East West presents STEW RICE (Fall 2005)

East West Players, the nation’s premier Asian American theatre organization, begins its historic 40th Anniversary Season with the return of the Hawaiian-favorite Stew Rice by Edward Sakamoto, directed by James A. Nakamoto.

Beginning in Hawaii during 1957 and ending in 1978, this comedy centers around three young men and their female counterparts as they finish high school, examining what happens to friendship when time and distance have their way. But more importantly, what happens when someone moves away and no longer relates to “home.” East West Players’ 1987 production of Stew Rice was one of the most successful in the theatre’s history, running for almost three months after being extended twice.

“East West Players has always produced great plays about the Hawaiian experience. These plays are also uniquely American stories and it is perfect for us to bring Stew Rice back in celebration of our 40th Anniversary,” said East West Players Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang.

“Stew Rice’s theme of leaving home and returning years later to discover how people and places have changed is a universal experience that strikes a chord with all audiences. Everyone leaves home at some point in their lives to face a new set of challenges and reach new goals. And everyone knows how hard it is to go back and realize that home has changed. But sometimes the most difficult part is realizing that we have changed too,” Dang added.

Playwright Edward Sakamoto has written 16 plays, 11 of which have Hawaii themes. His plays have been produced in Honolulu, New York City, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles, among others. He received the prestigious Hawaii Award for Literature (1997) from then Gov. Benjamin Cayetano. University of Hawaii Press has published six of his plays in two books: Hawaii No Ka Oi, the Kamiya Family Trilogy and Aloha Las Vegas and Other Plays – the “other plays” are STEW RICE and A’ALA PARK. He received L.A. Drama-Logue awards for STEW RICE and CHIKAMATSU’S FOREST. Hawaii State Theatre Council presented Sakamoto with Po'okela awards (best original plays) for OUR HEARTS WERE TOUCHED WITH FIRE and ALOHA LAS VEGAS. Sakamoto has also received the Rockefeller Foundation American Playwrights in Residence fellowship and an NEA grant.

“In a way I wrote Stew Rice for those of us who left Hawaii in our youth and still find ourselves on the mainland, separated from friends and family for many years. Leaving Hawaii at the time seemed like the right thing to do. For many, life on the mainland is indeed better, more exciting, more challenging. For others, the mainland is perhaps a trap, since returning to Hawaii is impossible because of career jobs,” said Sakamoto. “Like some of my other Hawaii plays, Stew Rice is a nostalgic return to my youth.”

Director James A. Nakamoto has directed 11 of Sakamoto’s plays including DEAD OF NIGHT, OBAKE, LIFE OF THE LAND, OUR HEARTS WERE TOUCHED WITH FIRE, a previous production of STEW RICE and ALOHA, LAS VEGAS. Nakamoto has directed at the Aratani/Japan America Theater in Los Angeles and extensively in Hawaii for Kumu Kahua Theatre, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Manoa Valley Theatre (formerly HPAC) and Diamond Head Theatre (formerly HCT). As an educator, Nakamoto revived the long-dormant drama program at McKinley High School and created the drama program at Waiane Intermediate School. He also helped craft the drama curriculum for the State of Hawaii Department of Education. Nakamoto is a receipient of an NEA grant and fellowship at Northwestern University.

The creative team includes set designer Mina Kinukawa, costume designer and property master Ken Takemoto, projection designer Maiko Nezu and stage manager Pat Loeb.

The cast includes Millie Chow, Chanel Akiko Hirai, Kaliko Kauahi, Michael Sun Lee, Shaun Shimoda, Keo Woolford and Eve Yeung.

All performances 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 7, 2005 (includes gala reception with the director, cast and crew) and closing on October 2, 2005. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm (no Saturday matinee on September 10). Previews are September 1-3 at 8 pm and September 4 at 2 pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for September 24 at 2 pm.

General ticket prices are $35 in the orchestra and $30 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $60 for all seats. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.eastwestplayers.org or calling (213) 625-7000. Senior, student and group discounts are available.

