Company of Angels presents SUN SISTERS (Jul11)

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - JULY 20, 2011 – Company of Angels presents "SUN SISTERS," a new play by L.A based playwright Vasanti Saxena, directed by Lui Sánchez. SUN SISTERS opens July 29 at Company of Angels at The Alexandria 501 S. Spring Street., 3rd Floor, Downtown L.A, CA 90013.
A daughter's homecoming. A mother's secrets. SUN SISTERS explores the clash between unspoken desires and cultural traditions as one woman's illness forces her to examine her life's choices. SUN SISTERS is a play about Angie, who is in the last stages of terminal cancer. She has asked her daughter, Jessica, a budding architect, to come home--presumably--to look after her. In the wake of their interactions, their clashes over Jessica's lesbian lifestyle and the onset of Angie's dementia lead to surprising revelations. SUN SISTERS is a captivating examination of the intersections of architecture and anatomy, tradition and desire, filial devotion and family secrets.
SUN SISTERS was first conceived when playwright Vasanti Saxena was a Van Lier Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop. The play began as a response to her own mother's battle with cancer, during which Vasanti was struck by how many friends and acquaintances had recently been in similar situations—and how alone they had felt despite the universality of their experience. In writing the play, she was particularly interested in the process—the inexorable progression of the disease—and how it affects not only the afflicted but the caretaker as well.
In 2006, SUN SISTERS was selected as a finalist in Chicago Dramatists Many Voices Project, which partnered with Chicago's Silk Road Theatre Project to present a staged reading of the play. In 2008, SUN SISTERS won the East West Players Pacific Century Playwriting Competition. The reading at East West players inspired extensive rewrites.
"Sun Sisters" features Jennifer Chang, Robert Hardin, Elaine Kao, Peter Kwong, Jully Lee, Andrea Lwin & Momo Yashima. Understudies: Joyce Liu, Stephanie Silver, Kurt Yamamoto.
Production staff for "Sun Sisters" includes Lui Sánchez, director, Luis Delgado, scenic designer, Sarah John Templeton, lighting designer, Karla Contreras, costume designer, Howard Ho, sound designer, John Miyasaki, props master, Jennifer Perez, stage manager.
"SUN SISTERS " is produced by Joyce Liu, Daniel Muñoz, Amelia Worfolk and Karen Anzoategui.
Vasanti Saxena
is a Los-Angeles based playwright of Chinese and East Indian descent. She was raised in Ohio, Illinois and Hawaii, spending afterschool time on campus with her professor father, and thought she would naturally end up being an academic. That plan changed the summer she saw David Henry Hwang's M. BUTTERFLY in New York—and discovered that you could walk into a theater with the expectation of being entertained, and walk out somehow transformed.
Vasanti strives to write plays that are honest and illuminating, offering glimpses into the undercurrents of everyday life that we might not normally see. She also gives voice to those who are typically unheard—or not heard enough—in theater. Her plays have been produced or developed in New York (Ensemble Studio Theater, New York Theatre Workshop), Chicago (Silk Road Theatre Project, Chicago Dramatists) and Los Angeles (Company of Angels). Plays include the award-winning SUN SISTERS (East West Players 2008 Pacific Century Playwriting Competition), as well as GLORIA IN TRANSLATION, EVEN THE STONE and SHIFT. Her short play CLOSING TIME, produced in 2010 by Company of Angels in its L.A. Views festival, was selected as one of the Best 10-Minute Plays of 2011 and will be published by Smith & Kraus later this year.
In addition to the Van Lier Fellowship, Vasanti has been a Van Lier Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop, the recipient of an EST/Sloan commission, a finalist for the Clubbed Thumb Biennial Commission and Chicago Dramatists Many Voices Project, and a semi-finalist for both the O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference and the Princess Grace Award. She received her MFA from Columbia University, where she studied with Romulus Linney and David Ives.
Lui Sánchez
has been a resident of California for over twenty years, Lui Sánchez has established himself as an artist working throughout Los Angeles with professional and volunteer experience in developing, implementing, and administering various visual and performing arts projects and events. Lui received his BA in Theater at UC Santa Cruz and attended the Masters Program at the UCLA Film School. His work includes producing short films, theater productions, and art exhibitions as well as developing art curriculums for public and alternative schools. He has served as Program Director for the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock and is now the Director of Arts and Education Programs for Inside Out Community Arts, bringing after-school theater and media programs to middle schools students throughout Los Angeles County.
In theatre, Lui is a founding member of The Deltoid Performance Group where he creates and self-produces contemporary theater works. He has been a participant of the Mark Taper Forum's Latino Playwright's Initiative. In 2007, Lui joined the newly formed theatrical group Take Fountain Players, and in September 2008 presented two original performance theater works for the group. In 2009, Lui joined Company of Angels as a company director and is currently the company's Director of Theater Education spearheading a workshop program for homeless, low-income and community members of downtown Los Angeles. He directed three productions for the program and has also directed in the company's last three LA Views short play festival productions.
"Sun Sisters" previews for 2 performances beginning July 27, opening July 29 and runs Fridays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. through August 28. Preview tickets are priced at $10, Opening Night + post-show Reception with cast & crew at $25 and regular performances at $20. Senior, student and group discounts are also available. Tickets can be purchased online at companyofangels.org. Company of Angels is located on the 3rd Floor of the Historic Alexandria Hotel at the crossroads of 5th & Spring.
"Sun Sisters" is made possible in part by an ARC grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation and the generous contributions of Company of Angels supporters and contributors
For reservations to Press Night, Friday, July 29, 8 pm, contact: xmoreno@companyofangels.org
Company of Angels is Los Angeles' oldest non-profit repertory theater company. Founded in 1959 by legendary entertainment attorney Bertram Fields and actors Richard Chamberlain, Leonard Nimoy and Vic Morrow. Company of Angels develops emerging artists, re-envisions theater to entertain new audiences by producing new work that reflects and responds to the richness, diversity, and complexity that is the city of Angels. The company is dedicated to creating theater that is deeply connected to its community. We aim to share and help give voice to the many stories that exist in our community. The company's home is inside The historic Alexandria Hotel in the Historic Core District of Downtown Los Angeles. For more information call 213-489-3703 or visit www.companyofangels.org
Theater Contact, Xavi Moreno, xmoreno@companyofangels.org 323.382.5169

