Asian American Theatre Revue

East West Players, the nation‚s premier Asian American theatre organization, begins its 39th Anniversary Season ˆ New Perspectives ˆ with the world premiere of Mixed Messages by Cherylene Lee and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. Mixed Messages explores the issues of identity and culture that people of mixed heritage experience.

"East West Players breaks new ground with its first play about people of mixed heritage. We have a vested interest in this play as the Asian Pacific American community changes. Statistics show that biracial Asian and White people are the third most frequent mix in California and nationwide. East West Players gives the Asian Pacific Islander community a stronger artistic voice and we are proud to give this growing community of Americans a powerful creative voice through Cherylene's play." said Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director.

Merging science, art and politics, Lee's play is inspired by a Census 2000 report that detailed the growing populations of people with mixed heritage. The Census states that 1 in 5 people in Los Angeles under the age of 18 is of mixed ethnicity. In California, approximately 5 percent of the people identify themselves as belonging to 2 or more races (compared to the estimated 2.4 percent nationwide). Currently more than 15 percent of births in California are children of mixed race. Nationwide, more than 7 million Americans identify themselves as mixed race, with nearly half of those people under the age of 18. Demographers suggest that by 2050 the percentage of mixed race Americans will reach 21 percent.

"The 2000 Census was the first population census which gave many more categories for people to choose from in describing their ethnic background. The idea of so many combinations, so much diversity, so many choices, was interesting to me. How do we define who we are? How does that affect our lives? How will we define ourselves in the future?" said Cherylene Lee.

Lee's play uses the subject of a 9,000-year old human skull from the La Brea Tar Pits to address the questions that these American faces. As a physical anthropologist and Chumash tribe descendant battle over the skull‚s classification as research fossil or Native American ancestor, they both are forced to confront their own identities as people of mixed race and emotions spark, pitting culture against science and heritage against ethnicity.

Mixed MessagesMIXED MESSAGES is Cherylene's fourth production at East West Players, her previous plays at EWP include: CARRY THE TIGER TO THE MOUNTAIN, ARTHUR AND LEILA, and WONG BOW RIDES AGAIN. Her work has been produced at theatres around the country. Most recently ANTIGONE FALUN GONG premiered at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley and THE LEGACY CODES, premiered at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto. She has been a recipient of a TCG/NEA Playwriting Residency, a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays grant, a Rockefeller MAP grant, a California Arts Council Playwriting Fellowship, a Wallace A. Gerbode Play Commission, and two San Francisco Arts Commission grants (one in literature, one in performing arts.) Her poetry and short fiction have been widely published. In 2003, she was honored with East West Players Made in America Award for playwrights.

Director Jon Lawrence Rivera is the founding artistic director of Playwrights‚ Arena where he directed several critically acclaimed productions. His productions have garnered more than 70 Ovation, Garland, Drama-Logue, Maddy and LA Weekly awards including a 1998 Fringe First Award and the 2001 Scotsman Readers‚ Favorite Production (Music Category) for the Nick Salamone and Maury McIntyre musical MOSCOW.

The cast of Mixed Messages is a diverse group of artists including Walter Berry, Miguel Najera, Natsuko Ohama, Lisa Tharps, Luis Villalta, and Mia Riverton.

The creative team is Set Designer John Binkley, Costume Designer Marya Krakowiak, Lighting Designer Gerry Linsangan, Sound Designer John Zalewski, Property Master Ken Takemoto, and Stage Manager Robert Fromer.

All performances of Mixed Messages are in the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, located in Little Tokyo at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Opening night is September 15, 2004 (includes gala reception with the director, cast and crew) and closing on October 10, 2004. Previews are September 9-11 at 8 pm and September 12 at 2 pm. Regular performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm (no Saturday matinee on September 18). An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for October 2 at 2 pm.

Ticket prices are $33 in the orchestra, $28 in the balcony; $20 for Previews; and $58 for Opening Night. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.eastwestplayers.org or calling (213) 625-7000 x20, Monday through Friday, 11 am ˆ 5 pm. Senior, student and group discounts are available.

Cherylene Lee's Mixed Messages was developed with support from the Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights, a project of the National Endowment for the Arts, developed and administered by Theatre Communications Group.

