East West Presents MASTER CLASS

East West Players continues its exciting 41st Anniversary Season with Master Class, a Tony-Award winning production written by Terrence McNally. Generous support for this production is provided by the S. Mark Taper Foundation Endowment for East West Players.

World renowned opera diva Maria Callas is teaching a master class in front of an audience (us). She’s glamorous, commanding, larger than life–and drop-dead funny. Maria coaxes, prods, and inspires students–or victims as she calls them–into giving the performances of their lives. As each student steps up to display their talents to the renowned and admired Maria, they are quickly scrutinized before a single note can be sung. When students finally get the opportunity to sing through an entire aria without being interrupted, Maria can only hear her own past rendition of the piece as she gets lost in the memories of that time of her life.

Master Class is pyrotechnical theater–fireworks in a contained space where Callas is brought back to life inspired by series of master classes the great diva conducted at Julliard in 1971 & 1972 near the end of her career. Emotional explosions, cutting wit and soaring music from the Tony Award-winning author of Love! Valour! Compassion!

“Master Class is a truthful look at an artist reaching the end of her prime, still clinging to her glamorous past, and all the while lashing out at her young admirers,” comments East West Players’ artistic director, Tim Dang. “East West Players is very excited to produce another Tony Award winning production as we continue to display the talent of the Asian-American community and the quality theatre East West Players is known for. We look forward to putting together a production that not even Maria Callas herself could find fault with,” he said with a smile.

Master Class was first produced by the Philadelphia Theatre Company at the Plays and Players Theatre in March 1995. The play later opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre 8 months later where it won both Drama Desk Awards and Tony Awards for performances and overall production.
East West Players’ production of Master Class will break down the casting barrier with an all Asian American cast, featuring Jeanne Sakata as Maria Callas with Randy Guiaya, Linda Igarashi, Tess Linda, Marc Macalintal, Maegan McConnell, Timothy Ford Murphy, Alden Ray, and Isabella Way.

Recently off the set of Desperate Housewives Jeanne Sakata has appeared in a number of East West Players’ productions including Equus (2005) and her Los Angeles Ovation Award winning performance in Red (2002). Additional stage credits: Mark Taper Forum’s The House of Bernarda Alba, The First Picture Show, and King Richard II.

Master Class will be directed by Jules Aaron. The creative team includes scenic designer Don Llewellyn, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, costume designer Ivy Chou, sound designer Max Kinberg, properties master Ken Takemoto and stage manager Anna Woo.

Jules Aaron has directed over 200 productions and received numerous awards for his work including 18 Drama-Logue Awards, 12 Inland Drama Critics Awards, and 5 Dean Goodman Awards. He has directed productions at South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Theatreworks, Laguna Playhouse, Musical Theatre West, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, International City Theatre, West Coast Ensemble and several other notable east and west-coast companies.

All performances will be held 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. Master Class opens on February 7, 2007 and closes on March 4, 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 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Previews are Thursday – Saturday, February 1st – 3rd at 8 pm and Sunday, February 4th at 2 pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for Sunday, February 18th at 2 pm.

General ticket prices are $40 in the orchestra and $35 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $65 for all seats. Tickets are currently on sale and can also be purchased with a subscription to East West Players’ 41st 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 presents Tony Award winning MASTER CLASS East West Players continues its exciting 41st Anniversary Season with Master Class, a Tony-Award winning production written by Terrence McNally. Generous support for this production is provided by the S. Mark Taper Foundation Endowment for East West Players. World renowned opera diva Maria Callas is teaching a master class in front of an audience (us). She’s glamorous, commanding, larger than life–and drop-dead funny. Maria coaxes, prods, and inspires students–or victims as she calls them–into giving the performances of their lives. As each student steps up to display their talents to the renowned and admired Maria, they are quickly scrutinized before a single note can be sung. When students finally get the opportunity to sing through an entire aria without being interrupted, Maria can only hear her own past rendition of the piece as she gets lost in the memories of that time of her life. Master Class is pyrotechnical theater–fireworks in a contained space where Callas is brought back to life inspired by series of master classes the great diva conducted at Julliard in 1971 & 1972 near the end of her career. Emotional explosions, cutting wit and soaring music from the Tony Award-winning author of Love! Valour! Compassion! “Master Class is a truthful look at an artist reaching the end of her prime, still clinging to her glamorous past, and all the while lashing out at her young admirers,” comments East West Players’ artistic director, Tim Dang. “East West Players is very excited to produce another Tony Award winning production as we continue to display the talent of the Asian-American community and the quality theatre East West Players is known for. We look forward to putting together a production that not even Maria Callas herself could find fault with,” he said with a smile. Master Class was first produced by the Philadelphia Theatre Company at the Plays and Players Theatre in March 1995. The play later opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre 8 months later where it won both Drama Desk Awards and Tony Awards for performances and overall production. East West Players’ production of Master Class will break down the casting barrier with an all Asian American cast, featuring Jeanne Sakata as Maria Callas with Randy Guiaya, Linda Igarashi, Tess Linda, Marc Macalintal, Maegan McConnell, Timothy Ford Murphy, Alden Ray, and Isabella Way. Recently off the set of Desperate Housewives Jeanne Sakata has appeared in a number of East West Players’ productions including Equus (2005) and her Los Angeles Ovation Award winning performance in Red (2002). Additional stage credits: Mark Taper Forum’s The House of Bernarda Alba, The First Picture Show, and King Richard II. Master Class will be directed by Jules Aaron. The creative team includes scenic designer Don Llewellyn, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, costume designer Ivy Chou, sound designer Max Kinberg, properties master Ken Takemoto and stage manager Anna Woo. Jules Aaron has directed over 200 productions and received numerous awards for his work including 18 Drama-Logue Awards, 12 Inland Drama Critics Awards, and 5 Dean Goodman Awards. He has directed productions at South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Theatreworks, Laguna Playhouse, Musical Theatre West, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, International City Theatre, West Coast Ensemble and several other notable east and west-coast companies. All performances will be held 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. Master Class opens on February 7, 2007 and closes on March 4, 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 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Previews are Thursday – Saturday, February 1st – 3rd at 8 pm and Sunday, February 4th at 2 pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for Sunday, February 18th at 2 pm. General ticket prices are $40 in the orchestra and $35 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $65 for all seats. Tickets are currently on sale and can also be purchased with a subscription to East West Players’ 41st 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 \| Library \| Plays Copyright 2006, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

East West Players presents Tony Award winning MASTER CLASS