East West honors four for 40th Anniversary

East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, will honor actress Tamlyn Tomita, playwright Prince Gomolvilas, and actress Emily Kuroda and actor/director Alberto Isaac at its 40th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction at the beautiful Hilton Universal City high atop the hills of Hollywood on April 10, 2006. East West Players‚ annual 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.

"East West Players has reached a milestone anniversary that has made it one of the oldest theaters of color in the United States and a cornerstone in the Asian American community. We thank the community for its belief in our mission and making EWP a place where the community gathers to share its stories. But the lifeline of East West Players and the reason for its longevity is due to the many artists who have walked through our doors, giving their amazing talent, volunteering thousands of work hours and donating their hard-earned money. We've come a long way together. From working out of a church basement in the 1960s, to a 99-seat storefront black-box in Silverlake in the '70s and '80s, to a 240-seat professional mid-sized theater in the '90s, EWP is a real success story. We still have a long way to go but our future looks bright," said East West Players Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang.

Receiving the Visionary Award is Actress Tamlyn Tomita who made her screen debut in The Karate Kid, Part II and has since appeared in numerous feature film, television and theatre projects. She is best known for her role as "Waverly" in Wayne Wang's film adaptation of Amy Tan's best selling novel The Joy Luck Club. Tamlyn's other credits include films such as Picture Bride, Come See the Paradise, Four Rooms, Living Out Loud, Robot Stories, The Day After Tomorrow and Gaijin 2; recurring roles on JAG, 24, Santa Barbara and The Burning Zone; and stage productions such as THE SQUARE and DON JUAN: A MEDITATION (Mark Taper Forum's Taper, Too), SUMMER MOON (Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre and South Coast Repertory), DAY STANDING ON ITS HEAD (Manhattan Theatre Club), NAGASAKI DUST (Philadelphia Theatre Company) and WINTER CRANE (Fountain Theatre) for which she received a Drama-Logue Award.

The Rae Creevey Award, named in honor of an Emmy Award-winning founder of East West Players, will recognize Alberto Issac and Emily Kuroda for their many years of commitment and volunteer service to the theatre. Alberto joined the theater in 1967 and Emily in 1978. In all those years, both have served the theater as actors, writers, producers, directors, publicists, file clerks, receptions, box office managers, lighting designers, house managers, stage managers, scene painters and even janitors. Most recently, Alberto was seen in last fall's production of EQUUS and in May will direct the world premiere of MOTTY-CHON by Perry Miyake. His television credits include JAG, The West Wing and a recurring role in Family Law. In December, Emily co-directed and returned to her role as "Hana" in THE NISEI WIDOWS CLUB HOLIDAY ON THIN ICE. For the last six seasons, Emily has played "Mrs. Kim" on the WB's Gilmore Girls. The two met at East West Players in 1980 during a production of WHAT THE ENEMY LOOKS LIKE by Perry Miyake and married in 1982 during a production of YELLOW FEVER by R.A. Shiomi.

Playwright Prince Gomolvilas will receive the Made in America Award which recognizes an artist who has made a significant contribution to Asian American theatre. In 1998, Prince was 25-years old when East West Players staged his play BIG HUNK O‚ BURNIN‚ LOVE, making him one of the youngest playwrights produced at the theater. In 2001, East West Players and Singapore Repertory Theatre co-produced the world premiere of THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, which was recently published by Dramatic Publishing. His others plays include SEAT BEALTS AND BIG FAT BUDDHAS, DEBUNKING LOVE, BEE, BOYS OF ALL NATIONS: THE RISE AND FALL OF A MULTI-ETHNIC BOY BAND, MYSTERIOUS SKIN and EMOPHILIACS. Prince‚s plays have been produced across the country at theatres such as Asian Stories in American Theatre, dueEast Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, New Conservatory Theatre (where he is playwright-in-residence) and the Smithsonian Institution.

The East West Players 40th Anniversary Visionary Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on Monday, April 10, 2006 at the Hilton Universal City, 555 Universal City Drive, Universal City, CA 91608. The no-host reception and silent auction will be at 6 pm with the dinner and event program starting at 7 pm. Tickets are $175 ˆ $1,250. For more information on East West Players 40th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction please contact Managing Director Trent Steelman at (213) 625-7000 x19 or tsteelman@eastwestplayers.org.

East West Players
David Henry Hwang Theater
120 Judge John Aiso St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 625-7000 x12
(213) 625-7111 FAX
www.eastwestplayers.org

Mission Statement
As the nation‚s premier Asian American theatre organization, East West Players produces outstanding works and educational programs that give voice to the Asian Pacific American experience.

