East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, is celebrating its 38th Anniversary Season with a gala event at the beautiful Hilton Universal City high atop the hills of Hollywood on April 26, 2004. EWP's 38th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction is an award-winning event that salutes artists who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American community through theater, film and television. Proceeds from the evening will benefit East West Players educational and artistic programs.

"We are proud that East West Players has had the opportunity to play a major role in building greater visibility and awareness for the diverse stories of the Asian Pacific American community," said Tim Dang, EWP's Producing Artistic Director. "The Visionary Awards is a time to celebrate the success of many artists, volunteers and supporters who have worked tirelessly alongside the theatre on its mission to give voice to the Asian Pacific American experience and, ultimately, build understanding between people."

Past Visionary Award honorees have included actresses Nancy Kwan, Lea Salonga and Lucy Liu, actor Jet Li, comedienne Margaret Cho, director John Woo and playwright David Henry Hwang. Corporations such as the Walt Disney Company and AT&T, and philanthropic organizations such as The James Irvine Foundation and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation have also been recognized for their support of Asian Pacific American performing arts. Other awards presented that evening will include the Made in America award that recognizes a playwright who has made a significant contribution to Asian American theatre and the Rae Creevey Award, named in honor of an Emmy Award-winning founder of East West Players recognizing commitment and volunteer service to EWP.

This year's event honorary co-chairs include Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry and Gareth C.C. Chang, Managing Partner, GC3 and Associates International. East West Players Board of Directors Chair Lynn Fukuhara Arthurs, Co-President Wendy Fujihara Anderson and Legal Counsel Daniel M. Mayeda are leading the 38th Anniversary Visionary Awards Gala committee.

The East West Players 38th Anniversary Visionary Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on Monday, April 26, 2004 at the Hilton Universal City, 555 Universal City Drive, Universal City, CA 91608. The no-host reception and silent auction will be at 5:30 pm with the dinner and event program starting at 7 pm. Tickets are $150-$1,000.

For more information on East West Players 38th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction please contact General Manager Trent Steelman at (213) 625-7000 x19 or tsteelman@eastwestplayers.org.

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