Mixed Messages is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, The James Irvine Foundation, California Community Foundation and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

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	East West Players presents the world premiere of Mixed Messages East West Players, the nation‚s premier Asian American theatre organization, begins its 39th Anniversary Season ˆ New Perspectives ˆ with the world premiere of Mixed Messages by Cherylene Lee and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. Mixed Messages explores the issues of identity and culture that people of mixed heritage experience. "East West Players breaks new ground with its first play about people of mixed heritage. We have a vested interest in this play as the Asian Pacific American community changes. Statistics show that biracial Asian and White people are the third most frequent mix in California and nationwide. East West Players gives the Asian Pacific Islander community a stronger artistic voice and we are proud to give this growing community of Americans a powerful creative voice through Cherylene's play." said Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director. Merging science, art and politics, Lee's play is inspired by a Census 2000 report that detailed the growing populations of people with mixed heritage. The Census states that 1 in 5 people in Los Angeles under the age of 18 is of mixed ethnicity. In California, approximately 5 percent of the people identify themselves as belonging to 2 or more races (compared to the estimated 2.4 percent nationwide). Currently more than 15 percent of births in California are children of mixed race. Nationwide, more than 7 million Americans identify themselves as mixed race, with nearly half of those people under the age of 18. Demographers suggest that by 2050 the percentage of mixed race Americans will reach 21 percent. "The 2000 Census was the first population census which gave many more categories for people to choose from in describing their ethnic background. The idea of so many combinations, so much diversity, so many choices, was interesting to me. How do we define who we are? How does that affect our lives? How will we define ourselves in the future?" said Cherylene Lee. Lee's play uses the subject of a 9,000-year old human skull from the La Brea Tar Pits to address the questions that these American faces. As a physical anthropologist and Chumash tribe descendant battle over the skull‚s classification as research fossil or Native American ancestor, they both are forced to confront their own identities as people of mixed race and emotions spark, pitting culture against science and heritage against ethnicity. Mixed MessagesMIXED MESSAGES is Cherylene's fourth production at East West Players, her previous plays at EWP include: CARRY THE TIGER TO THE MOUNTAIN, ARTHUR AND LEILA, and WONG BOW RIDES AGAIN. Her work has been produced at theatres around the country. Most recently ANTIGONE FALUN GONG premiered at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley and THE LEGACY CODES, premiered at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto. She has been a recipient of a TCG/NEA Playwriting Residency, a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays grant, a Rockefeller MAP grant, a California Arts Council Playwriting Fellowship, a Wallace A. Gerbode Play Commission, and two San Francisco Arts Commission grants (one in literature, one in performing arts.) Her poetry and short fiction have been widely published. In 2003, she was honored with East West Players Made in America Award for playwrights. Director Jon Lawrence Rivera is the founding artistic director of Playwrights‚ Arena where he directed several critically acclaimed productions. His productions have garnered more than 70 Ovation, Garland, Drama-Logue, Maddy and LA Weekly awards including a 1998 Fringe First Award and the 2001 Scotsman Readers‚ Favorite Production (Music Category) for the Nick Salamone and Maury McIntyre musical MOSCOW. The cast of Mixed Messages is a diverse group of artists including Walter Berry, Miguel Najera, Natsuko Ohama, Lisa Tharps, Luis Villalta, and Mia Riverton. The creative team is Set Designer John Binkley, Costume Designer Marya Krakowiak, Lighting Designer Gerry Linsangan, Sound Designer John Zalewski, Property Master Ken Takemoto, and Stage Manager Robert Fromer. All performances of Mixed Messages are in the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, located in Little Tokyo at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Opening night is September 15, 2004 (includes gala reception with the director, cast and crew) and closing on October 10, 2004. Previews are September 9-11 at 8 pm and September 12 at 2 pm. Regular performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm (no Saturday matinee on September 18). An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for October 2 at 2 pm. Ticket prices are $33 in the orchestra, $28 in the balcony; $20 for Previews; and $58 for Opening Night. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.eastwestplayers.org or calling (213) 625-7000 x20, Monday through Friday, 11 am ˆ 5 pm. Senior, student and group discounts are available. Cherylene Lee's Mixed Messages was developed with support from the Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights, a project of the National Endowment for the Arts, developed and administered by Theatre Communications Group. Mixed Messages is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, The James Irvine Foundation, California Community Foundation and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2004, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

East West Players presents the world premiere of Mixed Messages