Questions? Email



	East West Players announces honorees of its 40th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, will honor actress Tamlyn Tomita, playwright Prince Gomolvilas, and actress Emily Kuroda and actor/director Alberto Isaac at its 40th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction at the beautiful Hilton Universal City high atop the hills of Hollywood on April 10, 2006. East West Players‚ annual 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. "East West Players has reached a milestone anniversary that has made it one of the oldest theaters of color in the United States and a cornerstone in the Asian American community. We thank the community for its belief in our mission and making EWP a place where the community gathers to share its stories. But the lifeline of East West Players and the reason for its longevity is due to the many artists who have walked through our doors, giving their amazing talent, volunteering thousands of work hours and donating their hard-earned money. We've come a long way together. From working out of a church basement in the 1960s, to a 99-seat storefront black-box in Silverlake in the '70s and '80s, to a 240-seat professional mid-sized theater in the '90s, EWP is a real success story. We still have a long way to go but our future looks bright," said East West Players Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. Receiving the Visionary Award is Actress Tamlyn Tomita who made her screen debut in The Karate Kid, Part II and has since appeared in numerous feature film, television and theatre projects. She is best known for her role as "Waverly" in Wayne Wang's film adaptation of Amy Tan's best selling novel The Joy Luck Club. Tamlyn's other credits include films such as Picture Bride, Come See the Paradise, Four Rooms, Living Out Loud, Robot Stories, The Day After Tomorrow and Gaijin 2; recurring roles on JAG, 24, Santa Barbara and The Burning Zone; and stage productions such as THE SQUARE and DON JUAN: A MEDITATION (Mark Taper Forum's Taper, Too), SUMMER MOON (Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre and South Coast Repertory), DAY STANDING ON ITS HEAD (Manhattan Theatre Club), NAGASAKI DUST (Philadelphia Theatre Company) and WINTER CRANE (Fountain Theatre) for which she received a Drama-Logue Award. The Rae Creevey Award, named in honor of an Emmy Award-winning founder of East West Players, will recognize Alberto Issac and Emily Kuroda for their many years of commitment and volunteer service to the theatre. Alberto joined the theater in 1967 and Emily in 1978. In all those years, both have served the theater as actors, writers, producers, directors, publicists, file clerks, receptions, box office managers, lighting designers, house managers, stage managers, scene painters and even janitors. Most recently, Alberto was seen in last fall's production of EQUUS and in May will direct the world premiere of MOTTY-CHON by Perry Miyake. His television credits include JAG, The West Wing and a recurring role in Family Law. In December, Emily co-directed and returned to her role as "Hana" in THE NISEI WIDOWS CLUB HOLIDAY ON THIN ICE. For the last six seasons, Emily has played "Mrs. Kim" on the WB's Gilmore Girls. The two met at East West Players in 1980 during a production of WHAT THE ENEMY LOOKS LIKE by Perry Miyake and married in 1982 during a production of YELLOW FEVER by R.A. Shiomi. Playwright Prince Gomolvilas will receive the Made in America Award which recognizes an artist who has made a significant contribution to Asian American theatre. In 1998, Prince was 25-years old when East West Players staged his play BIG HUNK O‚ BURNIN‚ LOVE, making him one of the youngest playwrights produced at the theater. In 2001, East West Players and Singapore Repertory Theatre co-produced the world premiere of THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, which was recently published by Dramatic Publishing. His others plays include SEAT BEALTS AND BIG FAT BUDDHAS, DEBUNKING LOVE, BEE, BOYS OF ALL NATIONS: THE RISE AND FALL OF A MULTI-ETHNIC BOY BAND, MYSTERIOUS SKIN and EMOPHILIACS. Prince‚s plays have been produced across the country at theatres such as Asian Stories in American Theatre, dueEast Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, New Conservatory Theatre (where he is playwright-in-residence) and the Smithsonian Institution. The East West Players 40th Anniversary Visionary Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on Monday, April 10, 2006 at the Hilton Universal City, 555 Universal City Drive, Universal City, CA 91608. The no-host reception and silent auction will be at 6 pm with the dinner and event program starting at 7 pm. Tickets are $175 ˆ $1,250. For more information on East West Players 40th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction please contact Managing Director Trent Steelman at (213) 625-7000 x19 or tsteelman@eastwestplayers.org. East West Players David Henry Hwang Theater 120 Judge John Aiso St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 625-7000 x12 (213) 625-7111 FAX www.eastwestplayers.org Mission Statement As the nation‚s premier Asian American theatre organization, East West Players produces outstanding works and educational programs that give voice to the Asian Pacific American experience. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2006, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

East West Players announces honorees of its 40th Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction