Asian American Theatre Revue

A national steering committee of non-profit Asian American theatre organizations today announced the first national Asian American theatre conference. Next Big Bang: The Explosion of Asian American Theatre will convene in Los Angeles from June 18-20, 2006. More than 200 delegates, composed of Asian American theatre professionals, educators and individual artists, will attend the 3-day event to engage in dialogue about the current state and future of Asian American theatre.

"Through a series of meetings over the last three years by leaders of Asian American theatres and Asian American individual performing artists, we learned there was a need to create a comprehensive forum to solidify the presence of the Asian American artist voice and to address the needs of an expansive Asian Pacific community," said Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director of the nation‚s largest Asian American theatre, East West Players.

The conference will set goals to nurture a vast array of cultural and generational programming to educate the national community at large; showcase performances exemplary of the convening body's work; strategize planning for the Asian American Theatre Festival in 2007 in New York City; and document, report and disseminate the outcome to other interested arts organizations and academic institutions.

The opening keynote address will be presented by renowned Asian American theatre artist and Ford Foundation Program Director Roberta Uno to highlight shifting cultural demographics in the United States. Other scheduled panelists, speakers and participants also include: playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, playwright Jessica Hagedorn, performance artist Dan Kwong, PanAsian Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Tisa Chang and others.

Programming sessions will include: Who Are We Creating For?, Connecting Asian American Theatre to Social Justice Movements, Audience Development and Community Engagement, Asian American Youth Programs, Visioning Asian American Theatre in the 21st Century, Community Collaborations and Partnerships, Asian American Theatre Aesthetics and Establishing a National Network of Theatre Professionals.

Showcase performances on June 19-20 at 8:30 pm will feature some of the top Asian American theatre from across the nation. Tickets are available for $10 to the public through the East West Players Box Office at (213) 625-7000. Performances will be at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90012.

For conference registration information, please visit www.nextbigbang.org or call East West Players at (213) 625-7000. Registration is open online and performers of Asian American theatre, performance, and storytelling are urged to participate and make your voice heard. Attendance capacity is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Registration forms can be found at www.nextbigbang.org/nbbform.pdf . The conference registration fee is $300.

Next Big Bang has received strong backing from the nation‚s most prominent foundations including: The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The California Community Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation with additional support from the Asian Pacific Islander Artist Presenting Initiative (API/2).

Special group rates for conference participants have been arranged at the following hotels:

Miyako Hotel, Los Angeles
328 E. First St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Call Toll Free (800) 228-6596
Direct (213) 617-2000
Email: reservation@miyakola.com
www.miyakoinn.com
Rates: $89 single or double occupancy

To book rooms at this special rate, call the Miyako Inn and request the Next Big Bang discounted room rate. Deadline to book at the special rate is June 9.

Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens
120 South Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 629-1200
Fax: (213) 622-0980
http://www.kyotograndhotel.com
<> Rates: $115 single or double occupancy.

To book rooms at this special rate, call the Kyoto Grand and request the Next Big Bang discounted room rate. Deadline to book at the special rate is June 9.

Next Big Bang Steering Committee Members:

Andrea Assaf, New WORLD Theatre
Leilani Chan, TeAda Productions
Tisa Chang, PanAsian Repertory Theatre
Tim Dang, East West Players
Gayle Isa, Asian Arts Initiative
Mia Katigbak, National Asian American Theatre Company
Stephanie Lein Walseth, Mu Performing Arts
Sean Lim, Asian American Theater Company
Dipankar Mukherjee, Pangea World Theatre
Meena Natarajan, Pangea World Theatre
Jorge Ortoll, Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble
Ralph Pena, Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble
Trent Steelman, East West Players
Rick Shiomi, Mu Performing Arts
Lloyd Suh, Second Generation

