Theater – Backstage Pass with Lia Chang

Lily Fan at Paper Mill Playhouse after the opening night performance of The Other Josh Cohen on February 23, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang

Lily Fan, a theatre producer and the founder of Scandobean Productions LLC, is having quite a banner year. As lead producer, Ms. Fan recently opened the first regional production of the multi-award nominated new musical The Other Josh Cohen by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, directed by Ted Sperling at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey; released her first documentary film The Standbys directed by Stephanie Riggs, and has joined the Board of Directors for the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night

The Other Josh Cohen at Paper Mill Playhouse: From left to right: Hannah Elless, Kate Wetherhead, Steve Rosen, Ken Triwush, and David Rossmer. Photo by Jerry Dalia

The Other Josh Cohen, a hilarious original musical comedy about good guy Josh Cohen who is caught in a lifetime battle of bad luck and asks the question, “Can a nice guy finish first?”, was produced by Ms. Fan at the Soho Playhouse in 2012. During its Off-Broadway run, The Other Josh Cohen was a 2012 New York Times critics pick and was nominated for 2013 Off Broadway Alliance for Outstanding Musical; 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical; 58th Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Book of a Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Steve Rosen), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Kate Wetherhead). On its current run at Paper Mill Playhouse through March 16, 2014, The Other Josh Cohen has garnered another round of critical praise. “Like its bifurcated hero, “The Other Josh Cohen” is quite winning. Sometimes, nice shows do finish first.” – The Record “The Other Josh Cohen” is a solid winner that’s endearingly written, superbly performed and staged with style and charm.” – The Asbury Park Press https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cocGS9zM24E Ms. Fan’s foray into producing Off-Broadway began with the original physical comedy show The Rotten Plantains in 2010. Her other Broadway and touring credits include the Tony-nominated 2012 revival of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish on Broadway and first international tour to Hong Kong. She has also invested in the productions of Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop on Broadway starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, The Addams Family (National & Australian tours), Holland Taylor’s original play Ann on Broadway, and Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage.

Mark S, Hoebee,Ted Sperling, Kevin McCollum and Lily Fan join the cast of The Other Josh Cohen-Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Steven Rosen, David Rossmer, Cathryn Salaone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead at the opening night party at Charlie Brown’s in Milburn, NJ on February 23, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang

I sat down with Lily over lunch at Cafeteria in New York to learn how she transitioned from her work as an attorney to an accomplished theater and film producer.

Todd Schmidt, Managing Director, Paper Mill Playhouse, producer Kevin McCollum and lead producer Lily Fan, and Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director, Paper Mill Playhouse. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia: How did The Other Josh Cohen come to you?
Lily: I saw the show at NYMF in 2010. I just loved it. I loved the character and the clever humor. I love the message it has. I love the encounters. I love how simple the story is. And I knew I had to produce it. As far as me being Josh Cohen, I wouldn’t say that I’ve had the same experiences. I think a lot of people in New York are much kinder and have a bigger heart, more than other people give them credit for. I think that a lot of people outside of New York would say New Yorkers are all mean and selfish. I think there is something about how New Yorkers all really care for each other, and support one another, and get through life together because it is so complicated and so chaotic here. There’s something about returning something that you don’t own, going out of your way – I connect with that. I’ve returned 3 or 4 wallets, I’ve returned 3 or 4 phones. I was at a concert last week and I found someone’s jacket with their phone in it. I charged it up, I found her email in the phone and I emailed her. It took her 5 days to respond to me but she got her jacket and her phone back. So I relate to people making an effort. I myself have also dropped a wallet, and by the time I got home, after running around the city looking for it, I had a message on my machine saying I found your wallet. I believe in karma and think whatever goes around come around.

Lia: Were you the sole producer when The Other Josh Cohen played at Soho Playhouse in New York?
Lily: Yes. I optioned it in 2010 and I was the only producer. We had a not-for-profit partner; by now, we have had three non-profit productions.

Lia: How many hats do you wear when you are producer on an Off-Broadway production?
Lily: It’s everything. It’s like a thousand hats. People are like, “What do you do?” You decide on the business strategy, you negotiate all the contracts. I have a legal background, so I was looking at all of the contracts and negotiating things very carefully myself. We had a general manager that was creating the budget, but obviously I was the one who was assessing whether those numbers made sense, whether that was the amount of money we wanted to spend. I was the one who was doing all of the fundraising. I was the one who was trying to participate in all of the marketing, advertising conversations, and driving the press strategy. And really creating the buzz around the show, which I think that I wouldn’t say was my sole effort. That’s definitely a whole team, everyone going out and talking to their friends about it. By the time we opened at Soho Playhouse, there was a huge buzz around the show.

Lia: How long were you an attorney?
Lily: I practiced law between 2004 and 2010; first at two big firms and then as legislative counsel in the State Senate. When I can, I continue to be involved in political campaigns and public policy work.

Lia: How did you make the transition? How did you decide to become a producer?
Lily: I actually was working as legislative counsel in the Senate at the time in 2010. How I started was -this is a true story- there were a bunch of clowns from Cirque de Soleil, who were my friends. They wanted to create their own show. I saw it as a labor movement, and said, “I’m going to help you.” I had no idea what I was doing, I just went to 45 Bleecker Theatre, because I saw a show there and thought the space was a fit. I negotiated to rent the theater, and put them in there and ran the show. We were sold out. We never bought advertising, but we recouped. It was like getting a P.H.D. in theater, just jumping from the deep end and learning how to do it. The adrenaline that I felt, when you know the show otherwise wouldn’t have been there, is what drives me to be a better producer everyday.

Lia: What was the name of that production?
Lily: It’s called The Rotten Plaintains.

Lia: Did you grow up going to the theater?
Lily: I grew up in Hong Kong. My mom always took us to live performances, not just theater. In Hong Kong, there aren’t a lot of musicals. They don’t create original musicals. There are a lot of plays that TV stars would be in. My mom would take us to go see. Also, because Hong Kong is such an international city, they would always have orchestras from this country, ballet from that country. Hong Kong is also a big pop culture place so of course I went to a lot of pop concerts growing up. Every experience was always super energizing.

Lia: When did you leave Hong Kong?
Lily: I left Hong Kong when I was 13. So that was 1993.

Lia: Do you miss it?
Lily: I think I miss some aspects of it, but mostly the food. At the same time, I read Sing Tao Daily News here, so I keep up with what is happening over there. My family is there, so I visit a lot. It’s not an accident that when I was a lawyer, I had clients there. When I produce shows, Chinglish‘s first international stop was Hong Kong. These were all strategically planned career moves.

Kathryn Layng, producer Lily Fan, playwright David Henry Hwang and director Leigh Silverman backstage at the Longacre Theatre before the opening night performance of Chinglish on October 27, 2011. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia: That was ideal. The first time I met you was backstage at Chinglish. Were you the only Asian American producer on board?
Lily: Yes. That was interesting. I didn’t realize I was going to be the only Asian American producer or that my involvement was going to become so heavy. Lead producers on Broadway, Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel, entrusted me with a lot of the promotional tasks within the Asian American community. Later, the Hong Kong Arts Festival wanted to do the show so I was involved in some of the initial talks. Playwright David Henry Hwang had me participate in that conversation to ensure quality control. On the other side, after all the deals were done with Berkeley Rep and South Coast Rep, director Leigh Silverman realized she had a conflict in her schedule. She asked me to do what she would have done on the tour. I spearheaded the set built in China and went to Hong Kong three times to prepare for our 8-show run.

An ad in the New York Times for David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, currently playing at the Longacre Theatre through January 29, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia: The tour was very successful across the board. Would you say that it was received differently from the Broadway production?
Lily: I would not say it was received differently. I think audiences really love Chinglish. We were on Broadway during a very competitive season. We ran longest on Broadway. We were successful on its first tour and in its regional productions because of the buzz that was created on Broadway.

Lia: That year you were also an investor on The Mountaintop, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett.

Lily: Yes that show was great and it recouped financially. It’s always very hard to tell what is to happen on a show. I was grateful that I was part of that. It worked out and some of my investors did well on that. You never know.

Lia: How did you come up with the name of your company?
Lily: Scandobean was my nickname in high school. For a long time my friends would call me Scando. The reason why I use it as my company name is because the person who gave it to me, ended up stealing from me. It’s my way of reminding myself that you’ve got to be the bigger person. That is how I try to go about this business but I am still learning.

Lia: Can you tell me more about your mission statement for the company and how that fuels how you choose your projects?
Lily: There is certainly a social cause element. I see my participation in this area as a social cause. I hope to create works that inspire thinking, and change the way people relate to each other. I would like what I do to be one of those things where people walk away and say, “Oh yes, that’s what they said in The Other Josh Cohen. It will happen for you.” I’ve actually had friends who have come from out of state, that are struggling in their own life, and doing poorly financially. They watch the show and they are in tears because they can relate so much to the character in the show. They go home and they really want to keep trying. Obviously, everything you do still has to make commercial sense, but there’s definitely an ulterior motive.

Lia: You are the executive producer on a documentary film, The Standbys, which had it’s theatrical run at The Quad last month.
Lily: That film was also something that I signed on to do in 2010. I’m very interested in telling the underdog story. I love that. So making a film about the standbys cannot be any more on point. We started making the film in 2010. The Standbys follows 3 Broadway actors, Merwin Foard, Aléna Watters and Ben Crawford, for several years through their ups and downs, struggles and triumphs, onstage performances and private lives. Merwin, when he was the understudy for Nathan Lane in The Addams Family. Ben Crawford who was the standby for Shrek and got the role, when Brian d’Arcy James left. Aléna Watters, who was a swing on the Bette Midler tour. The movie is a New York Times critics pick and has done exceptionally well. It debuted in the 2012 Tony Film Series. Then it played the festivals and was voted top 3 at the Seattle Film Festival. Stephanie Riggs, the director is very good about pushing the project along so she put it back in theaters this year. It just finished playing the Quad Cinema last week. www.TheStandbys.com

Lia: What are the other projects you are working on?
Lily: This season, there are a couple of shows that I am invested in. Beautiful, the Musical, If/Then, the Musical and for next season, I will be participating in The Last Ship, the new Sting musical. There are also new shows that I hope to option.

Lia: Do you have a 5 year plan?
Lily: To be honest, I want to create shows that would outlast me, in whatever form. I don’t really have a, “Oh, I’ve got to get to Broadway or I’ve got to win a Tony.” Those things come if you are lucky. It is important for me to be able to participate in the conversation with integrity and create shows that would outlast me in whatever forms they should take.

Lia: What drives you?
Lily: It’s back to the mission. It’s telling the underdog story and changing the way people think about issues, or how they deal with traumatic experiences. I choose to produce comedies. I choose to produce shows that are based on true stories. The Other Josh Cohen is actually something that actually happened to co-author Steve Rosen. It’s based on a true story. I find that exciting and there is some value in that. I like comedies. I don’t want to tell sad stories. If I wanted that, I could go back to politics or I could read the newspapers. I like to learn. I change careers like people move houses. It’s so hard to predict what is going to happen as a producer. You have to come across works that you like and stars have to align for me to have the honor of shepherding.

Lia: You’ve recently joined the board of NYMF. What do you hope to accomplish as a board member? Lily: NYMF offers an amazing opportunity for musical theatre artists to have their work seen by the highest level of theatre professionals. It is an invaluable asset to theatre and to New York City and I am excited to be a part of it as we move ahead towards our second decade of musicals. I hope to add a youthful and diverse voice to those who are at the forefront of creating new American musicals and help the organization improve its international reputation.

Remaining Performances for The Other Josh Cohen:
Friday at 8:00pm
Saturday at 1:30pm and 8:00pm
Sunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm

Tickets range from $27 to $98.Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680.

Other articles about The Other Josh Cohen: nytimes.com: Nearly Everything Changes (Except the Red Plaid Shirt) A Review of ‘The Other Josh Cohen’ in Millburn theatermania.com: The Other Josh Cohen, Steve Rosen and David Rossmer’s original off-Broadway musical moves to New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse. nj.com: ‘The Other Josh Cohen’ opens at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn broadwayworld.com: BWW Review: THE OTHER JOSH COHEN Proves Diamond is a Guy’s Best Friend Other articles by Lia Chang: Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night Mar. 7-Apr. 6: André De Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kyle Beltran, Kevin Mambo and More Set for DTC’s World Premiere Musical The Fortress of Solitude, A Co-Production with The Public Theater André De Shields, Kevin Carolan, Usman Ally, Mary Zimmerman, Doug Peck Among 10 IRNE Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman Mar. 21-May 4: Richard Thomas, Ron Rifkin, Hallie Foote and Khaled Nabaway Set for Arena Stage’s World Premiere of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series Celebrating the Year of the Horse with David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu at Signature Theatre; Previews begin February 4, 2014 Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72 Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Charles Richard Barboza

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia recently starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Phynjuar, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine. All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Joel de la Fuente as Gordon Hirabayashi in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths. Photo by Lia Chang

People’s Light & Theatre is presenting a staged reading of Jeanne Sakata’s critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway one-man show Hold These Truths starring 2013 Drama Desk nominee Joel de la Fuente (Outstanding Solo Performance), on Monday, March 17, 2014, on the Leonard C. Haas Stage at 7 pm. at People’s Light & Theatre, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355.

Helmed by Lisa Rothe, Joel de la Fuente will reprise his role as Gordon Hirabayashi and 36 other characters in Hold These Truths, which had its New York premiere in October 2012 in a production by Epic Theatre Ensemble at the Theatre at the 14th Street Y.

Inspired by a true story, Hold These Truths takes place in Seattle during World War II, where University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi is agonizing over U.S. government orders to forcibly remove and mass incarcerate all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast. As he fights to reconcile his country’s betrayal with his passionate belief in the U.S. Constitution, Hirabayashi journeys toward a greater understanding of America’s triumphs – and a confrontation with its failures.

The design team for Hold These Truths includes set design by Mikiko Suzuki McAdams, sound designer and compositions by Daniel Kluger, lighting design by Cat Tate Starmer and costume design by Meg Weeden.

The reading is free, but reservations are required. For reservations call 610.644.3500 or visit www.PeoplesLight.org.

Community Matters is a series of free events presented in partnership between People’s Light and numerous local organizations to spark dialogue about vital issues in our community. Performed readings of new plays are the centerpiece of each evening. Our partner organizations will be there to capture the enthusiasm and excitement that can come from the emotional response to a work of art, and then a well-led public discussion forum. This third season of Community Matters includes new scripts focused on racism, identity, local history, and the healing power of music.

Artistic Director Abigail Adams says, “Through this collaboration we hope to create new stories that capture the passions and concerns of our community members. We continue to build relationships in our community with organizations and individuals, to deepen engagement with our work, and provide a forum for discussion of important issues.”
Community Partners include the National Constitution Center, the American Friends Service Committee, ACLU of Greater Philadelphia, and the Japanese American Citizens League – Philadelphia Chapter.

The Community Matters program is made possible in part by grants from the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, the Barra Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

In the dressing room with Joel de la Fuente, who stars as Gordon Hirabayashi in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at The Theatre at the 14th Street Y in New York on November 24, 2012. Joel is holding a photo of Esther Schmoe and Gordon Hirabayashi on their wedding day. Photo by Lia Chang

Gordon Kiyoshi Hirabayashi (1918-2012) was an American sociologist best known for his resistance to the Japanese-American internment during World War II. He was one of the only three to openly defy it. After being convicted for curfew violation he was sentenced to 90 days in prison. The verdict was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Hirabayashi v. United States (1943). They unanimously ruled against him. He later spent a year in federal prison for refusing induction into the armed forces after they had sent out a racially discriminatory survey to Japanese-Americans demanding renunciation of allegiance to the emperor of Japan. In 1987, the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit overturned his conviction from 1943. In 2012, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hirabayashi for his principled stand against Japanese-American internment.

