Asian American Theatre Revue

Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi marks the second production of East West Players (EWP) 42nd Anniversary Season, Navigating Home. This production pools the talents of first time playwright Jeanne Sakata, director Jessica Kubzansky and performer Ryun Yu. Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi promises to be a poignant production bringing to life a true story about one’s constitutional rights in a time of crisis.

“Jeanne Sakata has worked with East West Players on the stage as an actress in several productions and we are very excited to work with her as a writer,” says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. “EWP welcomes Jessica Kubzansky better known as co-artistic director of The Theatre @ Boston Court. I have been a big fan of her work and am excited to see what she will bring to the EWP stage. Ryun Yu, last seen in Sisters Matsumoto by Philip Kan Gotanda at EWP in 2002, will be the sole performer portraying Gordon Hirabayashi and the myriad of characters presented in the play. These three artists will truly bring to life Gordon Hirbayashi’s story and shape a powerful and compelling production.”

DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayahsi takes us back to 1942 during World War II, when Japanese-Americans are forced to put their life on hold and be interned for the “good” of their country’s citizens. University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi agonizes over U.S. government orders. As he fights to reconcile his country's betrayal of his Constitutional beliefs refusing to evacuate and eventually being convicted of a federal crime, Gordon journeys toward a greater understanding of America’s triumphs and failures.

Jeanne Sakata has recently appeared on East West Players stage as the famed opera diva Maria Callas in Master Class. Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi marks the debut of Sakata’s writing career. Her process of writing Dawn's Light began over 10 years ago and came together when the project was commissioned in 2003 by the Taper’s Asian Theatre Workshop.

Jessica Kubzansky is the Co-Artistic Director of Pasadena’s The Theatre @ Boston Court. Dawn's Light will be Kubzansky first collaboration with East West Players. She is an award-winning director working around the U.S. at: South Coast Rep, Geffen Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Mark Taper New Works Festival, The Aurora and Boston Publick.

Ryun Yu has worked with numerous Los Angeles theatre companies including Fountain Theatre, Geffen Playhouse, The Theatre @ Boston Court, 24th Street Theatre, and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble.

Sakata, Kubzansky, & Yu return to Dawn's Light from their previous work in its first public staged reading in March 2007 with Los Angeles’ Antaeus Theater Company.

The creative team includes: set designer Maiko Nezu, costume designer Soojin Lee, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, property master Ken Takemoto, sound designer John Zalewski, and production stage manager Nate Genung.

All performances of Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi will be held at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Dawn's Light The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi opens Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 and closes on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007. Opening night will be accompanied by a pre-performance cocktail reception and a post show reception with the cast and creative team. Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, November 1st – 3rd at 8 pm and Sunday, November 4th at 2 pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for Sunday, November 25th, at 2 pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Friday, November 23rd, at 8 pm. There will be no performance on Thursday, November 22nd, 2007.

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 are currently on sale and can also be purchased in a subscription package to East West Players’ 42nd Anniversary Season. For ticket purchases, subscription requests or more information, please call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org. Senior, student and group discounts are available. Dates and details are subject to change.

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	East West Players’ production of DAWN’S LIGHT illuminates life of Gordon Hirabayashi and the Japanese American Internment. Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi marks the second production of East West Players (EWP) 42nd Anniversary Season, Navigating Home. This production pools the talents of first time playwright Jeanne Sakata, director Jessica Kubzansky and performer Ryun Yu. Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi promises to be a poignant production bringing to life a true story about one’s constitutional rights in a time of crisis. “Jeanne Sakata has worked with East West Players on the stage as an actress in several productions and we are very excited to work with her as a writer,” says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. “EWP welcomes Jessica Kubzansky better known as co-artistic director of The Theatre @ Boston Court. I have been a big fan of her work and am excited to see what she will bring to the EWP stage. Ryun Yu, last seen in Sisters Matsumoto by Philip Kan Gotanda at EWP in 2002, will be the sole performer portraying Gordon Hirabayashi and the myriad of characters presented in the play. These three artists will truly bring to life Gordon Hirbayashi’s story and shape a powerful and compelling production.” DAWN’S LIGHT: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayahsi takes us back to 1942 during World War II, when Japanese-Americans are forced to put their life on hold and be interned for the “good” of their country’s citizens. University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi agonizes over U.S. government orders. As he fights to reconcile his country's betrayal of his Constitutional beliefs refusing to evacuate and eventually being convicted of a federal crime, Gordon journeys toward a greater understanding of America’s triumphs and failures. Jeanne Sakata has recently appeared on East West Players stage as the famed opera diva Maria Callas in Master Class. Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi marks the debut of Sakata’s writing career. Her process of writing Dawn's Light began over 10 years ago and came together when the project was commissioned in 2003 by the Taper’s Asian Theatre Workshop. Jessica Kubzansky is the Co-Artistic Director of Pasadena’s The Theatre @ Boston Court. Dawn's Light will be Kubzansky first collaboration with East West Players. She is an award-winning director working around the U.S. at: South Coast Rep, Geffen Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Mark Taper New Works Festival, The Aurora and Boston Publick. Ryun Yu has worked with numerous Los Angeles theatre companies including Fountain Theatre, Geffen Playhouse, The Theatre @ Boston Court, 24th Street Theatre, and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble. Sakata, Kubzansky, & Yu return to Dawn's Light from their previous work in its first public staged reading in March 2007 with Los Angeles’ Antaeus Theater Company. The creative team includes: set designer Maiko Nezu, costume designer Soojin Lee, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, property master Ken Takemoto, sound designer John Zalewski, and production stage manager Nate Genung. All performances of Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi will be held at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Dawn's Light The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi opens Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 and closes on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007. Opening night will be accompanied by a pre-performance cocktail reception and a post show reception with the cast and creative team. Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, November 1st – 3rd at 8 pm and Sunday, November 4th at 2 pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for Sunday, November 25th, at 2 pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Friday, November 23rd, at 8 pm. There will be no performance on Thursday, November 22nd, 2007. 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 are currently on sale and can also be purchased in a subscription package to East West Players’ 42nd Anniversary Season. For ticket purchases, subscription requests or more information, please call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org. Senior, student and group discounts are available. Dates and details are subject to change. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Plays \| Library/Storefront Copyright 2007, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

East West Players’ production of DAWN’S LIGHT illuminates life of Gordon Hirabayashi and the Japanese American Internment.