East West debuts IXNAY (Jan09)

East West Players (EWP), the Nation’s Premier Asian American Theatre, enters the second half of its 43rd Anniversary Season, Beyond Presence, with the world premiere of IXNAY. Written by Paul Kikuchi, the production was conceived, developed and work-shopped in the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute at East West Players, a nationally recognized program for Arts Education. This is playwright Kikuchi’s first play and will be directed by Jeff Liu, East West Players’ Literary Manager. The cast will employ many Asian American celebrities including Gedde Watanabe, Dante Basco, EWP founder June Kyoko Lu and Aaron Takahashi.

“We are constantly on the look out for Asian American comedies that are appropriate for the East West Players stage,” states Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang, “Especially during these challenging times, many people are looking to escape reality by enjoying a laugh. Paul Kikuchi has a wonderful knack for humor and an understanding of the diverse Asian American community.”

IXNAY tells the story of Raymond Kobayashi who is in the prime of his sansei (third generation) life when he is pulled up to the Reincarnation Station. When he finds out he's being sent back as a Japanese American, he refuses, which rudely prevents anyone else from returning to earth as scheduled. This is a comedy about a usually polite Asian causing major havoc when he ixnays his next life.

The script of IXNAY was written and developed through East West Players’ David Henry Hwang Writers’ Institute in 2006 and was further work shopped through the 2007 Writing is Rewriting program. Both workshops were led by writer and artist Prince Gomovillas. The script received a staged reading as part of the Writers’ Gallery presented with the Japanese American National Museum.

Director Jeff Liu is the Literary Manager at East West Players as well as the resident director at Lodestone Theatre Ensemble. Liu was also the co-writer of the film Charlotte Sometimes, which was nominated for two IFP Spirit Awards.

This celebrity cast will feature Aaron Takahashi, a core ensemble member of the Asian American improv group Cold Tofu and recently co-starred in Yes Man starring Jim Carrey. Additional members include; Gedde Watanabe, best known for his performance as Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles with Molly Ringwald and recently performed as Berthe in the East West Players’ box office hit PIPPIN. Dante Basco, best known for his performance as Rufio in Hook with Robin Williams, also stars in the animated series, American Dragon: Jake Long and Avatar: The Last Airbender. June Kyoko Lu, one of the founders of East West Players, has appeared in numerous movies including M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water and The Water Ghost. Additional cast members include Matt Braaten, Elizabeth Ho, Matthew Yang King, and Ellen D. Williams.

The design team consists of: set designer Kurt Boetcher, lighting designer Christopher M. Singleton, costume designer Ivy Y. Chou, sound designer Dennis Yen, property master Ken Takemoto and stage manager Darlene Miyakawa.

All performances of IXNAY will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. IXNAY opens Wednesday, February 18, 2009 and closes on Sunday, March 15, 2009. Opening night will be accompanied by a pre-performance cocktail reception and a post show reception with the cast and creative team. Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, February 12 - 14 at 8pm and Sunday, February 15 at 2pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Thursday, February 19 at 8pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 2pm.

General ticket prices are $35 in the orchestra and $30 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $60 for all seats. Tickets are currently on sale. For ticket purchases or more information, please call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org . Senior, student and group discounts are available. Dates and details are subject to change.

Questions? Email



	IXNAY receives its world premiere with celebrity cast! East West Players (EWP), the Nation’s Premier Asian American Theatre, enters the second half of its 43rd Anniversary Season, Beyond Presence, with the world premiere of IXNAY. Written by Paul Kikuchi, the production was conceived, developed and work-shopped in the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute at East West Players, a nationally recognized program for Arts Education. This is playwright Kikuchi’s first play and will be directed by Jeff Liu, East West Players’ Literary Manager. The cast will employ many Asian American celebrities including Gedde Watanabe, Dante Basco, EWP founder June Kyoko Lu and Aaron Takahashi. “We are constantly on the look out for Asian American comedies that are appropriate for the East West Players stage,” states Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang, “Especially during these challenging times, many people are looking to escape reality by enjoying a laugh. Paul Kikuchi has a wonderful knack for humor and an understanding of the diverse Asian American community.” IXNAY tells the story of Raymond Kobayashi who is in the prime of his sansei (third generation) life when he is pulled up to the Reincarnation Station. When he finds out he's being sent back as a Japanese American, he refuses, which rudely prevents anyone else from returning to earth as scheduled. This is a comedy about a usually polite Asian causing major havoc when he ixnays his next life. The script of IXNAY was written and developed through East West Players’ David Henry Hwang Writers’ Institute in 2006 and was further work shopped through the 2007 Writing is Rewriting program. Both workshops were led by writer and artist Prince Gomovillas. The script received a staged reading as part of the Writers’ Gallery presented with the Japanese American National Museum. Director Jeff Liu is the Literary Manager at East West Players as well as the resident director at Lodestone Theatre Ensemble. Liu was also the co-writer of the film Charlotte Sometimes, which was nominated for two IFP Spirit Awards. This celebrity cast will feature Aaron Takahashi, a core ensemble member of the Asian American improv group Cold Tofu and recently co-starred in Yes Man starring Jim Carrey. Additional members include; Gedde Watanabe, best known for his performance as Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles with Molly Ringwald and recently performed as Berthe in the East West Players’ box office hit PIPPIN. Dante Basco, best known for his performance as Rufio in Hook with Robin Williams, also stars in the animated series, American Dragon: Jake Long and Avatar: The Last Airbender. June Kyoko Lu, one of the founders of East West Players, has appeared in numerous movies including M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water and The Water Ghost. Additional cast members include Matt Braaten, Elizabeth Ho, Matthew Yang King, and Ellen D. Williams. The design team consists of: set designer Kurt Boetcher, lighting designer Christopher M. Singleton, costume designer Ivy Y. Chou, sound designer Dennis Yen, property master Ken Takemoto and stage manager Darlene Miyakawa. IXNAY is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. All performances of IXNAY will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. IXNAY opens Wednesday, February 18, 2009 and closes on Sunday, March 15, 2009. Opening night will be accompanied by a pre-performance cocktail reception and a post show reception with the cast and creative team. Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, February 12 - 14 at 8pm and Sunday, February 15 at 2pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Thursday, February 19 at 8pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 2pm. General ticket prices are $35 in the orchestra and $30 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $60 for all seats. Tickets are currently on sale. For ticket purchases or more information, please call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org . Senior, student and group discounts are available. Dates and details are subject to change. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Plays \| Library/Storefront \| Timeline Copyright 2009, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

IXNAY receives its world premiere with celebrity cast!