East West Players' 44th Anniversary Season emphasizes the major presence and value of art.
East West Players' (EWP) 44th Anniversary Season includes a white painting costing 200k, a Chinese cooking show, a video game about world peace according to Buddhist, and an inside look at performer who played the lead role of Kim of MISS SAIGON. This season, themed Art is... includes ART, by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, PO BOY TANGO by Kenneth Lin, CAVE QUEST by Les Thomas and ROAD TO SAIGON developed and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera.
"At a time when we are evaluating the value of cultural enrichment during this economic downturn, East West Players provides a different perspective of finding an abundance of art vital to our daily lives that we cannot live without," says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. "Our season theme Art Is..., allows our audience to explore the various mediums that art exists in our lives and to appreciate the art as a means of expression. There is an artistic expression in the clothes we choose to wear, the car we drive, the destination we vacation in, the food we prepare and the music we like to listen. Imagine instead, a world without creativity or expression - dull, unemotional, uninspiring."
ART: Imagine: A 4' x 5' white canvas, painted with fine white diagonal lines. Is this art? Serge believes it is and is willing to pay 200 grand for it. When Marc flat out laughs at the ridiculousness of the situation, a third party is brought in for an objective opinion. Yvan agrees with both. When three opinions clash, three friendships are put to the test. At the breaking point, Serge hands Marc a felt tip pen and dares him: "Go On." Written by Yasmina Reza, directed by Alberto Isaac. ART will run September 10 - October 11, 2009.
PO BOY TANGO: Shark Fin Soup. Drunken Crab. Black Feather Chicken. Po Mama's Chinese cuisine evokes the joy of cooking and her son, Richie Po has the palette to prove it. When Po Mama dies and passes her secrets on to him, he reunites with Gloria B, a "Soul Food" chef in the making. Together they use Po Mama's TV cooking tapes to discover a deeper understanding of food, culture and the recipe for friendship. Written by Kenneth Lin. PO BOY TANGO will run November 5 - December 6, 2009.
CAVE QUEST: The search for inner peace is a life long journey. However, Justin Yi plans to condense that journey into minutes by packaging it into a $49.99 video game. To help his cause, he tracks down Padma, a legendary Buddhist nun in a Tibetancave high in the Himalayas. Padma hasn't spoken in three years but Justin hopes she will divulge her secrets of enlightenment. When his wit and charm fail, Justin resorts to tactics deemed less heroic. Written by Les Thomas. CAVE QUEST will run February 11 - March 14, 2010.
ROAD TO SAIGON: The coveted role of Kim in the musical MISS SAIGON has been performed by an elite group of talented women on Broadway and around the world. However this evening does not tell Kim's story, but the stories of the actresses who have played this powerhouse role. Hear Joan Almedilla, Jennifer Paz, and Jenni Selma in a heart-warming, passionate and musical journey as they share memories about family, relationships, careers and personal milestones on their individual roads to Saigon. Developed and Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, Musical Direction & Arrangement by Nathan Wang. ROAD TO SAIGON will run May 13 - June 13, 2010.
All performances will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Season Subscriptions are available with General Subscriptions starting at $125. Wednesday, Thursday, Student and Subscriptions are discounted to $110. Preview Subscriptions are $85. Opening Night subscriptions include pre-show cocktails and a post-show reception and are $200. Season Subscription purchases and additional information can be found at www.EastWestPlayers.org or by calling 213-625-7000. All plays and dates subject to change.
