East West Players honors Tia Carrere, B.D. Wong, Chay Yew and Scott Nagatani at 38th Anniversary Visionary Awards Gala
East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, will honor actress Tia Carrere, 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.
Actress Tia Carrere has starred in the films Wayne's World, True Lies, Rising Sun, the Academy Award-nominated Lilo & Stitch, and for the past three years her own internationally-syndicated television series Relic Hunter. She recently starred in the feature film Back in the Day with Ving Rhames and Ja Rule. Raised in Hawaii and of Filipino heritage, Carrere is an accomplished actress and singer who recently traveled to Manila where she was honored with a presidential commendation for her work on behalf of Filipino veterans of World War II.
Actor B.D. Wong is best known for creating the role of Song Lilin 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&Mac226;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 Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum's Asian 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 comedian Dat Phan (winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing), singer Harlemm Lee (winner of NBC's Fame) and singer Jenni Selma (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, MISS SAIGON, Disney's California Adventures ALADDIN). Actresses Tamlyn Tomita (Joy Luck Club, Robot Stories) and Amy Hill (Fifty First Dates, Cat in the Hat) will be the mistresses of ceremonies. East West Players will also announce the 39th Anniversary season of productions that evening.
The event's honorary co-chairs are Gareth C.C. Chang, Chairman and Managing Partner of GC3 and Associates International; Craig Erwich, FOX Entertainment's Executive Vice President for drama development; and Councilwoman Jan Perry, Los Angeles City County 9th District. The honorary committee includes Paul Abe, Union Bank of California's Vice President for the Asian Market Segment; David Mauss, Tenet Health Care&Mac226;s Regional Director for Business Development; Carmen J. Smith, Vice President of Talent Development for ABC Entertainment Television Group; Josie J. Thomas, Senior Vice President of Diversity for CBS; and Mitsy Wilson, Senior Vice President of Diversity Development for FOX Entertainment Group.
Platinum sponsors of the 38th Anniversary gala include The Walt Disney Company & ABC Television, CBS, FOX Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Gold sponsors include Paul Abe, Lynn & Brian Arthurs, David Mauss & Tenet Health Care, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Malaysia Air. Silver sponsors include Tim Dang & Darrell Cummings, Jack Ong & Galpin Ford, Lion Rock Productions, and Southern California Edison.
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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