improv Workshop