Stew Rice is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

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	East West Players presents the Hawaiian-favorite Stew Rice East West Players, the nation’s premier Asian American theatre organization, begins its historic 40th Anniversary Season with the return of the Hawaiian-favorite Stew Rice by Edward Sakamoto, directed by James A. Nakamoto. Beginning in Hawaii during 1957 and ending in 1978, this comedy centers around three young men and their female counterparts as they finish high school, examining what happens to friendship when time and distance have their way. But more importantly, what happens when someone moves away and no longer relates to “home.” East West Players’ 1987 production of Stew Rice was one of the most successful in the theatre’s history, running for almost three months after being extended twice. “East West Players has always produced great plays about the Hawaiian experience. These plays are also uniquely American stories and it is perfect for us to bring Stew Rice back in celebration of our 40th Anniversary,” said East West Players Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. “Stew Rice’s theme of leaving home and returning years later to discover how people and places have changed is a universal experience that strikes a chord with all audiences. Everyone leaves home at some point in their lives to face a new set of challenges and reach new goals. And everyone knows how hard it is to go back and realize that home has changed. But sometimes the most difficult part is realizing that we have changed too,” Dang added. Playwright Edward Sakamoto has written 16 plays, 11 of which have Hawaii themes. His plays have been produced in Honolulu, New York City, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles, among others. He received the prestigious Hawaii Award for Literature (1997) from then Gov. Benjamin Cayetano. University of Hawaii Press has published six of his plays in two books: Hawaii No Ka Oi, the Kamiya Family Trilogy and Aloha Las Vegas and Other Plays – the “other plays” are STEW RICE and A’ALA PARK. He received L.A. Drama-Logue awards for STEW RICE and CHIKAMATSU’S FOREST. Hawaii State Theatre Council presented Sakamoto with Po'okela awards (best original plays) for OUR HEARTS WERE TOUCHED WITH FIRE and ALOHA LAS VEGAS. Sakamoto has also received the Rockefeller Foundation American Playwrights in Residence fellowship and an NEA grant. “In a way I wrote Stew Rice for those of us who left Hawaii in our youth and still find ourselves on the mainland, separated from friends and family for many years. Leaving Hawaii at the time seemed like the right thing to do. For many, life on the mainland is indeed better, more exciting, more challenging. For others, the mainland is perhaps a trap, since returning to Hawaii is impossible because of career jobs,” said Sakamoto. “Like some of my other Hawaii plays, Stew Rice is a nostalgic return to my youth.” Director James A. Nakamoto has directed 11 of Sakamoto’s plays including DEAD OF NIGHT, OBAKE, LIFE OF THE LAND, OUR HEARTS WERE TOUCHED WITH FIRE, a previous production of STEW RICE and ALOHA, LAS VEGAS. Nakamoto has directed at the Aratani/Japan America Theater in Los Angeles and extensively in Hawaii for Kumu Kahua Theatre, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Manoa Valley Theatre (formerly HPAC) and Diamond Head Theatre (formerly HCT). As an educator, Nakamoto revived the long-dormant drama program at McKinley High School and created the drama program at Waiane Intermediate School. He also helped craft the drama curriculum for the State of Hawaii Department of Education. Nakamoto is a receipient of an NEA grant and fellowship at Northwestern University. The creative team includes set designer Mina Kinukawa, costume designer and property master Ken Takemoto, projection designer Maiko Nezu and stage manager Pat Loeb. The cast includes Millie Chow, Chanel Akiko Hirai, Kaliko Kauahi, Michael Sun Lee, Shaun Shimoda, Keo Woolford and Eve Yeung. All performances 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 7, 2005 (includes gala reception with the director, cast and crew) and closing on October 2, 2005. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm (no Saturday matinee on September 10). Previews are September 1-3 at 8 pm and September 4 at 2 pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for September 24 at 2 pm. General ticket prices are $35 in the orchestra and $30 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $60 for all seats. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.eastwestplayers.org or calling (213) 625-7000. Senior, student and group discounts are available. Stew Rice is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2005, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

East West Players presents the Hawaiian-favorite Stew Rice