Aurora, CO – Theatre Esprit Asia’s original play, Coming to America, received Best Production from the 2016 Colorado Theatre Festival. The first place finish advances TEA to the national festival of the American Association of Community Theatres (AACT) in Rochester, MN to be held June of 2017. The Colorado Theatre Festival was held in Salida, CO from June 23-25, 2016.TEA was also awarded People’s Choice, Best Actress (Maria Cheng) and Best Lighting Design (Brian Miller). Additionally, Coming to America was cited for Excellence in Set Design (Maria Cheng). ‘Excellence’ citations are given at the discretion of the judges and not necessarily given in every category.
Artistic Director Maria Cheng, actor Peter Trinh and lighting designer Brian Miller represented TEA at this year’s CTF and will do the same at the nationals. Peter Trinh and Maria Cheng also presented workshops for high school students.
Coming to America, which premiered in November of 2015, is three short immigration dramas from China, Vietnam and Iran, written by Maria Cheng, Peter Trinh and Jon Vogels, respectively. Due to scheduling conflicts, only the Chinese and Vietnamese segments were able to compete at the festival.
TEA was also invited to perform its 2014 entry, Spirit & Sworded Treks, at AACT’s International Quadrennial Festival in Venice, FL. Theatre companies from at least seven countries will participate in this festival in June of 2018. Spirit & Sworded Trek is written, directed and performed by Maria Cheng and won six awards at the 2014 CTF, including People’s Choice, Best New Play, Best Actress, Best Lighting, Best Choreography and Excellence in Directing.
Reply