East West Players announces its fall Arts Education Programs
East West Players, the nation‚s premier Asian American theatre, begins its fall Arts Education programs with the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute, Actors Conservatory and Alliance of Creative Talent Services. These adult education programs encompass all aspects of the arts and entertainment industry, developing the talents of Asian American artists and giving the Asian Pacific Islander community a stronger creative voice.
"East West Players‚ arts education programs play an invaluable role in training a new generation of Asian American artists and raising their visibility in the film, television and theatre industries," said Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. "Nurturing the Asian American writer is essential because they can write about their own experiences and thus create more work for Asian American performers. Similarly, Asian American performers are currently at a turning point in the arts and entertainment industries and East West Players provides an important service that supports this new wave of artists. More importantly, in this competitive arts business it is essential to have an organizational program that creates community while simultaneously endorsing the careers of Asian American artists."
According to a 1998 Writers Guild report, there are only 25 Asian or Asian American writers employed in the entertainment industry. East West Players hopes to reduce this gap by nurturing the careers of writers through the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute. The Institute was founded in 1991 with the support of its namesake, award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. BUTTERFLY, GOLDEN CHILD, the new libretto of FLOWER DRUM SONG). Today, the Institute is the nation‚s most active Asian American play development program and has supported the careers of such talented writers as Noel Alumit (THE RICE ROOM), Sujata G. Bhatt (QUEEN OF THE REMOTE CONTROL), Lucy Kim (LEON AND CLARK) and Tim Toyoma‚s VISAS AND VIRTUES, which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning short film. This fall the Writer‚s Institute will offer a Playwriting Workshop taught by Doris Baizley, a founding member of LA Theater Works and a resident playwright for the Mark Taper Forum‚s ITP Company for young audiences. Other classes include Generating New Texts taught by Alice Tuan, the renowned author of IKEBANA and HIT.
East West Players also specializes in training artists centerstage and is pleased to offer its fall Actors Conservatory classes. The year-round Actors Conservatory classes provide professional training in modern stage and film techniques to develop the skills of the artist. The classes are open to individuals pursuing professional careers in the arts or those who simply want a place to display their personal artistic expression while learning about theater. More than 3,000 talented Asian American performers have participated in the Conservatory‚s 24 year history and East West Players looks forward to supporting the future of Asian American actors and actresses. Many of our conservatory students have gone on to star in feature films and television shows. Perry Shen and Karin Anna Cheung, stars of the Sundance Film Festival hit Better Luck Tomorrow, were both students at the Conservatory as well as Keiko Agena, a regular on Gilmore Girls. This fall, East West Players will offer classes such as Scene Study with Michael Clark Haney, an award-winning director who has taught a Master Class in directing and acting at Harvard University, instructed at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and is a member of the Actors Studio Directors Unit. The Conservatory will also include Intermediate Acting with Kelvin Han Yee, a veteran artist who worked for six seasons as a company member of the American Conservatory Theatre and who was also the first Asian American company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. The fall session also provides the introductory course Fundamentals of Acting with Leslie Ishii, who is the co-founder of Virgo Productions and has also worked at the Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, El Teatro Campesino, New Mexico Repertory, Northwest Asian American Theatre and other Seattle based theatres.
Through the Alliance of Creative Talent Services (ACTS), East West Players further connects the community of Asian American artists. After a 1999 Los Angeles Times article about the startling lack of diversity in primetime network television, ACTS was formed to heighten the visibility of Asian American artists. Through ACTS, numerous casting directors and executives get the opportunity to come into contact with the growing Asian American talent. Conversely, this career development program offers its members networking opportunities and a connection to the inner workings of the arts and entertainment businesses. Some of the many valuable benefits of ACTS include the annual Talent Guide distributed to industry executives, seminars and workshops, and casting notices. ACTS is currently accepting renewal and new membership registration from August 1- September 13, 2004. Membership is $75.
For more information about any of East West Players Arts Education programs, please contact Marilyn Tokuda at (213) 625-7000 or mtokuda (AT) eastwestplayers.org.
