East West announces 42nd Season (May07)

East West Players (EWP) proudly announces its 42nd Anniversary Season during 2007-2008. EWP Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang explores the journeys that people take, emotional, spiritual and physical.

“East West Players has taken on the challenge of two World Premieres and a West Coast Premiere as part of its season,” says Tim Dang, “These new works will explore the importance of movement in our life. Can we ever stand still? Whether it is an inner-exploration of the soul or traveling from point A to B, these journeys shape our lives. As a theatre, EWP has taken a remarkable journey having had several homes and finally landing here at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Little Tokyo. And our growth is not without the trials and tribulations that have shaped our existence and our philosophy.”

The 42nd Season begins in fall of 2007 with the west coast premiere of DURANGO by Julia Cho followed by the world premiere of DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashiby Jeanne Sakata. The winter production will be the world premiere VOICES FROM OKINAWA by Jon Shirota and the Broadway musical PIPPIN, book by Roger O. Hirson and music & lyrics by WICKED composer Stephen Schwartz will close the season in the spring.

DURANGO will launch the 42nd Season with the story of Boo-Seng Lee who is laid off from the job to which he has devoted the last 25 years of his life. He decides to take his two sons, Jimmy and Isaac, on a road trip to Durango, Colorado. As they make their way across the Arizona desert, they confront family secrets, peeling back the layers of identity, alienation and duty that define being Asian in America. DURANGO promises to be a thought-provoking examination of the fears, fantasies, and failures of a family standing in the shadow of the American Dream. “A tender-hearted production,” Charles Isherwood, The New York Times. Writer Julia Cho has been writing plays since eighth grade and continues to write new works produced across the nation. DURANGO will run September 19 – October 14, 2007.

DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi makes its world premiere after a reading earlier in March at the Theatre @ Boston Court. Jeanne Sakata now works behind the scenes after coming off an acclaimed performance as Maria Callas in EWP’s 2007 production of MASTER CLASS. Based on a true story, DAWN’S LIGHT is the story of University of Washington student, Gordon Hirabayashi who, during the Japanese Internment of WWII, refused to follow evacuation orders as an exercise of his civil rights. Convicted and placed into a federal prison, it took 45 years for his conviction to be overturned. DAWN’S LIGHT will run November 7 – December 2, 2007.

VOICES FROM OKINAWA will be East West Players’ 2nd world premiere in the 42nd Season as writer Jon Shirota displays the impact of the American GI presence in Okinawa. The play was recently read as part of the Japanese American National Museum and East West Players Writers’ Gallery program. VOICES FROM OKINAWA follows Kama Hutchins, an American graduate student of one quarter Okinawan descent, who teaches English in Okinawa, and receives an unexpected education in Okinawan-American relations. Also the writer of LEILANI’S HIBISCUS and LUCKY COME HAWAII, Jon Shirota’s new piece promises to bring together American and Okinawan cultures to explore and expose the true feelings beneath the surface of this long and troubled relationship. VOICES FROM OKINAWA will play February 13 – March 9, 2008.

In May 2008, PIPPIN will mark the return of the big musical back to East West Players since SWEENEY TODD in March 2006. Book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, composer of the current national hit WICKED. PIPPIN is a coming of age story following the travels of Charlemagne’s oldest son. As Pippin wanders the world of politics, love and war you are exposed to classic numbers such as “Magic to Do” and “Corner of the Sky.” Directed by EWP Artistic Director Tim Dang, PIPPIN promises to bring excitement and fun with a twist of Anime and hip-hop styles. PIPPIN will run May 14 – June 8, 2008.

Performances for DURANGO, DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi, VOICES FROM OKINAWA and PIPPIN will be held Wednesday-Sunday at the David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 in the Little Tokyo District of Downtown Los Angeles. For season subscription information go to www.EastWestPlayers.org or call 213-625-7000. All plays and dates subject to change.