Joel de la Fuente as Gordon Hirabayashi in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths. Photo by Lia Chang

“One of the stunning things about Joel de la Fuente’s performance in Jeanne Sakata’s gripping one-man show is how completely he embodies the real-life character of Gordon Hirabayashi….de la Fuente, under the direction of Lisa Rothe, also plays many other characters—but his portrayal of Hirabayashi, whom President Obama just this year posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, feels eerily true to life.”
The New Yorker, October 2012

“Jeanne Sakata’s eloquent one-man drama about civil rights giant Gordon Hirabayashi provides a concise examination of a fascinating chapter in American history….Joel de la Fuente plays Hirabayashi wtih buoyant, magnetic enthusiasm, under the direction of Lisa Rothe.”
The Washington Post/API, October 2012

“The astounding performance that Joel de la Fuente delivers as Gordon Hirabayashi is reason enough to recommend Hold These Truths…with Jeanne Sakata at the helm, we are treated to a dazzling, literary script that’s full of humor.”
New York Times Readers’ Review, October 2012

“Moving, instructive, thrilling….Travel downtown to be inspired by script, actor, and history in equal measure….Culled to its human and emotional essence, we hold Hirabayashi’s story as we must all ‘hold these truths.’”
Urban Excavations, October 2012

“Resonates with vitality and power….This is what living, breathing theater is about. Unforgettable.”
Technorati, October 2012

Joel de la Fuente comments: “Gordon’s story teaches us that the actions of one individual can have tremendous power. Gordon believed long enough to remind us of what it means to be American. As history teaches us, this is a lesson so important that it cannot be learned just once. We must always be willing to learn it again.

“Perhaps the biggest blessing of doing Jeanne Sakata’s HOLD THESE TRUTHS is that not only do I get to be an instrumental part in telling the story of a remarkable hero, but I am being asked to draw on my experiences as an AMERICAN. Gordon Hirabayashi is of Asian heritage, but he is also a citizen of the United States. Asian American actors so rarely get an opportunity to be seen on our stages as Americans, so to do so while telling such a remarkable story has been one of the most satisfying artistic experiences of my life.”

Joel de la Fuente. Photo by Lia Chang

Joel de la Fuente (actor, Hold These Truths) Onstage, Joel most recently performed the solo drama, Hold These Truths for its New York premiere at Epic Theater (Drama Desk Nomination), for a sold-out run in Hawaii at the prestigious Honolulu Theatre for Youth and as part of the 10th Annual soloNOVA Arts Festival. Joel just wrapped shooting his second season of the original series, “Hemlock Grove,” as Dr. Johann Pryce, exclusively available on Netflix. On screen, he stars in the feature film Brief Reunion, currently available on iTunes (garnering Audience Choice Award, Gotham International Film Festival; Best Narrative Film Award, University Film and Video Association).

Selected New York theatrical credits include: Ivanov in Ivanov (Mint Theater/NAATCO, Jonathan Bank, dir.); The Downtown Plays (Tribeca Theater Festival, John Rando, dir.); Claudio in Beatrice and Benedict with the New York Philharmonic (conducted by Sir Colin Davis); The Square (Lisa Petersen, dir.); America Dreaming (Michael Mayer, dir.); Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (NYSF, Adrian Hall, dir.).

In 2005, Joel served as the Artistic Associate of the National Asian American Theater Company. In addition to Ivanov, Joel has also appeared with NAATCO in the world premiere of Cowboy v. Samurai; Caryl Churchill’s, a number; Fuente Ovejuna (David Herskovitz, dir.); and as Iago in Othello, among others.

Other theatrical credits include: Vershinin in The Three Sisters (Chautauqua Theatre Conservatory, Brian Mertes, dir.); Ariel in The Tempest (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); Florizel in The Winter’s Tale (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Darko Tresjnak, dir.); Chay Yew’s Wonderland (La Jolla Playhouse, Lisa Petersen, dir.); Liu Mengmei in the Peter Sellars’ production of The Peony Pavilion which performed in Vienna, Rome, Paris, and London’s Barbican Centre.

On television, Joel spent ten seasons appearing as TARU technician Ruben Morales in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”. He was a series regular on the Fox drama, “Space: Above & Beyond”; and has had recurring roles on: “E.R.”; “High Incident”; and the Sidney Lumet series, “100 Centre Street”.

Joel de la Fuente as Dr. Johann Pryce in Netflix’s Hemlock Grove. Photo: Netflix

Additional film credits include: Personal Velocity (Sundance Jury Prize Winner, Best Film); The Adjustment Bureau; The Happening; Heights; Return to Paradise; From Other Worlds; and Forgetting the Girl.

As a writer, Joel’s essay on his experiences as an Asian American actor is published in Pyong Gap Min’s “Struggle for Ethnic Identity,” and he is a co-writer of Life Document 2: Identity with Pulitzer Prize winner, Ayad Akthar, which won the Columbia Students Award for Best Film in 2002.

Joel is an alumnus oF Brown University and the Graduate Acting Program at N.Y.U. and resides in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.

Lisa Rothe

Lisa Rothe (Director) most recently directed Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata for Epic Theatre Ensemble (nominated for a Drama Desk award for Best Solo Performance) and Honolulu Theatre for Youth; Penelope by Ellen McLaughlin & Sarah Kirkland Snider at Playmakers Repertory Company and this summer, she will be directing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for the Chautauqua Theater Company. She is also currently developing a new opera about Ada Byron (Ada) by composer Kim Sherman and librettist Margaret Vandenburg, which was presented last spring as a part of the Center for Contemporary Opera’s Development Series. Lisa has workshopped, developed and directed over one hundred new plays and musicals, working with many award winning writers. In NY, she has directed and/or developed work with Lark Play Development Center, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater , Epic Theatre Ensemble, New Georges, The Women’s Project, The Foundry, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 52nd Street Project, Naked Angels, BAM, Summer Play Festival, NYMF, Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival (Best Director), National Actors Theater, Keen Company (Keen Teens), Orchard Project, Voice & Vision, HERE, Dixon Place, among others. Regionally, she has worked with Indiana Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Shakespeare Theatre, Vermont Stage Company, The New Harmony Project, Synchronicity Theatre, Chautauqua Theatre, Riverside Theatre. Lisa has worked with the World Wide Orphan Foundation (WWO) in Ethiopia, creating theatre with local children and teens and has taught and directed at many theatre programs around the country including NYU’s Graduate Acting Program, Yale School of Drama, The Juilliard School, Chautauqua Conservatory and many others. She is a graduate of NYU’s Graduate Acting Program and Director’s Lab, as well as a Drama League alum, Fox Fellow, member of the Women’s Project Director’s Lab and is currently serving on the boards of the League of Professional Theatre Women and the Theatre World Awards. Lisa is also the director of Offsite Programs and Partnerships at the Lark Play Development Center where she deals with providing expanded opportunities for playwrights, aimed at advancing new work to production nationally and globally.

Jeanne Sakata. Photo by Lia Chang

Jeanne Sakata’s (Playwright) Hold These Truths (formerly Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi), had its world premiere in 2007 at Los Angeles’ East West Players, co-presented by the UCLA Department of Asian American Studies, the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, and the Japanese American National Museum. In its 2012 New York premiere at the Epic Theatre Ensemble, Hold These Truths opened to unanimous rave reviews from The New Yorker, The Washington Post/API, and many other theatre critics, resulting in a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, and a subsequent Hawaiian premiere, co-presented by Daniel Dae Kim and the Honolulu Theatre For Youth. Hold These Truths is next slated for April 2014 in PlayMakers Repertory Company’s upcoming season in North Carolina and for late summer at A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle. Developed by the Lark Play Development Center and the New York Theatre Workshop, it has also been performed at Chicago’s Pritzker Pavilion with Silk Road Rising/Millennium Park, the University of California at Riverside and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where it served as the inspiration and theatrical centerpiece of the civil rights symposium Civil Liberties, National Security and the Legacies of the Japanese Removal and Incarceration. With the East West Players Theatre For Youth program in 2008 and 2010, the play has twice toured high schools and junior high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Hold These Truths is now part of the Jeanne Sakata Collection in the Library of Congress Playwrights Archive, Asian American Pacific Islander Collection, Washington DC. (www.holdthesetruths.info, www.facebook.com/holdthesetruths)

Hold These Truths’ star Joel de la Fuente and playwright Jeanne Sakata on the red carpet of The Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall in New York on May 19, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

Jeanne is also a renowned actress whose acclaimed “cross-gender” portrayal of Master Hua in Chay Yew’s RED at East West Players earned her the LA Ovation Award for Best Lead Actress. She has performed across the country at the The Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Rep, American Conservatory Theater, Northlight Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Berkeley Rep, A Contemporary Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Syracuse Stage and the Arizona Theatre Company, and developed new works with The Sundance Institute Theatre Lab and the Ojai Playwrights Festival. Screen credits include “NCIS Los Angeles,” “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns,” “Desperate Housewives,” “ER,” “Threat Matrix,” “Line of Fire,” “Presidio Med,” “American Family,” “Numb3rs,” John Ridley’s “I Got You,” the MOW’s “The Reading Room,” “Hiroshima,” “Consensual Relations,” and the feature films The Babymakers, XXX2: State of the Union and American Fusion.

Jeanne recently received a Best Actress Award for her role in Adultolescence at the Monaco Charity Film Festival and in December 2011, she was honored with an Outstanding Artist Award for her career achievements by Los Angeles’ Asian Pacific American Friends of the Theatre. (www.jeannesakata.com)

(www.facebook.com/holdthesetruths, www.holdthesetruths.info)

Below are interviews with Hold These Truths‘ playwright Jeanne Sakata, star Joel de la Fuente and director Lisa Rothe.

Hold These Truths‘ playwright Jeanne Sakata talks about her inspiration to write Gordon Hirabayashi’s life story, how she did her research, why she chose the solo show format and what she hopes audiences will take away from de la Fuente’s performance.

Hold These Truths‘ star Joel de la Fuente talks about the challenges of playing 30+ characters and the impact playing Gordon Hirabayashi has had for him.

Director Lisa Rothe discusses how she first became involved with Hold These Truths, her history with Joel de la Fuente, how attending a Quaker meeting influenced her design and concept of the set, her prior knowledge of Gordon Hirabayashi, and her exposure to the internment camps.

ABOUT PEOPLE’S LIGHT:
People’s Light, a professional, not-for-profit theatre in Chester County, Pennsylvania, makes plays drawn from many sources to entertain, inspire, and engage our community. We extend our mission of making and experiencing theatre through arts education programs that excite curiosity about, and deepen understanding of, the world around us. These plays and programs bring people together and provide opportunities for reflection, discovery, and celebration. Founded in 1974, we produce seven to nine plays each season, in two black box theatres with 350 and 170 seats respectively, mixing world premieres, contemporary plays, and fresh approaches to classic texts for our 6-Play and Discovery Series.

Other Hold These Truths Articles:
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Hold These Truths Opening Night at Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Tenney Theatre with Daniel Dae Kim, Joel de la Fuente and Jeanne Sakata
Brief Reunion Starring Joel de la Fuente, Alexie Gilmore and Scott Shepherd, Opens in NY & L.A. on January 18, 2013
Hold These Truths Video Feature: Playwright Jeanne Sakata, Star Joel de la Fuente and Director Lisa Rothe
Video: Interview with Lisa Rothe, Director of Critically Acclaimed Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, starring Joel de la Fuente
Video: Q & A with Jeanne Sakata, Award Winning Actress Makes Playwrighting Debut Telling Story of Gordon Hirabayashi with Hold These Truths
Photos and Video: Daniel Dae Kim, Ann Harada, Greg Watanabe and More at Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths starring Joel de la Fuente
Photos: Opening Night with Hold These Truths’ Playwright Jeanne Sakata and Star Joel de la Fuente, a Revelation as Gordon Hirabayashi; Performances Extended through November 25, 2012
Epic Theatre Ensemble Presents New York Premiere of Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths Starring Joel de la Fuente at the Theatre at the 14th Street Y, October 12-November 18, 2012
Remembering Civil Rights Leader Gordon Hirabayashi,1918- 2012
President Obama Names Asian American Civil Rights Hero Gordon Hirabayashi Recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Reading of Jeanne Sakata’s Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi Starring Joel de la Fuente in New York
Thom Sesma Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Charles Richard Barboza

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman at New Federal Theatre’s 44th Anniversary Gala on March 16, 2014 at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Tony and Drama Desk Award winner Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman (“Sesame Street”) lead the cast of The Fabulous Miss Marie, Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre Off-Broadway revival of the second play of “The Ed Bullins Project” dedicated to Ed Bullins, the pioneer of the Black Arts Movement and one of America’s most important and influential playwright.

The Fabulous Miss Marie, first produced in 1971 at the New Lafayette Theatre in Harlem will begin performances April 17th and continue through May 18th, with opening night set for May 1st at Castillo Theatre, 543 W 42nd St (between 10th Ave and 11th Ave) in New York. Woodie King Jr. directs a cast that also features Toccarra Cash, Michael Chenevert, Ugo Chukwu, Aaliyah Habeeb, Beethovan Oden, G. Alverez Reid, Ashley C. Turner, and Brittany N. Williams.

Set during a three-day holiday party at the home of Marie Horton in the Wilshire section of Los Angles in the early 1960s, it takes place against the backdrop of the Civil Right Movement and on the eve of the Watts Rebellion. Most of the play’s middle class characters, however, are distant from those upheavals; instead they drink, flirt, quarrel and reminisce as they hope their lives in the emerging Black middle class can shield them against the painful legacy of slavery and racism in America.

Roscoe Orman, Ed Bullins and Tonya Pinkins. Photo by Lia Chang

The Fabulous Miss Marie is structured like a jazz improvisation, with each of the ensemble members taking a solo/monologue, that reveals the pain simmering under the party’s cheerful, suburban façade. As New York Times theatre critic Clive Barnes said at the time, “Bullins writes the way Charlie Parker played: It is all so easy and effortless. It sounds improvised, and yet it doesn’t sound improvised, simply because it is the improvisation of formalitThe Fabulous Miss Marie, is set in Los Angeles during the Civil Rights’ student sit-ins. This is arguably Bullins’ greatest work, one that bears comparison to Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. Like Chekhov, Bullins is interested in how love can be expressed in a “cemetery of human failure and class arrogance.” With this play, part of his Twentieth Century Cycle, Bullins perfected a dramatic structure also found in In the Wine Time, which kicked off this season.

