East West Players celebrates Tim Dang’s 10th anniversary as Artistic Director with one night only fundraiser

East West Players celebrates Tim Dang on his 10th anniversary as the Producing Artistic Director of the nation’s premier Asian American theatre. EWP will present One Night Only: Tim’s 10th on August 16 with an evening of selections from the theatre’s past hit musical productions such as SWEENEY TODD, PACIFIC OVERTURES, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

Since taking the helm of the organization from Nobu McCarthy in 1993, Dang has lead East West Players to become the largest Asian American theatre in the nation. In 1998, EWP moved from its original 99-seat theater on Santa Monica Blvd. to its current state-of-the-art facility at the historic Union Center for the Arts in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district. Since then, EWP has grown to be a $1.2 million organization and has been called a model for other theatres in Los Angeles and around the country. With productions such as CABARET, RED, GOLDEN CHILD, SISTERS MATSUMOTO and the California tour of HEADING EAST, East West Players’ has garnered widespread artistic acclaim across the country from the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and Washington Post. East West Players ever-growing educational programs serving youth and underrepresented Asian Pacific Islander communities have played an important role in California.

A native of Hawaii, Dang graduated in 1980 from USC with a BFA in Theatre. He has spent the past 23 years as a successful actor and director, earning two Ovation Awards and five Backstage West Drama-Logue/Garland Awards for his work. Dang has garnered critical acclaim and box office success as a director particularly with his productions of Stephen Sondheim musicals such as SWEENEY TODD, PACIFIC OVERTURES and INTO THE WOODS. As a writer, Dang wrote the book and lyrics for the musical BEIJING SPRING and the lyrics for CANTON JAZZ CLUB.

Dang has also grown to be a strong leader in both the local and national theatre arts and Asian American communities. He has been a board member of Theatre League Alliance and participated on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council and Theatre Communications Group. In the Asian American community, Dang serves as an advocate for Asian Americans in the media and in 2000 testified in front of President Clinton’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on the state of art and culture. For his ongoing commitment and demonstrated track record of contribution to the community Dang was recognized with the prestigious Durfee Foundation Sabbatical Award in 2002.

One Night Only: Tim’s 10th will commemorate all that he has contributed in the extraordinary role of East West Players artistic director. Performers will highlight the artistic excellence of the theatre’s past 10 years. Special guest speakers will pay tribute to Dang and the theatre organization. All proceeds from this annual summer fundraiser will benefit EWP’s artistic and educational programs.

The cast (in alphabetical order) includes Kerry Carnahan (THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM), Kimiko Gelman (SWEENEY TODD and CABARET), Kym Hoy (MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS), Michael K. Lee (BEIJING SPRING and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM), Orville Mendoza (SWEENEY TODD and PACIFIC OVERTURES) and Paul Wong (PACIFIC OVERTURES and BEIJING SPRING). Amy Hill will be the mistress of ceremonies with special appearances by George Takei, the women of THE NISEI WIDOWS CLUB and many others.

Held at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, the pre-show reception and silent auction will begin at 6 pm and the performance at 7:30 pm. Tickets $50-$250. For more information on tickets and sponsorships contact Development Manager Rhiana Yazzie at ryazzie@eastwestplayers.org or (213) 625-7000 x17.

One Night Only: Tim’s 10th is sponsored in part by George & Sakaye Aratani, George Takei & Brad Altman, and Leonard Kim of Cherrystone’s restaurant.

Questions? Email gwangung@u.washington.edu