ASIA mounts first production: Big Hung o' Burnin' Love

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA -Exploding on stage at The Clark Street Playhouse is Asian Stories In America (ASIA) Theatre's first full-scale production and the East Coast premiere of Big Hunk O' Burnin' Love. Making his directorial debut is Washington Shakespeare Company member and Educational Theatre Company founder Stan Kang. The play will run December 12 through January 8.

Penned by twentysomething Thai-American playwright Prince Gomolvilas, Big Hunk O' Burnin' Love is a comic tale about a Thai man who must marry before he turns 30 to avoid an unusual family curse. The play explores cultural pressures, interracial relationships, and the meaning of friendship and love.

Mr. Gomolvilas is also the author of Cause and Effect on Clement Street, Donut Holes in Orbit, Seat Belts and Big Fat Buddhas, and The Theory of Everything. The latter, for which he won first prize in both the International Herald Tribune Playwriting Competition and the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild/Julie Harris Playwright Award Competition, will receive its world premiere at Singapore Repertory in 2000. He received his MFA Degree in Playwriting from San Francisco State University, and resides in San Francisco, "the center of the universe."

The production brings together Mr. Kang's fellow WSC players Edu. Bernardino and Miyuki Williams. Richard Dorton, Michelle T. Hall, Samantha Kearney and Al Twanmo round out the cast.

Giorgos Tsappas (Studio Secondstage's Hair, Kerouac) has designed the set, Ayun Fedorcha (WSC's Richard III, Metamorphosis) has designed the lights, Ron Oshima (WSC's Twelfth Night, Metamorphosis) has designed the sound and original music, and cast member Edu. Bernardino has designed the costumes.

Founded in 1998, ASIA Theatre , is devoted to presenting modern Asian Pacific American drama in innovative, cutting-edge productions that showcase the best Asian American theatre artists in the region. Past ASIA productions include a staged reading of Genny Lim's classic Paper Angels at Clark Street last year (directed by Mr. Kang), and more recently, a staged reading of Janet Neipris' A Small Delegation which was co-produced and presented at The Studio Theatre Secondstage (directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner).

For more information, please visit the Big Hunk O' Burnin' Love Page at the ASIA web site (http://www.asianstoriesinamerica.com).



FACT SHEET

WHAT: Big Hunk O' Burnin' Love, a comic tale about a Thai man who must
marry before he turns 30 to avoid an unusual family curse.

WHERE: The Clark Street Playhouse, 601 South Clark St.
10 minute walk from the Crystal City Metro Stop

WHO: Director Stan Kang
Set Design Giorgos Tsappas
Lighting Design Ayun Fedorcha
Costume Design Edu. Bernardino
Sound Design Ron Oshima

Associate Lighting Designer Don Slater
Production Manager Yasmin Tuazon
Stage Manager Amber Jacks-Plunkett

CAST: Winston Edu. Bernardino
Nick Richard Dorton
Sylvia Samantha Kearney
Mom Miyuki Williams
Dad Al Twanmo
Noi Michelle T. Hall


TICKETS: Previews are PWYC. $15 for all the rest of the performances;
open seating. Sorry, no plastics accepted. Student, senior and
group discounts.


TIMES: Preview December 12, Sunday 7 PM
Preview December 13, Monday 8 PM
Press Night December 14, Tuesday 8 PM

Thereafter December 19 to January 8

December 19-21, 26-28 (Additional dates in December TBA.)
January 4-8

Sunday evenings 7 PM
Weeknights and Saturday eve. 8 PM