New version of Paint Your Wagon (with Asian American role)

Lerner and Loewe's classic musical set during the California Gold Rush, Paint Your Wagon, comes to life anew in this revival. Paint Your Wagon tells the story of widowed Ben Rumson (Tom Wilson, Back to the Future) who has come out West to find his fortune. When he strikes gold, people come from all over to join the strike including Ah-Wah (Ian Shen) from China. When Ben’s 16-year old daughter Jennifer falls in love with Julio Valveras, a Mexican in search of his own American dream, love becomes more important than money. The Rumson family is faced with choosing between gold and each other.

Ian Shen—a Chinese-American actor who played the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors (East West Players) and Sakini in The Teahouse of the August Moon (Secret Rose)—is one in a talented cast that includes Erika Amato, Robert Alan Clink, Janelle Dote, Joe Garcia, Steven Hack, David Jennings, Rob Kahn, Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue), Daniel Lujan, Alex Mendoza, Harry S. Murphy, Tracy Powell, Morgan Rusler, Jessica Rush, Andy Umberger and Tom Wilson.

“The California Gold Rush is the pursuit of a dream—not unlike the dream of a young Chinese-American actor who ventures to Hollywood from Smalltown, Illinois, to pursue a life in entertainment where Asians Americans still vie for visibility and recognition,” says Shen, “The story is incomplete without the journey of the Chinese miner who sacrifices home and family in hopes of striking riches in a foreign land, only later to find himself unable to return home and resolved to make life work here. What are dreams if one has no courage to pursue them?”

The musical, featuring a book and lyrics by Lerner with music by Loewe, debuted on Broadway in 1951 with James Barton, Olga San Juan and James Mitchell. The work was later adapted for film in 1969 by Paddy Chayefsky starring Lee Marvin, Jean Seberg and Clint Eastwood. Lerner and Loewe also went on to create the musicals Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot. The freshly arranged and orchestrated score features songs such as "I'm On My Way," "I Still See Elisa," "They Call The Wind Maria," "There's A Coach Comin' In," "Whoop-Ti-Ay!," "I Talk to the Trees" and "Wand'rin' Star." Paint Your Wagon will feature choreography by Kay Cole. Musical director Steve Orich provides arrangements and orchestrations. The design team for features Daniel Ionazzi (scenic and lighting), David Kay Mickeleson (costume) and Phil Allen (sound). Grayson Merritt serves as production stage manager.
For more information, visit Ian Shen’s website at http://www.Ian.Shen.com. Ian Shen is repped by Kristene Wallis of the Wallis Agency, (818) 953-4848.

Tickets to Paint Your Wagon, at the Brentwood Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, (on the campus of the Veterans Administration) in Brentwood, CA, are available by calling (310) 208-5454 or online at
www.geffenplayhouse.com.