Questions? Email



	EAST WEST PLAYERS ANNOUNCES ITS 42ND SEASON East West Players (EWP) proudly announces its 42nd Anniversary Season during 2007-2008. EWP Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang explores the journeys that people take, emotional, spiritual and physical. “East West Players has taken on the challenge of two World Premieres and a West Coast Premiere as part of its season,” says Tim Dang, “These new works will explore the importance of movement in our life. Can we ever stand still? Whether it is an inner-exploration of the soul or traveling from point A to B, these journeys shape our lives. As a theatre, EWP has taken a remarkable journey having had several homes and finally landing here at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Little Tokyo. And our growth is not without the trials and tribulations that have shaped our existence and our philosophy.” The 42nd Season begins in fall of 2007 with the west coast premiere of DURANGO by Julia Cho followed by the world premiere of DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashiby Jeanne Sakata. The winter production will be the world premiere VOICES FROM OKINAWA by Jon Shirota and the Broadway musical PIPPIN, book by Roger O. Hirson and music & lyrics by WICKED composer Stephen Schwartz will close the season in the spring. DURANGO will launch the 42nd Season with the story of Boo-Seng Lee who is laid off from the job to which he has devoted the last 25 years of his life. He decides to take his two sons, Jimmy and Isaac, on a road trip to Durango, Colorado. As they make their way across the Arizona desert, they confront family secrets, peeling back the layers of identity, alienation and duty that define being Asian in America. DURANGO promises to be a thought-provoking examination of the fears, fantasies, and failures of a family standing in the shadow of the American Dream. “A tender-hearted production,” Charles Isherwood, The New York Times. Writer Julia Cho has been writing plays since eighth grade and continues to write new works produced across the nation. DURANGO will run September 19 – October 14, 2007. DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi makes its world premiere after a reading earlier in March at the Theatre @ Boston Court. Jeanne Sakata now works behind the scenes after coming off an acclaimed performance as Maria Callas in EWP’s 2007 production of MASTER CLASS. Based on a true story, DAWN’S LIGHT is the story of University of Washington student, Gordon Hirabayashi who, during the Japanese Internment of WWII, refused to follow evacuation orders as an exercise of his civil rights. Convicted and placed into a federal prison, it took 45 years for his conviction to be overturned. DAWN’S LIGHT will run November 7 – December 2, 2007. VOICES FROM OKINAWA will be East West Players’ 2nd world premiere in the 42nd Season as writer Jon Shirota displays the impact of the American GI presence in Okinawa. The play was recently read as part of the Japanese American National Museum and East West Players Writers’ Gallery program. VOICES FROM OKINAWA follows Kama Hutchins, an American graduate student of one quarter Okinawan descent, who teaches English in Okinawa, and receives an unexpected education in Okinawan-American relations. Also the writer of LEILANI’S HIBISCUS and LUCKY COME HAWAII, Jon Shirota’s new piece promises to bring together American and Okinawan cultures to explore and expose the true feelings beneath the surface of this long and troubled relationship. VOICES FROM OKINAWA will play February 13 – March 9, 2008. In May 2008, PIPPIN will mark the return of the big musical back to East West Players since SWEENEY TODD in March 2006. Book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, composer of the current national hit WICKED. PIPPIN is a coming of age story following the travels of Charlemagne’s oldest son. As Pippin wanders the world of politics, love and war you are exposed to classic numbers such as “Magic to Do” and “Corner of the Sky.” Directed by EWP Artistic Director Tim Dang, PIPPIN promises to bring excitement and fun with a twist of Anime and hip-hop styles. PIPPIN will run May 14 – June 8, 2008. Performances for DURANGO, DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi, VOICES FROM OKINAWA and PIPPIN will be held Wednesday-Sunday at the David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 in the Little Tokyo District of Downtown Los Angeles. For season subscription information go to www.EastWestPlayers.org or call 213-625-7000. All plays and dates subject to change. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2007, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

EAST WEST PLAYERS ANNOUNCES ITS 42ND SEASON