Questions? Email



	Next Big Bang: The Explosion of Asian American Theatre Los Angeles to Host First National Asian American Theatre Conference A national steering committee of non-profit Asian American theatre organizations today announced the first national Asian American theatre conference. Next Big Bang: The Explosion of Asian American Theatre will convene in Los Angeles from June 18-20, 2006. More than 200 delegates, composed of Asian American theatre professionals, educators and individual artists, will attend the 3-day event to engage in dialogue about the current state and future of Asian American theatre. "Through a series of meetings over the last three years by leaders of Asian American theatres and Asian American individual performing artists, we learned there was a need to create a comprehensive forum to solidify the presence of the Asian American artist voice and to address the needs of an expansive Asian Pacific community," said Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director of the nation‚s largest Asian American theatre, East West Players. The conference will set goals to nurture a vast array of cultural and generational programming to educate the national community at large; showcase performances exemplary of the convening body's work; strategize planning for the Asian American Theatre Festival in 2007 in New York City; and document, report and disseminate the outcome to other interested arts organizations and academic institutions. The opening keynote address will be presented by renowned Asian American theatre artist and Ford Foundation Program Director Roberta Uno to highlight shifting cultural demographics in the United States. Other scheduled panelists, speakers and participants also include: playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, playwright Jessica Hagedorn, performance artist Dan Kwong, PanAsian Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Tisa Chang and others. Programming sessions will include: Who Are We Creating For?, Connecting Asian American Theatre to Social Justice Movements, Audience Development and Community Engagement, Asian American Youth Programs, Visioning Asian American Theatre in the 21st Century, Community Collaborations and Partnerships, Asian American Theatre Aesthetics and Establishing a National Network of Theatre Professionals. Showcase performances on June 19-20 at 8:30 pm will feature some of the top Asian American theatre from across the nation. Tickets are available for $10 to the public through the East West Players Box Office at (213) 625-7000. Performances will be at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90012. For conference registration information, please visit www.nextbigbang.org or call East West Players at (213) 625-7000. Registration is open online and performers of Asian American theatre, performance, and storytelling are urged to participate and make your voice heard. Attendance capacity is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Registration forms can be found at www.nextbigbang.org/nbbform.pdf . The conference registration fee is $300. Next Big Bang has received strong backing from the nation‚s most prominent foundations including: The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The California Community Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation with additional support from the Asian Pacific Islander Artist Presenting Initiative (API/2). Special group rates for conference participants have been arranged at the following hotels: Miyako Hotel, Los Angeles 328 E. First St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 Call Toll Free (800) 228-6596 Direct (213) 617-2000 Email: reservation@miyakola.com www.miyakoinn.com Rates: $89 single or double occupancy To book rooms at this special rate, call the Miyako Inn and request the Next Big Bang discounted room rate. Deadline to book at the special rate is June 9. Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens 120 South Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Phone: (213) 629-1200 Fax: (213) 622-0980 http://www.kyotograndhotel.com <> Rates: $115 single or double occupancy. To book rooms at this special rate, call the Kyoto Grand and request the Next Big Bang discounted room rate. Deadline to book at the special rate is June 9. Next Big Bang Steering Committee Members: Andrea Assaf, New WORLD Theatre Leilani Chan, TeAda Productions Tisa Chang, PanAsian Repertory Theatre Tim Dang, East West Players Gayle Isa, Asian Arts Initiative Mia Katigbak, National Asian American Theatre Company Stephanie Lein Walseth, Mu Performing Arts Sean Lim, Asian American Theater Company Dipankar Mukherjee, Pangea World Theatre Meena Natarajan, Pangea World Theatre Jorge Ortoll, Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble Ralph Pena, Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble Trent Steelman, East West Players Rick Shiomi, Mu Performing Arts Lloyd Suh, Second Generation Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2006, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

Next Big Bang: The Explosion of Asian American Theatre Los Angeles to Host First National Asian American Theatre Conference

Next Big Bang: The Explosion of Asian American Theatre
Los Angeles to Host First National Asian American Theatre Conference