Questions? Email



	COMPANY OF ANGELS PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "SUN SISTERS" DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - JULY 20, 2011 – Company of Angels presents "SUN SISTERS," a new play by L.A based playwright Vasanti Saxena, directed by Lui Sánchez. SUN SISTERS opens July 29 at Company of Angels at The Alexandria 501 S. Spring Street., 3rd Floor, Downtown L.A, CA 90013. A daughter's homecoming. A mother's secrets. SUN SISTERS explores the clash between unspoken desires and cultural traditions as one woman's illness forces her to examine her life's choices. SUN SISTERS is a play about Angie, who is in the last stages of terminal cancer. She has asked her daughter, Jessica, a budding architect, to come home--presumably--to look after her. In the wake of their interactions, their clashes over Jessica's lesbian lifestyle and the onset of Angie's dementia lead to surprising revelations. SUN SISTERS is a captivating examination of the intersections of architecture and anatomy, tradition and desire, filial devotion and family secrets. SUN SISTERS was first conceived when playwright Vasanti Saxena was a Van Lier Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop. The play began as a response to her own mother's battle with cancer, during which Vasanti was struck by how many friends and acquaintances had recently been in similar situations—and how alone they had felt despite the universality of their experience. In writing the play, she was particularly interested in the process—the inexorable progression of the disease—and how it affects not only the afflicted but the caretaker as well. In 2006, SUN SISTERS was selected as a finalist in Chicago Dramatists Many Voices Project, which partnered with Chicago's Silk Road Theatre Project to present a staged reading of the play. In 2008, SUN SISTERS won the East West Players Pacific Century Playwriting Competition. The reading at East West players inspired extensive rewrites. "Sun Sisters" features Jennifer Chang, Robert Hardin, Elaine Kao, Peter Kwong, Jully Lee, Andrea Lwin & Momo Yashima. Understudies: Joyce Liu, Stephanie Silver, Kurt Yamamoto. Production staff for "Sun Sisters" includes Lui Sánchez, director, Luis Delgado, scenic designer, Sarah John Templeton, lighting designer, Karla Contreras, costume designer, Howard Ho, sound designer, John Miyasaki, props master, Jennifer Perez, stage manager. "SUN SISTERS " is produced by Joyce Liu, Daniel Muñoz, Amelia Worfolk and Karen Anzoategui. Vasanti Saxena is a Los-Angeles based playwright of Chinese and East Indian descent. She was raised in Ohio, Illinois and Hawaii, spending afterschool time on campus with her professor father, and thought she would naturally end up being an academic. That plan changed the summer she saw David Henry Hwang's M. BUTTERFLY in New York—and discovered that you could walk into a theater with the expectation of being entertained, and walk out somehow transformed. Vasanti strives to write plays that are honest and illuminating, offering glimpses into the undercurrents of everyday life that we might not normally see. She also gives voice to those who are typically unheard—or not heard enough—in theater. Her plays have been produced or developed in New York (Ensemble Studio Theater, New York Theatre Workshop), Chicago (Silk Road Theatre Project, Chicago Dramatists) and Los Angeles (Company of Angels). Plays include the award-winning SUN SISTERS (East West Players 2008 Pacific Century Playwriting Competition), as well as GLORIA IN TRANSLATION, EVEN THE STONE and SHIFT. Her short play CLOSING TIME, produced in 2010 by Company of Angels in its L.A. Views festival, was selected as one of the Best 10-Minute Plays of 2011 and will be published by Smith & Kraus later this year. In addition to the Van Lier Fellowship, Vasanti has been a Van Lier Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop, the