Ed Bullins is considered one of the most prolific and influential playwrights of the Black Arts Movement. Winner of the prestigious NY Drama Critics’ Circle Award and OBIE Award for The Taking of Miss Janie, he has greatly influenced American theatre, especially Black theatre. He is the author of more than 100 plays that have been produced throughout the United States and Europe. His acclaimed canon of plays include Clara’s Ole Man, Dialect Determinism (or The Rally), How Do You Do (1965), A Minor Scene, It Has No Choice, The Theme Is Blackness (1966); In New England Winter, Black Commercial #2 (1967); Goin’ a Buffalo, A Son Come Home, The Electronic Nigger, The Corner, In The Wine Time, The Gentleman Caller (1968); The Box Office, One-Minute Commercial, State Office Bldg. Cruse, The American Flag Ritual, We Righteous Bombers (1969); The Helper, Death List, A Short Play for A Small Theater, Street Sounds, The Man Who Dug Fish, The Duplex, It Bess Dat Way, A Street Play, A Black Time for Black Folk (1970); The Fabulous Miss Marie, Night of the Beast (1971); The Play of the Play (1973); Malcolm: 71 or Publishing Blackness (1975); The Taking of Miss Janie, The Mystery of Phyllis Wheatley: An Historical Play for Young Americans, I Am Lucy Terry: An Historical Fantasy for Young Americans (1976); City Preacher (1984); High John Da Conqueror: the Musical (1985); and Salaam, Huey Newton, Salaam (1990), among others. He received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Vernon Rice Award, the Drama Prize at the Venice Biennale Arts Festival, an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Columbia College, three OBIE Awards, two Guggenheim fellowships, three Rockefeller Foundation Playwriting grants and three NEA playwriting grants. A Professor of Theatre at Northeastern University, Mr. Bullins has also won AUDELCO Awards and The Black Theatre Festival Living Legend Award. Bullins has published four collections of plays: Five Plays by Ed Bullins (1968), The Fabulous Miss Marie (1970), The Duplex: A Black Love Fable in Four Movements (1971), Four Dynamite Plays (1972) and The Theme is Blackness (1972), as well as short prose The Hungered One: Early Writings (1971) and a novel The Reluctant Rapist (1973). Bullins was recently represented Off-Broadway by the York Theater’s revival of Storyville. His work, characterized by disdain for ineffective political rhetoric as a substitute for action, most often examines the lives of Black people in the inner city. In 1968, Clive Barnes, writing in the New York Times called Bullins “a welcome addition to the ranks of New York playwrights.” Four years later, Barnes added “Bullins writes the way Charlie Parker played: It is all so easy and effortless. It sounds improvised, and yet it doesn’t sound improvised, simply because it is the improvisation of formality.” Today, Bullins is regarded as a seminal force in the American theater.

Performances will be Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets will be $25 and can be ordered through www.castillo.org or by phone at 212/941-5800.

For more information, please visit www.newfederaltheatre.com or call NFT at 212-353-1176.

Founded by Woodie King, Jr. in 1970, New Federal Theatre has gone on to international acclaim for its bold mission to integrate minorities and women into the mainstream of American theater by training artists for the profession and by presenting plays by minorities and women to integrated, multicultural audiences – plays which evoke the truth through beautiful, artistic recreations of ourselves. Specializing in minority drama, New Federal Theatre has brought the joy of the living stage to not only the minority community living on the Lower East Side near NFT’s home at Henry Street Settlement’s Abrons Arts Center, but to audiences from all over the metropolitan area. NFT has provided emerging playwrights with the opportunity to have their works produced; it has brought minority actors, directors and designers to national attention and sponsored numerous ethnic theater groups and events. NFT’s vocational training workshops continue to prepare minority people for employment in theater and related fields. Most importantly, NFT provides the multi-ethnic Lower East Side, as well as the New York Metro area, with theater of the highest caliber that relates to the interest of different cultural groups. The impact of NFT is nothing less than extraordinary. Writers first presented at NFT are now part of the literary fabric of the American mainstream. Many plays attained national significance and reached much wider audiences by having been showcased at NFT. The alumni list of NFT productions reads like a Who’s Who of American theater, film and television: Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jackee Harry, Laurence Fishburne, Dick Anthony Williams, Taurean Blacque, Debbie Morgan, Robert Downey, Jr. Garrett Morris, Lynn Whitfield, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Ruby Dee, Leslie Uggams, Samuel L. Jackson and many more. Under Woodie King, Jr.’s stewardship, NFT presented over 280 productions in the last four decades including: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, What the Winesellers Buy, Reggae, The Taking of Miss Janie and The Dance and The Railroad. His directorial credits are extensive and include work in film as well as in theater. He has directed at the most prominent theaters across the country and has been the recipient of numerous awards from AUDELCO, The NAACP, Drama Critics Circle and an Obie Award for Sustained Achievement.

Lia Chang

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Mar. 7-Apr. 6: André De Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kyle Beltran, Kevin Mambo and More Set for DTC’s World Premiere Musical The Fortress of Solitude, A Co-Production with The Public Theater
André De Shields, Kevin Carolan, Usman Ally, Mary Zimmerman, Doug Peck Among 10 IRNE Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Melody Butiu, Conrad Ricamora and More Return for Here Lies Love; Previews Begin April 14, 2014
Mar. 21-May 4: Richard Thomas, Ron Rifkin, Hallie Foote and Khaled Nabaway Set for Arena Stage’s World Premiere of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Signature’s Revival of The Piano Lesson Sweeps AUDELCO’s with 8 Wins including Best Revival, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Roslyn Ruff, Chuck Cooper and Brandon J. Dirden; Also Among 2013 “VIV” Winners – Wild with Happy’s Coleman Domingo and Sharon Washington; and Storyville’s Mercedes Ellington
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Denise Burse, Michael Genet, Doug Eskew, Tracie Thoms, Sakina Ansari-Wilson and More Celebrate Marcus Gardley’s dance of the holy ghosts Opening Night at Center Stage
Photos: Backstage with Michi Barall and the cast of Regina Taylor’s stop.reset. at Signature Theatre
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Celebrating my mom – AN ACTIVE VISION: BEVERLY UMEHARA…LABOR ACTIVIST…1945-1999 Crafting a Career
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Richard Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang

Emmy Award-winner Richard Thomas (“The Americans,” “The Waltons”) and Kristen Connolly (“House of Cards,” The Cabin in the Woods) will make their Old Globe debuts starring as Iago and Desdemona in Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello, the first show of the Globe’s 2014 Summer Shakespeare Festival. Both artists continue collaborations with Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein that began in New York: Thomas starred in Edelstein’s critically acclaimed production of Timon of Athens at The Public Theater in 2011, and Connolly in three Shakespeare plays that Edelstein helped produce at The Public. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

From New York’s Shakespeare in the Park to Balboa Park, Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his outdoor directorial debut in The Old Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre with one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. Despite the prejudices in Venice, the brilliant general Othello excels both on the battlefield and in the halls of state. But when he marries Desdemona, his envious lieutenant Iago sets in motion a diabolical plan to destroy him. Edelstein gives us a riveting, intense, and intimate production where poetry soars and swords clash, where true love and wrenching jealousy collide.

Performances run June 22 – July 27, with Opening Night on Saturday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the Globe’s 2014 Summer Season are currently available by subscription only, and prices range from $92 to $332. Subscription packages may be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the box office.

“Shakespeare’s plays demand actors with superb technical skills, deep emotional range, and great charisma,” said Edelstein. “Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly have all three qualities in abundance. Audiences who know Richard from his iconic role in ‘The Waltons’ may not be aware that he is one of our country’s great stage actors with a long career in Shakespeare. He and I had a great time working on Shakespeare in 2011, and I’m thrilled to collaborate with him on what is perhaps the greatest villain in the Bard’s canon. Kristen is one of the most promising classical actresses of her generation whose imaginative response to Shakespeare’s ingénues dazzled audiences in New York. I know that The Old Globe’s audiences will love getting to know her, and I can’t wait to welcome her to San Diego.”

Richard Thomas (Iago) starred in the award-winning series “The Waltons,” for which he won an Emmy Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He has continued to star in series, films, plays, and over 50 movies for television. His theatre career began at age seven with the 1958 Broadway production of Sunrise at Campobello and continued with such shows as Fifth of July, The Seagull, The Front Page, Tiny Alice, Peer Gynt, Richard II, Richard III, Hamlet, and The Stendhal Syndrome. His other stage credits include Broadway’s Democracy and A Naked Girl on the Appian Way, the national tour of the Broadway revival of 12 Angry Men, and Unusual Acts of Devotion by Terrence McNally. His recent projects include the Broadway production of David Mamet’s Race; the title role in The Public Theater’s Timon of Athens; Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays for the Minetta Lane Theatre; and the world premiere of Camp David at Arena Stage. He last appeared on Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club revival of An Enemy of the People. Thomas can currently be seen on the hit FX series “The Americans.” He also had starring roles on series such as “Just Cause,” “It’s a Miracle,” and “The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson.” His television films include the Stephen King miniseries Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Stephen King’s It, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Silence, The Red Badge of Courage, The Master of Ballantrae, Johnny Belinda, Berlin Tunnel 21, Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story, Hobson’s Choice, Roots: The Next Generations, Go Toward the Light, In the Name of the People, The Christmas Secret, The Miracle of the Cards, Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anna’s Dream, Annie’s Point, Wild Hearts, and most recently Hallmark Channel’s film Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. As a producer, Thomas has worked on such television projects as What Love Sees and For All Time. Thomas has appeared in such movies as The Wonder Boys, Battle Beyond the Stars, The Todd Killings, Last Summer, Winning, Red Sky at Morning, Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock, and the forthcoming Anesthesia.

Kristen Connolly (Desdemona) recently completed shooting the NBC pilot “Tin Man,” written by Ehren Krueger and directed by D.J. Caruso. She also recently completed work on the History Channel miniseries Houdini opposite Adrien Brody. She is best known for playing the role of Christina Gallagher on the acclaimed Netflix series “House of Cards.” She was most recently seen on film in Lionsgate/MGM’s The Cabin in the Woods. Connolly’s other film credits include The Bay, The Happening, and Revolutionary Road. She has appeared Off Broadway in King Lear and the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park productions of All’s Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure.

The creative team includes Wilson Chin (Scenic Design), Katherine Roth (Costume Design), Stephen Strawbridge (Lighting Design), Sten Severson (Sound Design), Curtis Moore (Original Music), Jan Gist (Vocal and Dialect Coach), Tara Rubin Casting (Casting), and Leila Knox (Stage Manager).

Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein (Director) is a stage director, producer, author, and educator. Widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on the works of Shakespeare in the United States, he has directed nearly half of the Bard’s works. He recently made his Globe directorial debut with Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale starring Billy Campbell, the first Shakespeare to be staged in our indoor theatre in over a decade. As Director of the Shakespeare Initiative at The Public Theater (2008-2012), he oversaw all of the company’s Shakespearean productions, as well as its extensive educational, community outreach, and artist-training programs. At The Public, Edelstein staged Julius Caesar starring Jeffrey Wright for Shakespeare in the Park and The Merchant of Venice featuring Ron Leibman’s Obie Award-winning portrayal of Shylock. He was also Associate Producer of The Public’s Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino. From 1998-2003 he was Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company, where he produced and directed some of New York’s most memorable classical productions. Edelstein’s Shakespearean directorial credits include The Winter’s Tale with David Strathairn, Timon of Athens with Richard Thomas, As You Like It with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Richard III with John Turturro. His additional credits include the Lucille Lortel Award-winning revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons; the world premiere of Steve Martin’s The Underpants, which he commissioned; Molière’s The Misanthrope starring Uma Thurman in her stage debut; and the world premiere of novelist Nathan Englander’s play The Twenty-Seventh Man. Edelstein has taught Shakespearean acting at The Juilliard School, NYU’s Graduate Acting Program, and the University of Southern California. His book Thinking Shakespeare (called by New York magazine “a must-read for actors”) was published in 2007 and is now the standard text on American Shakespearean acting. He is also the author of Bardisms: Shakespeare for All Occasions.

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS offer substantial savings with special subscriber benefits. Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE [234-5623], or by visiting the box office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Subscriptions to the Globe’s 2014 Summer Season range from $92 to $332. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and younger, seniors, and groups of 10 or more.

Presented in the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, the Old Globe 2014 Shakespeare Festival includes Shakespeare’s comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Globe alumnus and Tony Award nominee Mark Lamos (Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Pentecost, Resurrection Blues). The Summer Season will also feature Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods, which made its World Premiere at The Old Globe in 1986, in an inventive reimagining by Fiasco Theater, directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, in a production that originated at McCarter Theatre Center. Rounding out the season is Ronald Harwood’s comedy Quartet, directed by Richard Seer. Into the Woods will run on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre and Quartet in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Tickets to the Globe’s 2014 Summer Season are currently available by subscription only, and prices range from $92 to $332. Subscription packages may be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the box office.

Other articles on Othello:
utsandiego.com: Globe taps Richard Thomas for ‘Othello’
broadwayworld.com: Richard Thomas & Kristen Connolly Set for The Old Globe’s OTHELLO
sandiegocountynews.com: Richard Thomas Debut In Old Globe’s Othello
timesofsandiego.com: Old Globe Announces Stars of Othello to Kick Off Summer Shakespeare Festival

Other articles on Richard Thomas:
Mar. 21-May 4: Richard Thomas, Ron Rifkin, Hallie Foote and Khaled Nabaway Set for Arena Stage’s World Premiere of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David
Mar. 21 – May 4: Arena Stage Presents World Premiere of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David Starring Tony Award winner Ron Rifkin and Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas
MTC’s An Enemy of The People Starring Boyd Gaines and Richard Thomas Begin Previews at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Richard Thomas and Boyd Gaines to star in An Enemy of the People at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre during Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2012-2013 Season
Tony Award – winning Playwright Terrence McNally to be Honored at Westport Country Playhouse Annual Gala, September 24, 2012
Photos: Highlights of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan (3pm) with Andre Bishop, Mary Beth Hurt, Jennifer Lim, Angela Lin, Philip Kan Gotanda, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Richard Thomas, Jay O. Sanders, and more
Photos: Highlights of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan (8pm) with Oskar Eustis, Patti LuPone, Lisa Emery, Ann Harada, Paolo Montalban, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Henry Stram, Richard Thomas, John Weidman and more
Photos: In Rehearsal with Director Bartlett Sher and the cast of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Mar. 7-Apr. 6: André De Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kyle Beltran, Kevin Mambo and More Set for DTC’s World Premiere Musical The Fortress of Solitude, A Co-Production with The Public Theater
André De Shields, Kevin Carolan, Usman Ally, Mary Zimmerman, Doug Peck Among 10 IRNE Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Melody Butiu, Conrad Ricamora and More Return for Here Lies Love; Previews Begin April 14, 2014
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Joel de la Fuente as Gordon Hirabayashi in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths. Photo by Lia Chang

PlayMakers Repertory Company concludes its 2013-2014 season with the PRC2 production of Jeanne Sakata’s critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway one-man show Hold These Truths starring 2013 Drama Desk nominee Joel de la Fuente (Outstanding Solo Performance), in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre in the Center for Dramatic Art on Country Club Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3235. Show times are Wednesday, April 23 through Sunday, April 27 at 7:30 pm, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 27.

Tickets are available as part of PlayMakers’ 2013/14 subscription packages, or single tickets may be purchased starting at $15. For more information, call the PlayMakers box office at (919) 962-PLAY (7529) or visit www.playmakersrep.org.

PlayMakers is based in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences. The Drama League of New York) has named PlayMakers among the “best regional theatre companies in America.”

Joel de la Fuente as Gordon Hirabayashi in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths. Photo by Lia Chang

“Resonates with vitality and power….This is what living, breathing theater is about. Unforgettable.”
Technorati, October 2012

Joel de la Fuente. Photo by Lia Chang

Joel de la Fuente as Dr. Johann Pryce in Netflix’s Hemlock Grove. Photo: Netflix

Joel is an alumnus oF Brown University and the Graduate Acting Program at N.Y.U. and resides in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.

