East West Players announces honorees of its 38th Anniversary Visionary Awards gala

East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, will honor actor B.D. Wong, playwright Chay Yew and musical director Scott Nagatani at its 38th Anniversary Visionary Awards Gala at the beautiful Hilton Universal City high atop the hills of Hollywood on April 26, 2004. East West Players&Mac226; 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.

Actor B.D. Wong is best known for creating the role of "Song Liling" in the Broadway production of M. BUTTERFLY by David Henry Hwang, for which he also won the 1988 Tony Award for Featured Actor in Play. He has been a series regular on All-American Girl, OZ and can currently be seen on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit as "Dr. George Huang." Wong has also been in movies such as Mulan, Father of the Bride 1 & 2, and Jurassic Park. Born and raised in San Francisco, Wong performed in East West Players 1987 production of A CHORUS LINE.

Playwright Chay Yew will receive the Made in America award which recognizes a playwright who has made a significant contribution to Asian American theatre. His plays include RED, PORCELAIN, A LANGUAGE OF THEIR OWN, A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY and an adaptation of HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, among others. Yew&Mac226;s work has been presented at theaters across the country and internationally including the New York Shakespeare Festival's Public Theater, Royal Court Theatre (London), Mark Taper Forum, Portland Center Stage, East West Players, Dallas Theater Center, Cornerstone Theatre Company, and TheatreWorks (Singapore). Currently the director of the Mark Taper Forum&Mac226;s Asian American Theatre Workshop, Yew is also an accomplished director and will direct East West Players&Mac226; June production of M. BUTTERFLY by David Henry Hwang.

The Rae Creevey Award, named in honor of an Emmy Award-winning founder of East West Players, will recognize Scott Nagatani for his commitment and volunteer service to the theatre. Nagatani has been involved with East West Players for the past 25 years working primarily as the musical director for productions such as PASSION, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE WORLD GOES ŒROUND, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, FOLLIES, BEIJING SPRING, PACIFIC OVERTURES, CABARET, SWEENEY TODD, INTO THE WOODS, COMPANY and CHRISTMAS IN CAMP II. He is the recipient of Robby Awards, Drama-Logue Awards and an Ovation nomination for his work at East West Players.

Confirmed entertainment for the evening includes NBC's Last Comic Standing winner comedian Dat Phan and singer Jenni Selma (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, MISS SAIGON and Disney's California Adventures ALADDIN). Actress Tamlyn Tomita from the movie Joy Luck Club will be the mistress of ceremonies. East West Players will also announce the 39th Anniversary season of productions that evening.

Additional honorees, performers and special guests to be announced.

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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