recipient of an EST/Sloan commission, a finalist for the Clubbed Thumb Biennial Commission and Chicago Dramatists Many Voices Project, and a semi-finalist for both the O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference and the Princess Grace Award. She received her MFA from Columbia University, where she studied with Romulus Linney and David Ives. Lui Sánchez has been a resident of California for over twenty years, Lui Sánchez has established himself as an artist working throughout Los Angeles with professional and volunteer experience in developing, implementing, and administering various visual and performing arts projects and events. Lui received his BA in Theater at UC Santa Cruz and attended the Masters Program at the UCLA Film School. His work includes producing short films, theater productions, and art exhibitions as well as developing art curriculums for public and alternative schools. He has served as Program Director for the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock and is now the Director of Arts and Education Programs for Inside Out Community Arts, bringing after-school theater and media programs to middle schools students throughout Los Angeles County. In theatre, Lui is a founding member of The Deltoid Performance Group where he creates and self-produces contemporary theater works. He has been a participant of the Mark Taper Forum's Latino Playwright's Initiative. In 2007, Lui joined the newly formed theatrical group Take Fountain Players, and in September 2008 presented two original performance theater works for the group. In 2009, Lui joined Company of Angels as a company director and is currently the company's Director of Theater Education spearheading a workshop program for homeless, low-income and community members of downtown Los Angeles. He directed three productions for the program and has also directed in the company's last three LA Views short play festival productions. "Sun Sisters" previews for 2 performances beginning July 27, opening July 29 and runs Fridays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. through August 28. Preview tickets are priced at $10, Opening Night + post-show Reception with cast & crew at $25 and regular performances at $20. Senior, student and group discounts are also available. Tickets can be purchased online at companyofangels.org. Company of Angels is located on the 3rd Floor of the Historic Alexandria Hotel at the crossroads of 5th & Spring. "Sun Sisters" is made possible in part by an ARC grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation and the generous contributions of Company of Angels supporters and contributors For reservations to Press Night, Friday, July 29, 8 pm, contact: xmoreno@companyofangels.org Company of Angels is Los Angeles' oldest non-profit repertory theater company. Founded in 1959 by legendary entertainment attorney Bertram Fields and actors Richard Chamberlain, Leonard Nimoy and Vic Morrow. Company of Angels develops emerging artists, re-envisions theater to entertain new audiences by producing new work that reflects and responds to the richness, diversity, and complexity that is the city of Angels. The company is dedicated to creating theater that is deeply connected to its community. We aim to share and help give voice to the many stories that exist in our community. The company's home is inside The historic Alexandria Hotel in the Historic Core District of Downtown Los Angeles. For more information call 213-489-3703 or visit www.companyofangels.org Theater Contact, Xavi Moreno, xmoreno@companyofangels.org 323.382.5169 Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Plays \| Library/Storefront \| Timeline Copyright 2011, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

COMPANY OF ANGELS PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "SUN SISTERS"

COMPANY OF ANGELS PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
"SUN SISTERS"