Lisa Rothe

Jeanne Sakata. Photo by Lia Chang

Jeanne Sakata’s (Playwright) Hold These Truths (formerly Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi), had its world premiere in 2007 at Los Angeles’ East West Players, co-presented by the UCLA Department of Asian American Studies, the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, and the Japanese American National Museum. In its 2012 New York premiere at the Epic Theatre Ensemble, Hold These Truths opened to unanimous rave reviews from The New Yorker, The Washington Post/API, and many other theatre critics, resulting in a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, and a subsequent Hawaiian premiere, co-presented by Daniel Dae Kim and the Honolulu Theatre For Youth. Hold These Truths is next slated for late summer at A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle. Developed by the Lark Play Development Center and the New York Theatre Workshop, it has also been performed at Chicago’s Pritzker Pavilion with Silk Road Rising/Millennium Park, the University of California at Riverside and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where it served as the inspiration and theatrical centerpiece of the civil rights symposium Civil Liberties, National Security and the Legacies of the Japanese Removal and Incarceration. With the East West Players Theatre For Youth program in 2008 and 2010, the play has twice toured high schools and junior high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Hold These Truths is now part of the Jeanne Sakata Collection in the Library of Congress Playwrights Archive, Asian American Pacific Islander Collection, Washington DC. (www.holdthesetruths.info, www.facebook.com/holdthesetruths)

Hold These Truths’ star Joel de la Fuente and playwright Jeanne Sakata on the red carpet of The Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall in New York on May 19, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

(www.facebook.com/holdthesetruths, www.holdthesetruths.info)

Below are interviews with Hold These Truths‘ playwright Jeanne Sakata, star Joel de la Fuente and director Lisa Rothe.

Hold These Truths‘ star Joel de la Fuente talks about the challenges of playing 30+ characters and the impact playing Gordon Hirabayashi has had for him.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Signature’s Production of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu, starring Cole Horibe, Phoebe Strole and Francis Jue, extends through April 6, 2014
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Other Hold These Truths Articles:
Mar. 17: Reading of Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths starring Joel de la Fuente at People’s Light & Theatre
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Hold These Truths Opening Night at Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Tenney Theatre with Daniel Dae Kim, Joel de la Fuente and Jeanne Sakata
Brief Reunion Starring Joel de la Fuente, Alexie Gilmore and Scott Shepherd, Opens in NY & L.A. on January 18, 2013
Hold These Truths Video Feature: Playwright Jeanne Sakata, Star Joel de la Fuente and Director Lisa Rothe
Video: Interview with Lisa Rothe, Director of Critically Acclaimed Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, starring Joel de la Fuente
Video: Q & A with Jeanne Sakata, Award Winning Actress Makes Playwrighting Debut Telling Story of Gordon Hirabayashi with Hold These Truths
Photos and Video: Daniel Dae Kim, Ann Harada, Greg Watanabe and More at Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths starring Joel de la Fuente
Photos: Opening Night with Hold These Truths’ Playwright Jeanne Sakata and Star Joel de la Fuente, a Revelation as Gordon Hirabayashi; Performances Extended through November 25, 2012
Epic Theatre Ensemble Presents New York Premiere of Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths Starring Joel de la Fuente at the Theatre at the 14th Street Y, October 12-November 18, 2012
Remembering Civil Rights Leader Gordon Hirabayashi,1918- 2012
President Obama Names Asian American Civil Rights Hero Gordon Hirabayashi Recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Reading of Jeanne Sakata’s Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi Starring Joel de la Fuente in New York
Thom Sesma Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi

Lia Chang

On Monday, March 31, 2014, as part of the popular “Signature Cinema” series, Signature Theatre is screening Enter the Dragon at 7 p.m. as part of “The Bruce Lee Film Series” in conjunction with the World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s new play KUNG FU, directed by Leigh Silverman with choreography by Sonya Tayeh, in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Tickets are now on sale and are $8 for Signature subscribers and $13 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.signaturetheatre.org or calling Ticket Services at 212-244-7529. Subscribers should call Ticket Services for their exclusive discount code.

Signature’s Production of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu, starring Cole Horibe, Phoebe Strole and Francis Jue, extends through April 6, 2014

Acclaimed as the first Chinese martial arts movie ever produced by a major Hollywood studio and one of the most beloved Kung Fu films of all time, Enter the Dragon catapulted Bruce Lee to international superstardom. Shot in 1973 and released six days after Lee’s untimely death, Enter the Dragon follows Lee as a martial arts expert turned undercover operative who is tasked with infiltrating a dangerous drug operation that is cloaked as a martial arts competition. Fast-paced and action-packed, Enter the Dragon iconically captures Bruce Lee as the martial arts phenomenon we celebrate today. The film is directed by Robert Clouse and features a screenplay by Michael Allin.

Enter the Dragon will be introduced by veteran movie and television producer and martial arts practitioner Warrington Hudlin.

“Signature Cinema” showcases films written by Signature’s Playwrights-in-Residence and films that explore the “world of the play” that is currently in production. Signature Cinema is one of many supplemental programs and events at The Pershing Square Signature Center. For more information, visit www.signaturetheatre.org.

Signature Theatre is currently presenting the World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s KUNG FU. The production is now playing in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues), and has been extended through April 6. Tickets during the extension weeks are $75 each. To purchase tickets for all Signature productions, call Signature’s Ticket Services department (212-244-7529) or visit www.signaturetheatre.org.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Mar. 7-Apr. 6: André De Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kyle Beltran, Kevin Mambo and More Set for DTC’s World Premiere Musical The Fortress of Solitude, A Co-Production with The Public Theater
André De Shields, Kevin Carolan, Usman Ally, Mary Zimmerman, Doug Peck Among 10 IRNE Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Mar. 21-May 4: Richard Thomas, Ron Rifkin, Hallie Foote and Khaled Nabaway Set for Arena Stage’s World Premiere of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Backstage with Michi Barall and the cast of Regina Taylor’s stop.reset. at Signature Theatre Febone1960.net Review: Power Play Powerful & Suspenseful
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Meet the authors of the Pocket Chinese Almanac, Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith, Museworks, Ltd.
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Olney Theatre Center, continues its critically-acclaimed 76th Anniversary season with the family musical Once On This Island April 9 – May 4, 2014 on the Mainstage.

From the Tony Award-winning creators of RAGTIME and SEUSSICAL comes a glorious, Caribbean-infused family musical of enormous heart and magical wisdom. In almost non-stop song and dance, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND follows the story’s young heroine, Ti Moune, on her quest to prove love is more powerful than the forces of prejudice, hatred and death.

Alan Muraoka

Full of capricious gods, island magic, and joyous dance numbers, Olney’s production is directed by Alan Muraoka, proprietor of “Sesame Street”‘s Hooper’s Store since 1997.

“Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are America’s most talented, versatile musical theater team, and what they’ve done with this simple story is magic from start to finish,” says Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith. “Add to that Alan Muraoka’s heartfelt direction, Helen Huang’s fantastical costumes and Milagros Ponce de León’s extraordinary set and you’ve got 90 minutes of world-class entertainment for audiences of every age.”

The cast of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is led by Olney Theatre Center newcomer Aisha Jackson as Ti Moune. Ms. Jackson recently appeared in American Repertory Theater’s production of WITNESS UGANDA. Eymard Cabling, Lun Tha in last season’s hit production of THE KING AND I, returns as Ti Moune’s love interest Daniel. Sharing the role of young Ti Moune are Baltimore native Ariel Cunningham and Silver Spring native Shelby Renée Fountain. ONCE ON THIS ISLAND marks both girls’ debut at Olney Theatre Center. Playing the island gods are Theresa Cunningham as Asaka, Fahnlohnee Harris-Tate as Erzulie, Broadway veteran James T. Lane as Papa Ge, and Nicholas Ward as Agwe. Rounding out the cast are Kellee Knighten Hough, Wendell Jordan, David Little, Duyen Washington, and Stephen Scott Wormley.

Director Alan Muraoka partners with Music Director Darius Smith (Signature’s Dreamgirls, Adventure Theatre-MTC Three Little Birds) and Choreographer Darren Lee to bring Ahrens and Flaherty’s story to life on the Olney stage. Rounding out the design team are Scenic Designer Milagros Ponce De León, Costume Designer Helen Huang, Lighting Designer Marc Hurst, and Sound Designer Jeffrey Dorfman.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND runs April 9 – May 4. Press Night: Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 7:00pm. Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 7:00pm; matinees on Sunday at 1:30pm; Saturday matinees at 1:30pm on April 19 and 26, and May 3; and, Wednesday matinees at 1:30pm on April 16, 23, and 30. Tickets are $32.50-$65. Discounts available for groups, seniors, military, and students.

ABOUT OLNEY THEATRE CENTER Olney Theatre Center is an award-winning, nonprofit, Equity theatre. Located just north of Washington, D.C. in arts-rich Montgomery County, Maryland, Olney Theatre Center offers a diverse array of professional productions year-round. Olney Theatre Center is situated on 14 acres in the heart of the beautiful Washington-Baltimore-Frederick “triangle,” within easy access of all three cities. Olney Theatre Center is home to the National Players, America’s longest-running touring company and led by Artistic Director Jason Loewith and Managing Director Amy Marshall. For more information, visit www.olneytheatre.org. Follow Olney Theatre Center on Twitter @olneytheatre or twitter.com/olneytheatre and on Facebook at facebook.com/olneytheatre.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Q & A with Mel Sagrado Maghuyop, The King in Harbor Lights’ Production of The King and I
Playing Lady Thiang in the Harbor Lights’ Production of The King and I is a dream come true for Christine Toy Johnson
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop, Tamara Jenkins, Christine Toy Johnson and Ron Domingo Lead the Cast of Harbor Lights Theater Company’s Production of The King and I, directed by Alan Muraoka, November 2-18, 2012
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Signature’s Production of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu, starring Cole Horibe, Phoebe Strole and Francis Jue, extends through April 6, 2014
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Celebrating the Year of the Horse with David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu at Signature Theatre; Previews begin February 4, 2014
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Photos: Backstage with Michi Barall and the cast of Regina Taylor’s stop.reset. at Signature Theatre
Febone1960.net Review: Power Play Powerful & Suspenseful
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Pacific Arts Movement and Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company are joining forces to co-produce and co-present the nation’s premier Asian American sketch comedy troupe, the award-winning 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors (18MMW). Presented as part of Pacific Arts Movement’s annual Spring Showcase, three live multi-media performances of 18MMW will take place on April 18-20, 2014 at the Mission Valley UltraStar Cinemas, 7510 Hazard Center Dr #100 in San Diego, CA, marking the kickoff to Mo`olelo’s 10th Anniversary Season, as well as 18MMW’s 20th anniversary year.

The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors include the comic duo of Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle and Greg Watanabe, who are the Asian American answer to “Key & Peele” and who have performed in cities from New York to Los Angeles, and Hong Kong to Vancouver. Asian Pacific Rim-related culture and news is hot, hot, HOT right now, from the mad antics of Kim Jong Un, to controversy over Lorde’s Asian boyfriend to Katy Perry performing as a Geisha. And the Warriors are there with their wicked, no-holds barred comedic commentary and satire! Appearing with the warriors are special guests Jully Lee and Albert Park. This show includes their “greatest hits” sketches plus new material written just for San Diego audiences.
Here’s what people have said:

“… the [18] Mighty Mountain Warriors demonstrate more than a searing, spot-on read of American culture through a particular ethnic lens; they’re a first-rate comedic troupe, full of versatility and verve.”

—Robert Avila, San Francisco Bay Guardian

“… biting, incisive, devastating comedy …”

—Ossie Davis, actor, Do the Right Thing, Get on the Bus

“Adding live theatrical performances to our Spring Showcase really excites us,” said Pac-Arts executive director, Lee Ann Kim. “Because our work is primarily in film exhibition, partnering with Mo`olelo to present 18MMW diversifies our programming and audience.”

Mo`olelo’s Associate Producer, Donnie Matsuda, shared similar sentiments. “We at Mo`olelo are thrilled to be joining forces with Pac-Arts to introduce San Diego audiences to the irreverent style of sketch comedy that 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors does so well. The San Diego premiere of their latest theatrical show is sure to entertain with a mega-mix of comedy, activism, and artistic flair.”

Tickets for “18 Mighty Mountain Warriors” are $20 for the general public and $16-18 for groups of 10 or more who book in advance. Performances are Friday, April 18 at 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM and Sunday, April 20 at 2:00 PM.

To purchase tickets, visit: http://www.ticketderby.com/event/?id=247968

Contact Taylor Wycoff (taylor@moolelo.net) for information about booking groups.

About Pacific Arts Movement: Best known for its San Diego Asian Film Festival, Pac-Arts serves more than 30,000 people a year through its year-round programs. As a catalyst of social change, Pacific Arts’ mission is to create transformative experiences through the media arts. More at www.Pac-Arts.org | info@Pac-Arts.org | 619-400-5911

About Mo`olelo: Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company is a community-focused, socially-conscious, Equity theater company, recognized by the American Theatre Wing, the creators of the Tony Awards®, as one of the most promising emerging theater companies in the nation. Mo`olelo produces three plays and arts education programs annually that prioritize communities traditionally underserved in American theater. Mo`olelo means “story” in Hawaiian and reflects the Company’s vision to tell powerful stories as diverse as the peoples and islands of Hawaii. More at www.moolelo.net or 619-342-7395.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Photos: Backstage with Michi Barall and the cast of Regina Taylor’s stop.reset. at Signature Theatre
Febone1960.net Review: Power Play Powerful & Suspenseful
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Melody Butiu, Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles and Conrad Ricamora backstage at The Public on June 10, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

The Public Theater’s production of David Byrne and Alex Timbers’ smash hit musical, Here Lies Love, starring 2013 world premiere principal cast members Ruthie Ann Miles and Jose Llana as Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as Ninoy Aquino, begins performances on April 14, 2014 with an opening night set for May 1st at The Public Theater’s LuEsther Hall (425 Lafayette Street, New York City) for an open-ended commercial run. This run is being produced by Joey Parnes Productions and EMURSIVE (Jonathan Hochwald, Arthur Karpati, and Randy Weiner, principals).

Under the direction of Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love played a critically raved-about, sold-out run last year at the same space, which was extended by popular demand four times. Here Lies Love was conceived by David Byrne, and features lyrics by Byrne, music by Byrne and Fatboy Slim, additional music by Tom Gandey and J Pardo, and choreography by Annie-B Parson. The production received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; an Obie Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics; Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Music, Lighting Design and Projection Design and Theatre World Awards for Ruthie Ann Miles (Imelda Marcos) and Conrad Ricamora (Aquino). Here Lies Love recently received a record 11 Lucille Lortel Awards nominations, including Outstanding Musical, Alex Timbers for Outstanding Director, Annie-B Parson for Outstanding Choreographer, Jose Llana for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Conrad Ricamora for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Ruthie Ann Miles for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Melody Butiu for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, David Korins for Outstanding Scenic Design, Clint Ramos for Outstanding Costume Design, Justin Townsend for Outstanding Lighting Design and M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer for Outstanding Sound Design.

Tickets for Here Lies Love range from $99-$139. For more info, visit www.herelieslove.com.

Ruthie Ann Miles (center) as Imelda Marcos and Jose Llana (on staircase) as Ferdinand Marcus. Photo by Joan Marcus

Here Lies Love features, in alphabetical order: Renee Albulario, Carol Angeli, Melody Butiu, Natalie Cortez, Debralee Daco, Jose Llana, Kelvin Moon Loh, Jaygee Macapugay, Jeigh Madjus, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Conrad Ricamora, George Salazar, and Janelle Velasquez.

Sung Rno, Daniel Dae Kim and Jeanne Sakata in the green room with the cast of Here Lies Love at The Public Theater in New York on June 10, 2013.

