Leilani's Hibiscus, an interracial romance, opens East West's 34th Season

East West Players, the nation' s first and foremost Asian Pacific American theatre, sets the cast and designers for the world premiere of LEILANI'S HIBISCUS, by Jon Shirota, the first production of its 34th Anniversary Season Adventure to New Worlds. The East West Players David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts is located at 120 North Judge John Aiso Street (formerly San Pedro Street) in Little Tokyo downtown Los Angeles. Directed by Tim Dang, LEILANI'S HIBISCUS runs for four weeks, opening on Wednesday, September 22 and closing on October 17, 1999. Low priced previews begin on Thursday, September 16.

Set against the backdrop of Hawaii, LEILANI'S HIBISCUS is a humor-filled journey about an Okinawan-Hawaiian interracial romance that is suddenly shattered by World War II, which ultimately alters the lives of the two lovers. With magical intervention from the spirit world, the couple is reunited in the most unlikely of places.

The cast for LEILANI'S HIBISCUS includes (in alphabetical order) Melody Butiu, Cathleen Chin, Lilia Dominguez, Michael Hagiwara, Dian Kobayashi, Shaun Shimoda, and Keone Young. Okinawan choreographer and consultant for LEILANI'S HIBISCUS is Aiko Tengan of Majikina Honryu (declared a "Living National Treasure" by the Okinawan Prefectural Government), Hawaiian hula choreography by Casey Kono, music consultant is Keone Young, sets by Akeime Mitterlehner, costume design and props by Ken Takemoto, lighting design by Rae Creevey, and sound design by Robert Shinso. The production stage manager is Ricardo Figueroa.

Jon Shirota is the author of two novels, Lucky Come Hawaii and Pineapple White, both of which were later adapted into plays and produced at East West Players. He is also the playwright of YOU'RE ON THE TEE, RIPPLES IN THE POND, and most recently HONOR, DUTY, COUNTRY, for which he received a grant from the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department.

Performances for LEILANI'S HIBISCUS are Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8pm and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. There is no Saturday matinee performance on Saturday, October 9. Low priced previews are September 16, 17 and 18 at 8pm and September 19 at 2pm. General ticket prices are $30 for orchestra and $25 for balcony. A limited number of rush tickets are available for $15 one hour prior to showtime (not available opening night). Patrons can purchase tickets beginning September 1 by calling Telecharge at 800-233-3123, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or in person at the theater box office, Monday through Friday, 12noon to 5pm (120 N. Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). Senior and student rates are available through theater box office only. For groups and subscriptions, call 213-625-7000, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm.

LEILANI'S HIBISCUS is sponsored in part by a grant from Edison International, with support from Anheuser Busch and Chivas Regal.