Within a pulsating dance club atmosphere, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim deconstruct the astonishing journey of Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos retracing her meteoric rise to power and subsequent descent into infamy and disgrace at the end of the People Power Revolution. Here Lies Love is neither a period piece nor a biography, neither a play nor a traditional musical but an immersive theatrical event combining songs influenced by four decades of dance music, adrenaline-fueled choreography, and a remarkable 360-degree scenic and video environment to go beyond Imelda’s near-mythic obsession with shoes and explore the tragic consequences of the abuse of power. Here Lies Love is a 90-minute theatrical experience. Set within a dance club atmosphere, audiences will stand and move with the actors. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended. Dancing is encouraged.

Here Lies Love articles:
Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Melody Butiu, Conrad Ricamora and More Return for Here Lies Love; Previews Begin April 14, 2014
Nov. 25: David Byrne and the Cast of The Public Theater’s HERE LIES LOVE including Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Conrad Ricamora, Melody Butiu and More to Host Benefit Concert for the Philippines at Terminal 5
Jaygee Macapugay to appear as Imeda Marcos in Here Lies Love at The Public, July 5-7, 2013
Here Lies Love, Starring Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles, Extends at The Public through July 28, 2013
Christine Toy Johnson, Thom Sesma, Ali Ewoldt, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Telly Leung and More Set for The Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre
Christine Toy Johnson and Raul Aranas Lead the Cast of the National Asian Artists Project’s (NAAP) Benefit Presentation of Hello Dolly!, at The Pershing Square Signature Center on April 29 and May 6 Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Conrad Ricamora, Kelvin Moon Loh and More Set for World Premiere of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Here Lies Love at The Public, April 2 – May 19, 2013

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Mar. 21-May 4: Richard Thomas, Ron Rifkin, Hallie Foote and Khaled Nabaway Set for Arena Stage’s World Premiere of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Anjali Bhimani, André De Shields, NIkka Graff Lanzarone, Monique Haley, Geoff Packard, Akash Chopra, Ed Kross and Govind Kumar in The Jungle Book at The Huntington Theatre in Boston on September 5, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman, is up for four Elliot Norton Award nominations, including André De Shields for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor, Mary Zimmerman for Outstanding Director, Large Theater, Scenic design by Daniel Ostling, costumes by Mara Blumenfeld, lighting by T.J. Gerckens, sound by Joshua Horvath, Ray Nardelli, and Andre J. Pluess for Outstanding Design, Large Theater, and Outstanding Musical Production by a Large Theater.

The awards are presented annually by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) (Don Aucoin, Jared Bowen, Terry Byrne, Carolyn Clay, Nick Dussault, Iris Fanger, Joyce Kulhawik, Kilian Melloy, Bob Nesti, and Ed Siegel) to honor the outstanding productions, directors, designers, and performers audiences see on Greater Boston stages all year long. The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) will hand out the Elliot Norton Awards, celebrating its 32nd anniversary, on Monday, May 19 at the Wheelock Family Theatre, 200 The Riverway Boston, MA 02215. Ceremony highlights include musical performances, The Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence, a guest of honor, who is a theater artist who has enriched the cultural life of our region, and post-ceremony party.

In the past, that distinguished list of honorees has included, among others: Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Al Pacino, Edward Albee, Brian Dennehy, August Wilson, Julie Harris, Sir Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, and Jason Robards.

The Elliot Norton Awards are named for the eminent Boston theater critic Elliot Norton, who remained an active supporter of the drama, both locally and nationally, until his death in 2003 at the age of 100. The Boston theater community carries on his legacy and can be proud of its remarkable growth at a time in our nation’s history when the arts are truly struggling to survive.

Tickets are $30 ($10 off discount “norton2014″ is good through April 30, 2014) For tickets and information visit www.nortonawardsboston.com or by calling Wheelock Family Theatre 617-879-2300.

The 32nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards Nominations

Elliot Norton Lifetime Achievement Award:

Olympia Dukakis

Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence:

Paul Daigneault

Outstanding Visiting Production

Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Centre, presented by ArtsEmerson)
Waiting for Godot (Gare St Lazare Players and Dublin Theatre Festival, presented by ArtsEmerson)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bristol Old Vic in association with Handspring Puppet Company, presented by ArtsEmerson)

Outstanding Production by a Large Resident Theater

All the Way (American Repertory Theater)
The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater) Venus in Fur (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Production by a Midsize Theater

Tribes (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Imagining Madoff (New Repertory Theatre)
The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Production by a Small Theater

Windowmen (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
How We Got On (Company One)
The Flick (Company One)

Outstanding Production by a Fringe Theater

Punk Rock (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
The Libertine (Bridge Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Design, Large Theater

The Heart of Robin Hood: Set design by Börkur Jónsson, costumes by Emma Ryott, lighting by Björn Helgason, sound by Jonathan Deans (American Repertory Theater)
Mies Julie: Set and lighting design by Patrick Curtis, original lighting design by Paul Abrams, costumes by Birrie Le Roux, music composed and performed by Daniel and Matthew Pencer (Baxter Theatre Centre, presented by ArtsEmerson)
The Jungle Book: Scenic design by Daniel Ostling, costumes by Mara Blumenfeld, lighting by T.J. Gerckens, sound by Joshua Horvath, Ray Nardelli, and Andre J. Pluess (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater

Windowmen: Scenic design by Andrew R. Phelps, sound and lighting by David Wilson, costumes by Rachel Padula Shufelt (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
The Flick: Scenic design by Cristina Todesco, lighting by Jen Rock, costumes by Amanda Maciel Antunes, sound by Edward Young, props master Anita Shriver (Company One)
The Whale: Scenic design by Cristina Todesco, costumes by Gail Astrid Buckley, lighting by Jeff Adelberg, sound David Remedios (SpeakEasy Stage Company)

Outstanding Musical Production by a Large Theater

Once (Broadway in Boston)
The Jungle Book (Huntington Theatre Company)
Witness Uganda (American Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Musical Production by a Midsize, Small or Fringe Company

Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)
It’s a Horrible Life (Gold Dust Orphans)
Hairspray (Wheelock Family Theatre)

Francis Jue. Photo by Lia Chang

Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor

Andre De Shields, The Jungle Book (Huntington Theatre Company)
Paul Melendy, It’s a Horrible Life (Gold Dust Orphans)
Francis Jue, Miss Saigon (North Shore Music Theatre)

Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress

Melody Betts, Witness Uganda (American Repertory Theater)
Aimee Doherty, On the Town (Lyric Stage Company of Boston), Hairspray (Wheelock Family Theatre)
Ephie Aardema, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)

Outstanding New Script

Windowmen, by Steven Barkhimer (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Absence, by Peter M. Floyd (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Breaking the Shakespeare Code, by John Minigan (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Outstanding Director, Large Theater

Gisli Örn Gardarsson, The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater)
Mary Zimmerman, The Jungle Book (Huntington Theatre Company)
Yael Farber, Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Centre, presented by ArtsEmerson)

Outstanding Director, Midsize Theater

M. Bevin O’Gara, Tribes (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Ilyse Robbins, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)
Melia Bensussen, The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater

Summer L. Williams, How We Got On (Company One)
David J. Miller, Punk Rock and The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Shawn LaCount, The Flick (Company One)

Michael McKean, Bryan Cranston and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Evgenia Eliseeva

Outstanding Actor, Large Theater

Bryan Cranston, All the Way (American Repertory Theater)
Bongile Mantsai, Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Center, presented by ArtsEmerson)
Denis O’Hare, An Iliad (Homer’s Coat, presented by ArtsEmerson)

Outstanding Actress, Large Theater

Hilda Cronje, Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Center, presented by ArtsEmerson)
Andrea Syglowski, Venus in Fur (Huntington Theatre Company)
Christina Bennett Lind, The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater

John Kuntz, The Whale (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Steven Barkhimer, The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)
Jeremiah Kissel, Imagining Madoff (New Repertory Theatre)

Outstanding Actress, Midsize Theater

Erica Spyres, Tribes (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Georgia Lyman, The Whale (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Marianna Bassham, The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater

Phil Gillen, Punk Rock (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Alex Pollock, This Is Our Youth (Gloucester Stage Company), Windowmen (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre), The Flick (Company One)
Victor Shopov, The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)

Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater

Maureen Adduci, The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Brenna Fitzgerald, The Flick (Company One)
Cloteal Horne, How We Got On (Company One)

Outstanding Ensemble, Large Theater

All the Way (American Repertory Theater)
The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater)
The Seagull (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Ensemble, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater

Punk Rock (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Windowmen (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Hairspray (Wheelock Family Theatre)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Other articles on Andre De Shields:
André De Shields, Adam Chanler-Berat, Kyle Beltran, Kevin Mambo and More Set for DTC’s World Premiere Musical The Fortress of Solitude, A Co-Production with The Public Theater
André De Shields to receive 2014 Making Waves Award; will perform “Frederick Douglass: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” at Florida Atlantic University
Nov. 16: Conversations with the Divine with Owais Ahmed, Baize Buzan, Kathryn Cesarz, Kamal Hans, Brian Grey, Donica Lynn, Patrese McClain and Miranda Zola at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theater
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
André De Shields Delivers Keynote at the International Conference of Fine Arts Deans in New Orleans
Photos: André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Akash Chopra, Richard M. Sherman, Kevin Carolan, Larry Yando, Nehal Joshi and More Celebrate The Jungle Book Opening Night at Huntington Theatre in Boston
Click here for more articles on André De Shields.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia will make her jazz vocalist debut on March 1, 2014, in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York.

Playwright James McManus. (Photo courtesy of Samuel French)

Working Theater, in its 29th season off-Broadway, will continue its current exploration of the face of poverty in America, with James McManus’ Princess Grace Award-winning play, CHERRY SMOKE. The play is a brutal love story that details the irrational hope of four destitute young people, all stretching to grasp the American dream. Directed by Tamilla Woodard, the production will run April 22nd through May 18th at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street in Manhattan. The official opening is on Thursday, May 1st.

a life for him and Cherry?
On the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Fish is a ticking time bomb and a back alley fighter who has been in and out of jail his entire life, Cherry is a runaway who has been on her own since age 10 and hopes for a more simple life where she and Fish can be together, Will Fish be able to harness his rage and make a life for him and Cherry?

James McManus captures the devastated remnants of the steel towns of his youth, channeling the frustrations of a working class without work. A vivid combustion of the magical and the mundane, Cherry Smoke takes you to a world rarely seen on the New York stage.

Todd London, Artistic Director of New Dramatists explains that McManus “writes about characters with hard lives and hard luck, and he writes about them with profound love. His dialogue is painful and gorgeous. It’s a poetry of the actual, reminiscent of two American masters–Paddy Chayevsky and, McManus’s great example, August Wilson. But like everything else in CHERRY SMOKE, the voice is entirely his own. James McManus is an important American playwright, who deserves to be more widely known. It’s fitting and encouraging that the Working Theater is producing this beautiful play in New York City.”

The cast of CHERRY SMOKE features Molly Carden (Emotional Creature) Patrick Carroll, (Good People) Julie Jesneck, (Rock and Roll) and Vayu O’Donnell (Golden Boy).

Playwright James McManus is the author of six plays: Love on San Pedro, Dorothy 6, Bulldog Whiskey, Underground, Cherry Smoke and Blood Potato. His plays have been developed and performed at Cornerstone Theater Company, Labyrinth Theater Company, Apothecary Theatre Company, The Clockwork Theatre, Glass Umbrella Creative (Sydney), Revolt Theatre (Melbourne), Gurnet Theatre Project, The Kennedy Center, The BE Company, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Barebones Productions, Irish Repertory Theatre, Son of Semele, The Side Project Theatre Company, The Lark Play Development Center, The Inkwell, Diverse City Theater Company, and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. James was the recipient of the 2006 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting for Cherry Smoke, which is published by Samuel French. He received an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University and is a resident playwright at New Dramatists.

Tamilla Woodard is a Director residing in New York City. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, an alumnus of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab and founder of PopUp Theatrics, a partnership creating site impacting theatrical events in collaboration with theatre artists working around the globe. Most recent work: Long Distance Affair: BA Edition, (Bienal Arte Joven Buenos Aires and PopUP Theatrics, Buenos Aires) INSIDE (PopUP Theatrics, Madrid, Spain;) La Ruta, by Ed Cardona Jr. ( Working Theater, NYC) With PopUP Theatrics: Long Distance Affair, an international collaboration for live Skype performance; Hotel Project, Co-Creator, world premiere in QuerÃ©taro Mexico in July 2011, American premiere at Washington Jefferson Hotel and the Summit Grand Hotel in January 2012; Other recent work includes, 3 Editions of Long Distance Affair, Edinburgh, Scotland, QuerÃ©taro, Mexico, New York, USA; DramaTour in QuerÃ©taro Mexico (Sabandijas del Palacio) Valiant by Lanna Joffrey at InterAct Theatre (Philadelphia, PA); Nightlands by Sylvan Oswald (New Georges,NYC) and the development and direction of Saviana Stanescu’s Polanski Polanski (Teatrul Odeon, Bucharest; The Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Sibiu, TIFF International Festival, Cluj; PS122/SoloNOVA festival, HERE, NYC and The Chain, LIC, New York). She has directed for the Working Theater, HERE, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, PS122, DR 2, The Culture Project, Urban Stages, Dance Theatre Workshop, The Kitchen Theatre and for festivals around the US and internationally. She a recipient of The Charles Bowden Award from New Dramatists, The Josephine Abady Award from The League of Professional Theatre Women, New York Theatre Workshop Director Fellowship, New Georges Audrey Residency and a TCG On The Road Grant.

CHERRY SMOKE features Scenic Design by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, Costume Design by Emily DeAngelis, Lighting Design by Solomon Weisbard, Sound Design by Sam Kusnetz. Prop Design by Claire Kavanah, Fight Coreography by Rick Sordelet. The Production Stage Manager is Megan Dickert. The Assistant Stage Manager is Kelly Hardy. The Production Manager is Libby Jensen and the Assistant Director is Dina Vovsi.

Performances of CHERRY SMOKE are on Monday, Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:00PM with Saturday matinees at 2PM and Sunday matinees at 3:00PM. At Urban Stages 259 West 30th Street between 7th and 8th Aves in New York.

Tickets to CHERRY SMOKE are $25 (General Admission) and $23 (Students/Seniors/Union Members) and may be purchased in advance at http://www.smarttix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. For group rates, contact info@theworkingtheater.org. Working Theater offers pay-what-you can performances on each Monday. Subject to availability and at the door only.

ABOUT WORKING THEATER
Now in its 29th season, Working Theater is New York’s only professional Off- Broadway theatre company dedicated to producing plays for and about the workingmen and women of New York. Past productions include Ed Cardona Jr.’s site-specific play about immigration reform, La Ruta, performed inside a real 48’truck; Lisa Ramirez’s play about nannies, Exit Cuckoo, directed by Colman Domingo; Roberto Aguirre Sacasa’s King Of Shadows; Annie Wiesman’s Hold Please; Israel Horovitz’s Henry Lumper, Rob Ackerman’s Table Top; Stefanie Zadravec’s Honey Brown Eyes and many others. For more information, visit www.theworkingtheater.org.

Other articles on Working Theater:
Photos: Working Theater and the Harold Clurman Lab Theater Present Michael Milligan’s Mercy Killers Off-Broadway through February 16, 2014
Photos: Working Theater’s World Premiere of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s La Ruta through May 12, 2013
Working Theater in Collaboration with Magnum Foundation Present World Premiere of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s La Ruta, April 10 – May 12, 2013
Working Theater presents The Best of TheaterWorks!: Stories from the 99%, at The Dorothy Strelsin Theatre at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex
Working Theater presents The Poetry of Philip Levine with Jeffrey Eugenides, André De Shields, Gene Gillette and Lisa Ramirez on May 7
Photos: Working Theater’s Production of Rob Ackerman’s CALL ME WALDO at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex
Papermag.com: An Emerson-Loving Electrician Takes the Stage in Call Me Waldo
1199SEIU President George Gresham to receive Labor Leadership Award at 2011 Working Theater Annual Awards Ceremony
André De Shields & Alison Fraser Star in Reading of Michael Aman’s The Unbleached American at Theater Row on 5/9
Working Theater Presents Staged Reading of Chay Yew’s Visible Cities at The Studio Theatre on Theatre Row
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Lia Chang Photo Slideshows of Productions in the Working Theater’s 25th Anniversary Season
Multimedia: Photos of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s American Jornalero at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre
Photos of André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance
Achieving the American Dream, Professional Charmer Andre De Shields Sees Theater is a Way to Life

Other articles by Lia Chang:
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Edward James Hyland

The new Off-Broadway comedy Under My Skin, written by comedy powerhouse duo Robert Sternin and Prudence Fraser (“THE NANNY,” “WHO’S THE BOSS?”), currently in previews at The Little Shubert Theatre, 422 W. 42nd St. in New York since April 5, 2014, will have its official opening night on Thursday, May 15, 2014.

The cast of Under My Skin features Tony nominee Kerry Butler (Broadway: Xanadu (Tony nom.), Les Miserables, Hairspray, Rock of Ages, Beauty and the Beast), Matt Walton (Film: Burn After Reading; TV: “One Life to Live”; Off-Broadway: Hair), Megan Sikora (Broadway: Gentleman Prefer Blondes, How to Succeed in Business, Promises, Promises), Edward James Hyland (Broadway: Machinal, Arcadia, Festen, The Man Who Had All The Luck) as Poppa Sam; Dierdre Friel (Broadway: Leap of Faith) as the Angel; Allison Strong (Broadway: Bye Bye Birdie, Mamma Mia!) as Casey Dent; Kate Loprest (Broadway: First Date, Hairspray, Wonderland, Xanadu, Drowsy Chaperone; TV: HBO‘s “Boardwalk Empire”); and Andrew Polk (Off-Broadway: Mouth to Mouth). Kirsten Sanderson directs.

In Under My Skin, a twist of fate leads to love and laughs when New York’s most eligible bachelor, Harrison Badish III (Walton), and a single, working mother, Melody Dent (Butler), experience each other’s lives and see things from a very different perspective.

The design team includes Stephen Dobay as Scenic Designer, Lara de Bruijn as Costume Designer, Driscoll Otto as Lighting Designer, and Janie Bullard as Sound Designer. The production will be helmed by Lead Producer, Marla McNally Phillips, and Co-Producer Marcy Carsey.

Click here for tickets through telecharge.com.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Edward James Hyland Stars in Lee Blessing’s WORLD PREMIERE A User’s Guide to Hell, Featuring Bernard Madoff At Atlantic Stage II
Melissa Canaday’s Tango for Tata’s in Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

3rd Kulture Kids is presenting the U.S. premiere of renowned French playwright Mohamed Kacimi’s acclaimed play Holy Land at HERE in NYC, running from April 18-May 10.

The cast of Holy Land -Pia Haddad, Sean Carvajal, Anna Grosse, Jojo Gonzalez and Gil Perez-Abraham.

Holy Land has been presented to critical acclaim in Paris, Vienna, Prague, London, Milan, Jerusalem, Rio de Janeiro, Stockholm and Hamburg. The U.S. premiere production is translated by award-winning NY-based playwright Chantal Bilodeau, with direction by Tracy Cameron Francis who has directed and developed work with NYTW, Williamstown Theatre Festival, LaMama Umbria (Italy), NY Arab American Comedy Festival, NY International Fringe and Falaki Theatre (Egypt). Based in Paris, Mohamed Kacimi was born in Algeria in a family of theologians; a poet, playwright, novelist, translator, journalist, he is also the president of Écritures du Monde – an organization that puts together international writing residencies.

The multicultural cast includes Obie Award-winner Jojo Gonzalez (“White Collar,” The Smurfs Movie, The Romance of Magno Rubio), Sean Carvajal, Ana Grosse, Gil Perez-Abraham and Pia Haddad. The creative team includes Charles Coes (Sound Designer), Lisa Renee Jordan (Costume Designer), Sheryl Liu (Set Designer), Miguel Valderrama (Lighting Designer) and Laura Perez (Stage Manager).

What if bombs & gunfire was the daily soundtrack to your life? Welcome, to Holy Land…a raw and evocative tale of two families in a war ravaged city, trying to find humor when all is lost. Can we find humor & poetry in extreme situations? Mohamed Kacimi’s compelling and entertaining Holy Land answers this question as five contemporary characters face the devastation of war. A city under siege…the landscape is dusty, devastated. Carmen has disappeared at a checkpoint; her daughter, Imen, must face a soldier’s house search alone. In the house next door, Alia, a midwife, prepares her coffee as if nothing else matters while Yad, her husband, gets away from it all by smoking and drinking. The only hope seems to reside in Jesus: the cat. This dark and humorous story follows 5 characters hanging on to the banality of day-to-day life, at times to the point of insanity, as a way to transcend the atrocities of war.

This production is an Equity Approved Showcase and is a part of SubletSeries@HERE, HERE’s curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.

Holy Land will run from April 18-May 10 at HERE (145 Avenue of the Americas) with performances Wed.-Sat. at 7pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.HERE.org or by calling 212-352-3101. Box Office: open after 5pm on show days or 2 hours before any performance.

Previews on the 18th, 19th and 22th.
The April 24th show will be followed by a talkback and a reception in th HERElounge
Running Time: 60 min
Mature content: not recommended for audiences under 16.

3rd Kulture Kids is a theatre and film production company based in New York City, producing new/contemporary work created by the lost citizens of the world. 3K² will provide a home and a voice for multicultural artists, spreading its unique perspective on life. Precursors of the 22nd century, 3K² will generate stories that we can all call ours. For more information, visit www.3rdkulturekids.com.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Apr. 23-May 11: New York Premiere of Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty Features Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Ami Brabson at the Paradise Factory
Photos: On the Town with Rome Neal, Jazz Vocalist and Star of Laurence Holder’s MONK
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

The New York premiere of the late award-winning playwright Oni Faida Lampley’s play Tough Titty, a poignant and funny exploration of what comes next for a Brooklyn mother diagnosed with breast cancer, will be presented by actress/producer Ami Brabson (“Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Damages”) & her husband, Emmy and Obie Award-winning actor Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order,” “Glory,” “City of Angels”), April 23 – May 11 at the Paradise Factory in the East Village (64 East 4th Street) in New York. Awoye Timpo will direct. The play premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and made Lampley a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award.

Christine Toy Johnson Photo by Bruce Alan Johnson

The cast will feature Broadway veterans Christine Toy Johnson (The Music Man and Grease), Antoinette LaVecchia (A View from the Bridge) & Richard Topol (The Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) and Victor Williams (“The King of Queens”), Nikkole Salter (Inked Baby at Playwrights Horizons), Elizabeth Van Dyke (Flyin’ West) and Ami Brabson.

In Tough Titty, a woman’s breast cancer diagnosis propels her on a journey of self-discovery… When Angela’s routine cannot keep breast cancer at bay, she must learn to face the disease, her family and her community with equal doses of tenacity and humor. Richly emotional, Tough Titty is a boisterous exploration of one woman’s willful search for grace.

The creative team also includes Brooke Cohen (Costume Design), Aaron Porter (Lighting Design), Jason Sherwood (Set Design), Beth Lake (Sound Design), Alanna Maniscalco (Props Master), Allison Bressi (Line Producer), Aneesha Kudatarkar (Assistant Director), Jenney Shamash (Assistant Producer), Michelle Heller (Production Stage Manager), Kryssa Bowman (Assistant Stage Manager), Jeff Englander (Lighting Programmer), Abigail Rose Solomon (Marketing) and Eric Emch (Show Artwork).

Tough Titty will run from April 23-May 11 at the Paradise Factory in the East Village (64 East 4th Street) with performances Wed.-Sat. at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm, there is also a show on Monday, 5/5 at 8pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.SmartTix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.

Wed- Sat @ 8pm, Sun @ 7pm
Special performance Mon, May 5 @ 8pm
Wed, April 30 & Sat, May 10 SOLD OUT!

Paradise Factory Theater
64 E. 4th St. (btw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.)

FOR $16.00 DISCOUNT TICKETS (Reg. $18)
Use Discount Code FRIEND at:
www.Smarttix.com or 212-868-4444

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Photos: On the Town with Rome Neal, Jazz Vocalist and Star of Laurence Holder’s MONK
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Francis Jue (Engineer) in North Shore Music Theatre’s production of Miss Saigon. Photo © Paul Lyden

Congrats to Francis Jue on receiving an Elliot Norton Award nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor, for his critically-acclaimed turn as The Engineer in North Shore Music Theatre’s production of Miss Saigon, for which he also garnered a 2014 IRNE Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Jue recently completed an Off-Broadway run in Signature Theatre’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu.

Francis Jue as Lee's father, Hoi-Chuen. Photo by Joan Marcus

Francis Jue as Bruce Lee’s father, Hoi-Chuen. Photo by Joan Marcus

Here’s what the critics had to say about Francis Jue’s portrayal of The Engineer in North Shore Music Theatre’s Miss Saigon.

Francis Jue. Photo by Lia Chang

Always hovering near the star-crossed lovers in “Miss Saigon” is a character known only as the Engineer. The proprietor of a sleazy bar, a pimp, a profiteer, and an all-around opportunist, the Engineer sees the romance between Kim and Chris as his ticket to America. The success of any “Miss Saigon” is heavily dependent on the caliber of the actor cast in this role. (He’s as crucial to “Miss Saigon” as the Emcee, whom he resembles in certain respects, is to “Cabaret.”) In that regard, the NSMT production succeeds handsomely, because the Engineer is played by Francis Jue, a 2008 Obie Award winner for his performance in David Henry Hwang’s “Yellow Face.”

Jue delivers an indelible portrait of a Mephistophelean hustler who doesn’t so much walk as slither, a cannily corrupt survivor adept at switching allegiances to fit the political moment in a country where power is always changing hands. “Give me francs or dollars or yen/ I’ll set up a game/ I know how it works,” he sings in “If You Want To Die in Bed.” Jue excels in one of the show’s best numbers, “The American Dream,” a jauntily cynical tribute to untrammeled capitalism, gleefully sung by the Engineer while dollar-bill-clutching members of the ensemble spin a star-spangled, red-white-and-blue arch about the stage.
Don Aucoin of Boston Globe

Francis Jue is compelling as that cynical survivor, the Engineer. He has a magnificent voice, and his sharp performance is permeated with subtle humor and a burning interior rage. His performance of “The American Dream” is embellished by American businessmen swaying back and forth brandishing handfuls of cash, as cash also floats down from the ceiling into the audience and busty blondes wiggle nearby.
Sally Applegate of Wicked Local

Another potent performance is turned in by Francis Jue as the angry and opportunistic Eurasian “businessman” The Engineer. Wily, seductive, wry but also well aware of the dangers around him, he is the ultimate salesman when peddling the flesh of his working girls and the ultimate survivor when evading the wrath of Saigon’s newly installed fascist regime. He infuses “The American Dream,” a vaudeville-style number that simultaneously exalts and denigrates capitalism, with both a lusty desire and a hissing cynicism that strike at the heart of the unbridgeable gap between the have-nots and the haves.
Jan Nargi of Broadway World

Despite the production’s darker overtones, constant comic relief emanated from the lines, lyrics, and onstage presence of The Engineer. Masterfully portrayed by Francis Jue, The Engineer maniacally maneuvers the underground worlds of Saigon and Bangkok with such a sharp wit and occasional outrage. His embellished, wanna-be American persona is further propagated by his performance of The American Dream. Despite a highly cynical and selfish outlook, I just couldn’t help but cheer for Jue and The Engineer’s ultimate success.
Keith Spencer of NoBo Magazine

The biggest scene stealer in the show is Francis Jue as the Engineer. He helps the GI’s by supplying them with girls in his sex shop called Dreamland and later on entices the tourists in a Bangkok sex shop. Francis gives the audience the comic moments needed to escape from the harsh reality of the war. The character is reminiscent of the Emcee in “Cabaret” at times. Francis is a triple threat performer who wows you with his talent. His voice is incredible and his most impressive numbers are the well known vaudeville type song “The American Dream” where he sings about finally escaping from Bangkok, “If You Want to Die in Bed” which vocally is reminiscent of Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar”, ”The Night of the Dragon” where he pleads for his life before the Communists, “What a Waste” where he and the male chorus sing about his new sex shop and his two songs with Kim. Francis’s performance captivates you all night long.
Tony Annicone of Theatre Mirror

Jue is allowed full license to bring a beautiful physicality to the Engineer, even while maintaining an eerie realism to the larger-than-life character. The Engineer could easily have devolved into caricature, but Jue constructs layers upon layers into the character’s psyche, until even the Engineer doesn’t know what he really thinks.
Craig Idlebrook of NEW ENGLAND THEATRE GEEK

Tickets are $30 ($10 off discount “norton2014″ is good through April 30, 2014) For tickets and information visit www.nortonawardsboston.com or by calling Wheelock Family Theatre 617-879-2300.

The 32nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards Nominations

Elliot Norton Lifetime Achievement Award:

Olympia Dukakis

Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence:

Paul Daigneault

Outstanding Visiting Production

Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Centre, presented by ArtsEmerson)
Waiting for Godot (Gare St Lazare Players and Dublin Theatre Festival, presented by ArtsEmerson)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bristol Old Vic in association with Handspring Puppet Company, presented by ArtsEmerson)

Outstanding Production by a Large Resident Theater

All the Way (American Repertory Theater)
The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater) Venus in Fur (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Production by a Midsize Theater

Tribes (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Imagining Madoff (New Repertory Theatre)
The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Production by a Small Theater

Windowmen (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
How We Got On (Company One)
The Flick (Company One)

Outstanding Production by a Fringe Theater

Punk Rock (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
The Libertine (Bridge Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Design, Large Theater

The Heart of Robin Hood: Set design by Börkur Jónsson, costumes by Emma Ryott, lighting by Björn Helgason, sound by Jonathan Deans (American Repertory Theater)
Mies Julie: Set and lighting design by Patrick Curtis, original lighting design by Paul Abrams, costumes by Birrie Le Roux, music composed and performed by Daniel and Matthew Pencer (Baxter Theatre Centre, presented by ArtsEmerson)
The Jungle Book: Scenic design by Daniel Ostling, costumes by Mara Blumenfeld, lighting by T.J. Gerckens, sound by Joshua Horvath, Ray Nardelli, and Andre J. Pluess (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater

Windowmen: Scenic design by Andrew R. Phelps, sound and lighting by David Wilson, costumes by Rachel Padula Shufelt (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
The Flick: Scenic design by Cristina Todesco, lighting by Jen Rock, costumes by Amanda Maciel Antunes, sound by Edward Young, props master Anita Shriver (Company One)
The Whale: Scenic design by Cristina Todesco, costumes by Gail Astrid Buckley, lighting by Jeff Adelberg, sound David Remedios (SpeakEasy Stage Company)

Outstanding Musical Production by a Large Theater

Once (Broadway in Boston)
The Jungle Book (Huntington Theatre Company)
Witness Uganda (American Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Musical Production by a Midsize, Small or Fringe Company

Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)
It’s a Horrible Life (Gold Dust Orphans)
Hairspray (Wheelock Family Theatre)

Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor

Andre De Shields, The Jungle Book (Huntington Theatre Company)
Paul Melendy, It’s a Horrible Life (Gold Dust Orphans)
Francis Jue, Miss Saigon (North Shore Music Theatre)

Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress

Melody Betts, Witness Uganda (American Repertory Theater)
Aimee Doherty, On the Town (Lyric Stage Company of Boston), Hairspray (Wheelock Family Theatre)
Ephie Aardema, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)

Outstanding New Script

Windowmen, by Steven Barkhimer (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Absence, by Peter M. Floyd (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Breaking the Shakespeare Code, by John Minigan (Vagabond Theatre Company)

Outstanding Director, Large Theater

Gisli Örn Gardarsson, The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater)
Mary Zimmerman, The Jungle Book (Huntington Theatre Company)
Yael Farber, Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Centre, presented by ArtsEmerson)

Outstanding Director, Midsize Theater

M. Bevin O’Gara, Tribes (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Ilyse Robbins, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)
Melia Bensussen, The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater

Summer L. Williams, How We Got On (Company One)
David J. Miller, Punk Rock and The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Shawn LaCount, The Flick (Company One)

Outstanding Actor, Large Theater

Bryan Cranston, All the Way (American Repertory Theater)
Bongile Mantsai, Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Center, presented by ArtsEmerson)
Denis O’Hare, An Iliad (Homer’s Coat, presented by ArtsEmerson)

Outstanding Actress, Large Theater

Hilda Cronje, Mies Julie (Baxter Theatre Center, presented by ArtsEmerson)
Andrea Syglowski, Venus in Fur (Huntington Theatre Company)
Christina Bennett Lind, The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater

John Kuntz, The Whale (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Steven Barkhimer, The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)
Jeremiah Kissel, Imagining Madoff (New Repertory Theatre)

Outstanding Actress, Midsize Theater

Erica Spyres, Tribes (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Georgia Lyman, The Whale (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Marianna Bassham, The Cherry Orchard (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater

Phil Gillen, Punk Rock (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Alex Pollock, This Is Our Youth (Gloucester Stage Company), Windowmen (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre), The Flick (Company One)
Victor Shopov, The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)

Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater

Maureen Adduci, The Normal Heart (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Brenna Fitzgerald, The Flick (Company One)
Cloteal Horne, How We Got On (Company One)

Outstanding Ensemble, Large Theater

All the Way (American Repertory Theater)
The Heart of Robin Hood (American Repertory Theater)
The Seagull (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Ensemble, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater

Punk Rock (Zeitgeist Stage Company)
Windowmen (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Hairspray (Wheelock Family Theatre)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre)

Other articles on Francis Jue:
Francis Jue, At Home on the Stage
Signature’s Production of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu, starring Cole Horibe, Phoebe Strole and Francis Jue, extends through April 6, 2014
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Signature’s Production Photos of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu, Opens February 24, 2014
Celebrating the Year of the Horse with David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu at Signature Theatre; Previews begin February 4, 2014
Feb. 4 – Mar. 16: Phoebe Strole, Jon Rua, Join Cole Horibe and More for Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Feb. 4 – Mar. 16: Cole Horibe, Francis Jue, Peter Kim and More Set for Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Ron Domingo, Francis Jue and Jon Norman Schneider Join the Cast of the World Premiere of Paper Dolls at the Tricycle Theatre, February 28 – April 13, 2013
Photos: All-Access Pass to Disney’s Aladdin at The Muny with Thom Sesma, Francis Jue, Robin De Jesus, John Tartaglia, Jason Graae, Curtis Holbrook, Eddie Korbich, Samantha Massell and Ken Page
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Oskar Eustis, BD Wong, Brian d’Arcy James, Francis Jue, Jennifer Lim and Leigh Silverman at WNYC’s The Greene Space
Nothing is Sacred in David Henry Hwang’s Comedy of Mistaken Racial Identity

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Kerry Butler, Edward James Hyland, Matt Walton, Megan Sikora and More in Previews of Off-Broadway Production of Under My Skin at The Little Shubert Theatre
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Apr. 18-20: Pacific Arts Movement and Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company present the San Diego premiere of 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia recently made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York.

David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang

David Henry Hwang, a recipient of the $275,000 Doris Duke Artist Award, is a playwright whose incisive investigations of Asian-American identity and ethnicity have earned him the title of a “true original” (The New York Times). Since winning a Tony Award for his play M. Butterfly (1988), Hwang has written for films, musicals, operas and theatre. He is currently the most produced living opera librettist, working extensively with Philip Glass, among other world-renowned composers. His recent plays include Chinglish (2011), about an American businessman in China, which received a Drama Desk Nomination (2012); and Yellow Face (2007), a semi-autobiographical play about the fluidity of race, which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist (2008) and won an OBIE Award for Playwriting (2008).Nothing is Sacred in David Henry Hwang’s Comedy of Mistaken Racial Identity

Francis Jue as HYH and Hoon Lee as DHH in David Henry Hwang’s YELLOW FACE at the Public Theater in New York. 2007 Photo by Joan Marcus

Mr. Hwang has been honored with a 2008 MAP Fund grant, the 2011 PEN/Laura Pels Award for a Master American Dramatist, the 2012 William Inge Award for Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre, the 2012 Asia Society Cultural Achievement Award, the 2012 China Institute Blue Cloud Award, a 2012 USA Fellowship and the 2012 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award. From 1994-2001, Mr. Hwang served by appointment of President Clinton on the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. He currently sits on the boards of the Dramatists Guild, Young Playwrights Inc. and the Museum of the Chinese in the Americas. He is currently the Residency One playwright at Signature Theatre Company, which premiered his newest work, Kung Fu (2014), a biographical play about Bruce Lee.
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards

Ari Loeb and Cole Horibe in Kung Fu (2014). Photo by Joan Marcus

Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu

Michelle Krusiec (left) and Alex Moggridge (right) in South Coast Repertory’s production of Chinglish, a new comedy from David Henry Hwang. (2012) Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com

David Henry Hwang said, “Though my first play premiered in New York almost 35 years ago, the commitment to continue creating new, original work grows, if anything, more challenging in middle age, particularly with kids heading off to college. My deepest gratitude to the Doris Duke Artist Awards for understanding and addressing the unique demands of a long-term artistic career. When I learned the amazing news that I was a 2014 recipient, I thought, ‘Fantastic! Now I can afford to keep writing plays!’”

Opening night curtain call of Signature’s revival of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child on November 13, 2012 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Photos: Partying with the Cast of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child; Extended Run Ends December 16, 2012

Hwang is among the third group of individuals to receive Doris Duke Artist Awards, which were announced today by The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF), along with the first-ever recipients of the Doris Duke Impact Awards. Both awards are part of the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards, a special, ten-year initiative of the foundation to empower, invest in and celebrate artists by offering flexible, multi-year funding in response to financial challenges that are specific to the performing arts. Doris Duke Artist Award recipients receive $275,000, and Doris Duke Impact Award recipients receive $80,000. Since commencing in April 2012, the program has awarded a total of $18.1 million to artists in the fields of jazz, dance and theatre.

Ben Cameron, program director for the arts at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, said, “One of the great joys for us at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is the annual announcement of Doris Duke Artist Award grantees. This year’s roster is an extraordinary group, representing a wide range of artistic styles, ages, communities and experiences. We’re honored to recognize their singular achievements and their continuing influence on their respective fields, and to offer them this extraordinary commitment of time and money. Furthermore, we are especially happy to announce the first ever class of Doris Duke Impact Award grantees—artists chosen from a larger pool of nominations submitted by previous Doris Duke Artist Award recipients. These Impact Awards make a strong statement about the power these artists will have in shaping the fields of dance, theatre and jazz, and represent a new way for us to expand our reach to embrace artists we may not have supported in the past.”

The 2014 award recipients are:
2014 Doris Duke Artist Awards
• John Collins (Theatre)
• Joanna Haigood (Dance)
• David Henry Hwang (Theatre)
• John Jasperse (Dance)
• Emily Johnson (Dance)
• Bill T. Jones (Dance)
• Melanie Joseph (Theatre)
• Nancy Keystone (Theatre)
• Lisa Kron (Theatre)
• Oliver Lake (Jazz)
• Steve Lehman (Jazz)
• Tarell Alvin McCraney (Theatre)
• Roscoe Mitchell (Jazz)
• Zeena Parkins (Jazz)
• Annie-B Parson (Dance)
• Ranee Ramaswamy (Dance)
• Peggy Shaw (Theatre)
• Craig Taborn (Jazz)
• Randy Weston (Jazz)

2014 Doris Duke Impact Awards
• Muhal Richard Abrams (Jazz)
• Ambrose Akinmusire (Jazz)
• Steve Coleman (Jazz)
• Anna Halprin (Dance)
• Trajal Harrell (Dance)
• Julia Jarcho (Theatre)
• Jennifer Lacey (Dance)
• Jodi Melnick (Dance)
• Ben Monder (Jazz)
• Jennifer Monson (Dance)
• Dean Moss (Theatre)
• Lucia Neare (Theatre)
• Aruán Ortiz (Jazz)
• Matana Roberts (Jazz)
• Tina Satter (Theatre)
• Jen Shyu (Jazz)
• Johnny Simons (Theatre)
• Michael Sommers (Theatre)
• Adrienne Truscott (Dance)
• Cristal Chanelle Truscott (Theatre)

About the Doris Duke Artist Awards
Each recipient of a Doris Duke Artist Award receives $275,000—including an unrestricted, multi-year cash grant of $225,000, plus as much as $25,000 more in targeted support for audience development and as much as $25,000 more for personal reserves or creative exploration during what are usually retirement years for most Americans. Artists will be able to access their awards over a period of three to five years under a schedule set by each recipient. Creative Capital, DDCF’s primary partner in the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards, will also offer the awardees the opportunity to participate in professional development activities, financial and legal counseling, and regional gatherings—all designed to help them personalize and maximize the use of their grants. Ruby Lerner, founding president and executive director of Creative Capital, said, “We’re so excited to welcome these exceptional artists to both the Duke and Creative Capital communities. It will be a privilege for us to share the tools and resources we’ve developed over the past 15 years with this stellar group of artists.”

To qualify for consideration by the review panels, all the Doris Duke Artists must have won grants, prizes or awards on a national level for at least three different projects over the past ten years, with at least one project having received support from a DDCF-funded program. The panel chose the artists based on demonstrated evidence of exceptional creativity, ongoing self-challenge and the continuing potential to make significant contributions to the fields of jazz, contemporary dance and theatre in the future. By the end of the initiative, 100 artists will have been named Doris Duke Artists.

About the Doris Duke Impact Awards
Each recipient of a Doris Duke Impact Award receives $80,000–including an unrestricted, multi-year cash grant of $60,000, plus as much as $10,000 more in targeted support for audience development and as much as $10,000 more personal reserves or creative exploration during what are usually retirement years for most Americans. Artists will be able to access their awards over a period of two to three years under a schedule set by each recipient. Like the Doris Duke Artists, Doris Duke Impact Award recipients have the opportunity to participate in professional development activities, financial and legal counseling, and regional gatherings through Creative Capital, DDCF’s primary partner in the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards. By the end of the Awards, 100 artists will have received Doris Duke Impact Awards.

Doris Duke Impact Award recipients were nominated by previous Doris Duke Artist Award recipients. Nominators were required to identify multiple artists who have influenced and are helping to move forward the fields of dance, jazz and/or theatre—but may or may not be artists in one of these particular fields. In addition to these criteria, they were encouraged to consider artists, including dancers, actors, and non- composing musicians, who are not eligible for the Doris Duke Artist Awards. A separate anonymous panel of artists then selected artists from this larger nomination pool. By the end of the initiative, 100 artists will have received Doris Duke Impact Awards.

About the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is granting these awards as part of a larger $50 million, ten-year commitment beyond its already existing funding for the performing arts. The first 21 Doris Duke Artists were announced in April 2012, and to date, 80 artists have been awarded $18,375,000.

By the end of the ten years, the foundation will have offered a total of at least 200 artists greatly expanded freedom to create, through an initiative that makes available the largest allocation of unrestricted cash grants ever given to individuals in contemporary dance, jazz, and theatre. Provided to honorees through a rigorous, anonymous process of peer review—no applications are accepted—the grants are not tied to any specific project but are made as investments in the artistsʼ personal and professional development and future work.

The Doris Duke Artist Awards and the Doris Duke Impact Awards will be announced in classes of approximately twenty between 2012 and 2016, and 2014 and 2018, respectively. More information about the Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards is available at www.ddpaa.org.

About the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to improve the quality of peopleʼs lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Dukeʼs properties. The Arts Program of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation focuses its support on contemporary dance, jazz and theatre artists, and the organizations that nurture, present and produce them. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org.

About Creative Capital
Creative Capital supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel and career development services. Our pioneering approach—inspired by venture-capital principles—helps artists working in all creative disciplines realize their visions and build sustainable practices. Since 1999, Creative Capital has committed $30 million in financial and advisory support to 419 projects representing 529 artists, and our Professional Development Program has reached 7,000 artists in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit www.creative-capital.org.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Late Night with Holy Land’s Jojo Gonzalez
Photos: André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke at Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty at the Paradise Factory
Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Kerry Butler, Edward James Hyland, Matt Walton, Megan Sikora and More in Previews of Off-Broadway Production of Under My Skin at The Little Shubert Theatre
Apr. 23-May 11: New York Premiere of Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty Features Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Ami Brabson at the Paradise Factory
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Mar. 21-May 4: Richard Thomas, Ron Rifkin, Hallie Foote and Khaled Nabaway Set for Arena Stage’s World Premiere of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: André De Shields, Michael Shannon, Rajiv Joseph, Christine Sherrill, Doug Peck, Alexis J. Rogers, Karen Ziemba and More Celebrate 2013 Jeff Equity Awards
Photos: Backstage with Michi Barall and the cast of Regina Taylor’s stop.reset. at Signature Theatre Febone1960.net Review: Power Play Powerful & Suspenseful
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Garth Kravits. Photo by Lia Chang

“From Carousel to Kinky Boots”, Bickford Theatre Guild’s annual fundraiser at the Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Rd in Morristown, NJ., will feature an evening of cabaret songs spanning from classical musical theatre and jazz, to contemporary musicals and the hottest new composers, with award winning talent from the world of Broadway, Film & Television and London’s West End, on Saturday, April 26th at 7:30 p.m.

Hosted by Peter Filichia; theatre columnist, author, and former theatre critic for the Newark Star Ledger, the evening is directed by Thom Christopher Warren, longtime cast member of Disney’s THE LION KING, and director of the Bickford’s production of CROSSING DELANCEY in 2010. Musical Direction is by Peter Candela; Broadway keyboardist and musical director for dozens of professional theatres across the tri-state area. The evening kicks off with a pre-show champagne reception where guests will have the opportunity to mingle with the artists. Following the reception, guests will enjoy a cabaret of timeless, musical classics from the golden age through modern day. A post-show reception will follow and feature a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and a cork pull. The doors open at 6:30pm.

Suzzanne Douglas. Photo by Dennis Kwan

Performers include Garth Kravits (THE DROWSY CHAPERONE on Broadway and star of Bickford’s CROSSING DELANCEY), Suzzanne Douglas (NAACP Award winner and star of the Bickford’s LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL), Gavin Lee (Drama Desk winner and TONY Award nominee for the role of Bert in both Broadway and the West End productions of MARY POPPINS), Erin Dilly (TONY nominee for her role in Broadway’s CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, and most recently seen in the Broadway production of the holiday hit, A CHRISTMAS STORY), Stephen Buntrock (Curly in OKLAHOMA, and most recently opposite Bernadette Peters in the Broadway revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC), Graham Rowat (Broadway’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, GUYS AND DOLLS, MAMMA MIA), Marni Raab (Christine in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA), Loni Ackerman (original companies of CATS, EVITA, and STARTING HERE STARTING NOW), and Bickford favorite Susie Speidel.

Other performers include Adam Williams, Max Clayton, Kate Johannigman, Kate McMillan, Cassie Levine, Greg Kamp (Barry Manilow’s HARMONY), Rose Pedone and the cast of the Bickford’s upcoming production of FOREVER PLAID.

Proceeds from the benefit provide support for future programming at the Morris Museum’s Bickford Theatre. One of New Jersey’s premier professional theatres, the Bickford produces and presents year-round entertainment including a Main Stage Series, two Children’s Theatre series, a Jazz Showcase, and Blues at the Bickford. The theatre is a Senior Member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization of 30 professional theaters throughout the state, and works in conjunction with Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). From its beginnings in 1994 to the present, tens of thousands of theater-goers from across the tri-state area have enjoyed the Bickford Theatre’s many entertaining and diversified offerings in theatre, music and dance.

Tickets

$250 – Pre-show “Mingle with the Stars” Champagne Reception, priority seating and post show reception
$100 – Show and Post Show Reception
$65 – Show Only

Tickets may be purchased by phone at (973) 971-3706, or in person at the Bickford Theatre Box Office. The Bickford Theatre is an integral part of the Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box Office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. Walk-up hours are Tuesday, through Friday, 11:00am to 5:00pm.

About the Morris Museum
Celebrating 100 years, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution which serves the public through high caliber exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum also offers educational programs, family events, and is home to the Bickford Theatre and its wide range of performing arts offerings. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ Citation of Excellence, among other awards. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited, the Morris Museum was re-accredited in 2013 by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5:00 to 8:00pm on the second and third Thursday of the month. Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. Every second and third Thursday of the month between 4:00 and 8:00pm, the Museum offers visitors the opportunity to Pay What You Wish. For more information, call (973) 971-3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.

Other articles on “From Carousel to Kinky Boots”:
Playbill: From Carousel to Kinky Boots: A Cabaret of Broadway’s Best Will Feature Erin Dilly, Stephen Buntrock and Gavin Lee
Broadwayworld.com: Erin Dilly, Marni Raab & More Set for Bickford Theatre Guild’s ‘FROM CAROUSEL TO KINKY BOOTS’ Fundraiser, 4/26

Other articles on Garth Kravits:
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Dec. 4 – 29: Garth Kravits Returns to Bucks County Playhouse for Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play
Gettin’ The Band Back Together Featuring Manu Narayan, Alison Fraser, Mitchell Jarvis, Garth Kravits, Emily McNamara, Jay Klaitz at George Street Playhouse through October 27, 2013
centraljersey.com: Clang Clang Clang!’Meet Me in St. Louis’ in Bucks County
BWW Interviews: Garth Kravits Talks about Bucks County Playhouse’s MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS: A RADIO PLAY
nj.com: Jersey actor Garth Kravits sings the praises of appearing on Broadway and closer to home

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Late Night with Holy Land’s Jojo Gonzalez
Photos: André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke at Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty at the Paradise Factory
Tony Award Winning Playwright David Henry Hwang Receives $275,000 Doris Duke Artist Award
Kerry Butler, Edward James Hyland, Matt Walton, Megan Sikora and More in Previews of Off-Broadway Production of Under My Skin at The Little Shubert Theatre
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Apr. 18-20: Pacific Arts Movement and Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company present the San Diego premiere of 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Ami Brabson and André Braugher. Photo by Lia Chang

In the New York premiere of the late, award-winning playwright Oni Faida Lampley’s play Tough Titty, Ami Brabson stars as Angela, a Brooklyn mother whose breast cancer diagnosis propels her on a journey of self-discovery… When Angela’s routine cannot keep breast cancer at bay, she must learn to face the disease, her family and her community with equal doses of tenacity and humor.

The play, a richly emotional, boisterous exploration of one woman’s willful search for grace, premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and made Lampley a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award. The New York production is being presented by actress/producer Ami Brabson (“Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Damages”) and her husband, Emmy and Obie Award-winning actor André Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order,” “Glory,” “City of Angels”), April 23 – May 11 at the Paradise Factory in the East Village (64 East 4th Street) in New York. Awoye Timpo directs.

Ami Brabson, André Braugher and Awoye Timpo. Photo by Lia Chang

The cast also features Broadway veterans Christine Toy Johnson (The Music Man and Grease), Antoinette LaVecchia (A View from the Bridge) and Richard Topol (The Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice), Victor Williams (“The King of Queens”), Nikkole Salter (Inked Baby at Playwrights Horizons) and Elizabeth Van Dyke (Flyin’ West).

The cast of Tough Titty (L-R) Antoinette LaVecchia, Christine Toy Johnson, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Ami Brabson, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Richard Topol. Photo by Lia Chang

Tough Titty runs from April 23-May 11 at the Paradise Factory in the East Village (64 East 4th Street) with performances Wed.-Sat. at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm, there is also a show on Monday, 5/5 at 8pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.SmartTix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.

Wed- Sat @ 8pm, Sun @ 7pm
Special performance Mon, May 5 @ 8pm
Wed, April 30 & Sat, May 10 SOLD OUT!

Paradise Factory Theater
64 E. 4th St. (btw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.)

FOR $16.00 DISCOUNT TICKETS (Reg. $18)
Use Discount Code FRIEND at:
www.Smarttix.com or 212-868-4444

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Apr. 23-May 11: New York Premiere of Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty Features Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Ami Brabson at the Paradise Factory
Late Night with Holy Land’s Jojo Gonzalez
Tony Award Winning Playwright David Henry Hwang Receives $275,000 Doris Duke Artist Award
Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Apr. 26: Garth Kravits, Suzzanne Douglas, Erin Dilly, Gavin Lee and More Set for “From Carousel to Kinky Boots”, Bickford Theatre Guild’s annual fundraiser
Photos: On the Town with Rome Neal, Jazz Vocalist and Star of Laurence Holder’s MONK
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

The cast of Holy Land after the opening night performance on the set at Here in New York on April 23, 2014. (L-R) Gil Perez-Abraham Jr., Pia Haddad, Jojo Gonzalez, Ana Grosse, Sean Carvajal. Photo by Lia Chang

Jojo Gonzalez. Photo by Lia Chang

Obie Award-winner Jojo Gonzalez (“White Collar,” The Smurfs Movie, The Romance of Magno Rubio) is currently appearing in 3rd Kulture Kids’ U.S. premiere of renowned French playwright Mohamed Kacimi’s acclaimed play Holy Land at HERE in New York through May 10. The cast also features Sean Carvajal, Ana Grosse, Gil Perez-Abraham Jr. and Pia Haddad.

Gil Perez-Abraham Jr, Chantal Bilodeau, Pia Haddad, Sean Carvajal, Jojo Gonzalez, Ana Grosse, Tracy Cameron Francis and Kimille Howard at the opening night party for Holy Land at Babylon Hookah Lounge in New York on April 23, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang

The creative team includes Charles Coes (Sound Designer), Lisa Renee Jordan (Costume Designer), Sheryl Liu (Set Designer), Miguel Valderrama (Lighting Designer) and Laura Perez (Stage Manager).

The cast and creative team of Holy Land on the set at Here in New York on April 23, 2014. (L-R) Lauda Perez, Cliff Sellers, Kimille Howard, Gil Perez-Abraham Jr., Pia Haddad, Chantal Bilodeau, Jojo Gonzalez, Ana Grosse, Sean Carvajal and Taiana Trajano. Photo by Lia Chang

In Mohamed Kacimi’s compelling and entertaining Holy Land, a raw and evocative tale of two families in a war ravaged city, bombs and gunfire are part of the daily soundtrack of their lives. A city under siege…the landscape is dusty, devastated. Carmen has disappeared at a checkpoint; her daughter, Imen (Pia Haddad), must face a soldier’s (Gil Perez-Abraham Jr.) house search alone. In the house next door, Alia (Ana Grosse), a midwife, prepares her coffee as if nothing else matters while Yad (Jojo Gonzalez), her husband, gets away from it all by smoking and drinking. The only hope seems to reside in Jesus: the cat. This dark and humorous story follows 5 characters hanging on to the banality of day-to-day life, at times to the point of insanity, as a way to transcend the atrocities of war.

Jojo Gonzalez and Tracy Cameron Francis at the opening night party of Holy Land at Babylon Hookah Lounge in New York on April 23, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang

I caught up with Jojo at Holy Land’s opening night party at Babylon Hookah Lounge in New York to chat about the play.

Lia: How did Holy Land come to your attention?
Jojo: Tracy and I worked on The Seagull, many years ago with NAATCO. She was our assistant director. Over the years, we’ve been wanting to work with each other again. Our schedules didn’t jibe. She sent me the script. I read the first few pages and I just fell in love with it.

What drew you to the script?
Jojo: It’s the simplicity of the language. It’s the complexity of the characters, the complexity of the relationships between the characters. I love multi-layered characters. I was just blown away by it, the more we looked at it. The play is a very, very sad play. It’s happening, it’s very timely. For me, it’s the triumph of the human spirit. How do people who have been living in war, practically from childhood into adulthood, how do you survive? How do you keep your humanity, your sanity in that kind of a situation, where every little bit is important. The simplicity of breathing air is so important. It’s a celebration, and how they celebrate their lives. How they celebrate every single day as something else, and the backdrop of war is just the backdrop. It’s so routine, that when you hear somebody died, you keep going. It’s the complexity of those characters living in this situation that attracted to me it.

Holy Land cast members Jojo Gonzalez and Sean Carvajal. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia: Can you describe your character?
Jojo: My character Yad came from a very rich family. He comes from old money, but when the war began- it’s not really written – but I imagine him being able to travel around a lot- because of his influence, he had money, because he had some kind of political influence. I kind of built this character around him, that he was an intelligence officer. At some point he was spying. His work was discovered and so he had to go into hiding. They took away everything that they had. He lost a lot. He lost many, many loved ones. His will to fight started to wane. He went to the other side and he just wants to celebrate life every single day. He doesn’t want to think about death. That’s his way of coping with the environment. I imagine him having PTSD. I imagine him having seeing many horrible things, he chooses to push that away. And celebrate what’s close. And value what’s close.

Jojo Gonzalez and his daughter Samantha Stratton. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia: Have you or anyone that you’ve known experienced war first hand?
Jojo: My parents. They were children during the Second World War. My grandfather was in the rebel militia, in the resistance. He was one of top leaders. So during the war, they were hunting my family down. My mother was about 10 years old, and they were arrested by the Japanese. In the Philippines. Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija . My father, because he was a radio announcer, and he was an actor as well, they were recruiting him, and they were going to send him to Japan. They were not collaborators, but because of his talent, they wanted to take him to Japan. Luckily, the U.S. came back and “liberated” the Philippines.

Lia Chang and Jojo Gonzalez at Holy Land’s opening night party at Babylon Hookah Lounge in New York on April 23, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia: Would you say that your work as an actor is inspired by your family?
Jojo: Not necessarily. I am inspired by people overcoming adversity. I am inspired by works that are complex, story wise. I am inspired by the triumph of the human spirit in the face of enormous odds. I am inspired by courage. So I seek characters that are like that. I am fortunate that I’ve been able to do that and to play those characters. During the early years, I would get cast as the bad guy. It’s not the bad guy. Evil is a learned behavior. If I’m playing an evil character, I look for the good in that character, and build from that good and come to what pushed this character to this place.

Lia: What would you like audiences to come away with from seeing Holy Land?
Jojo: Because it’s happening, right now. The play is very timely. Because we all bleed red. We are on one planet. We are on the same planet and we are so cruel to each other. We do it in the name of wealth and power. Humans are the only species on Earth that have the ability to destroy the entire planet with a push of a button. And we are the only creatures on Earth that hoard resources for power and wealth. I don’t know of any other species that does that.

Lia:What would you like people to take away?
Jojo: Value life. Value each other.

Jojo Gonzalez as Yad and Pia Haddad as Elin. Photo by Michael Palma

Jojo Gonzalez as Yad and Pia Haddad as Imen. Photo by Michael Palma

Holy Land has performances through May 10 at HERE (145 Avenue of the Americas) with performances Wed.-Sat. at 7pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.HERE.org or by calling 212-352-3101. Box Office: open after 5pm on show days or 2 hours before any performance.

Running Time: 60 min
Mature content: not recommended for audiences under 16.

Other articles about Jojo Gonzalez:
Tina Chilip, Jojo Gonzalez, Marcus Ho and More in Leviathan Lab’s Twelfth Night Production Photos, Performances through 11/19
Photos: Tina Chilip, Jojo Gonzalez, Dave Shih and More in NAATCO’s A Dream Play
NAATCO Presents A Dream Play at Here, March 22 – April 13, 2013
NAATCO’s All-Asian American cast for The Seagull features Marcus Ho, Mia Katigbak and Orville Mendoza

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Apr. 26: Garth Kravits, Suzzanne Douglas, Erin Dilly, Gavin Lee and More Set for “From Carousel to Kinky Boots”, Bickford Theatre Guild’s annual fundraiser
Photos: André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke at Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty at the Paradise Factory
Tony Award Winning Playwright David Henry Hwang Receives $275,000 Doris Duke Artist Award
Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Photos: On the Town with Rome Neal, Jazz Vocalist and Star of Laurence Holder’s MONK
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang: Q & A with Lily Fan, Lead Producer of The Other Josh Cohen

Mar. 17: Reading of Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths starring Joel de la Fuente at People’s Light & Theatre

Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie

Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO

Apr. 23-27: Joel de la Fuente Stars in Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths at PlayMaker’s Repertory Company

Mar. 31: Signature Theatre Screens Enter the Dragon in BRUCE LEE FILM SERIES Alongside David Henry Hwang’s KUNG FU

Apr. 9 – May 4: SESAME STREET’s Alan Muraoka Helms Olney Theatre Center’s ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

Apr. 18-20: Pacific Arts Movement and Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company present the San Diego premiere of 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors

Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Melody Butiu, Conrad Ricamora and More Return for Here Lies Love; Previews Begin April 14, 2014

André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman

Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages

Kerry Butler, Edward James Hyland, Matt Walton, Megan Sikora and More in Previews of Off-Broadway Production of Under My Skin at The Little Shubert Theatre

Apr. 18-May 10: Jojo Gonzalez, Sean Carvajal, Ana Grosse, Gil Perez-Abraham and Pia Haddad Set for U.S. premiere of Mohamed Kacimi’s play Holy Land at HERE

Apr. 23-May 11: New York Premiere of Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty Features Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Ami Brabson at the Paradise Factory

Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor

Tony Award Winning Playwright David Henry Hwang Receives $275,000 Doris Duke Artist Award

Lia Chang: Garth Kravits, Suzzanne Douglas, Erin Dilly, Gavin Lee and More Set for “From Carousel to Kinky Boots”, Bickford Theatre Guild’s Annual Fundraiser on April 26

Lia Chang Photos: André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke at Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty at the Paradise Factory

Lia Chang Photos: Late Night with Holy Land’s Jojo Gonzalez

Signature Theatre to Be Honored with the 2014 Regional Theatre Tony Award