Randy Reyes News

At 5:30pm tonight, January 19, 2017, at sunset the eve of the Inauguration, more than 500 theaters, ensembles and companies, high school and university theater programs will gather across the country to light a light and make a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone - regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

On Today, January 19 at 5:30pm, Trinity Repertory Company will participate in a nationwide collective, simultaneous action: launching The Ghostlight Project.

As previously announced, at 5:30pm on January 19, 2017, at sunset the eve of the Inauguration, more than 500 theaters, ensembles and companies, high school and university theater programs will gather across the country to light a light and make a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone - regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

On Thursday, January 19 at 5:30pm, Trinity Repertory Company will participate in a nationwide collective, simultaneous action: launching The Ghostlight Project.

The Desert Rose Playhouse is participating in 'The Ghostlight Project', on January 19, 2017. In each time zone across the country, members of the theater community from Broadway to regional theaters to high schools and colleges and community theaters will come together to launch THE GHOSTLIGHT PROJECT. Gathering outside of theaters on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration, people will join in creating 'light' for the challenging times ahead.

THE GHOSTLIGHT PROJECT (previously announced as 'The Sanctuary Project') will bring the theatre community together from coast to coast on January 19, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in each time zone to light a light and make a pledge. Inspired by the theatrical tradition of keeping a 'ghost light' on in a darkened theater, we create light for the challenging times ahead.

Park Square continues its 42nd season on the Proscenium Stage with a Mu Performing Arts and Park Square Theatre co-production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song, directed by Mu Artistic Director Randy Reyes, based on the 2002 book adaptation by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly, Yellowface, Chinglish).  Previously produced by Mu in 2009, this will be a fully reimagined production featuring new and familiar faces. Flower Drum Song, created by legendary musical theater duo Rodgers and Hammerstein takes audiences to the vibrant world of San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950s to Club Chop Suey, a nightclub owned by a Chinese-American family. Old World tradition clashes with New World trends as two generations, father and son, struggle to honor and protect their cultural traditions while adapting to the changing times.

On January 19, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in each time zone across the country, members of the theater community - from Broadway to regional theaters to high schools and colleges and community theaters - will come together to launch The Sanctuary Project.

Park Square continues its 42nd season on the Proscenium Stage with a Mu Performing Arts and Park Square Theatre co-production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song, directed by Mu Artistic Director Randy Reyes, based on the 2002 book adaptation by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly, Yellowface, Chinglish).  Previously produced by Mu in 2009, this will be a fully reimagined production featuring new and familiar faces. Flower Drum Song, created by legendary musical theater duo Rodgers and Hammerstein takes audiences to the vibrant world of San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950s to Club Chop Suey, a nightclub owned by a Chinese-American family. Old World tradition clashes with New World trends as two generations, father and son, struggle to honor and protect their cultural traditions while adapting to the changing times. 

Sarah Ruhl's recent play puts a contemporary mother's dilemma at the center of the story. This is not the only radical thing about the show. It also includes depiction of a live birth on stage, carefully staged so as not to offend audience sensibilities. And it steps directly into the treacherous but vital terrain of cross-cultural connection, conflict, and appropriation.

Park Square continues its 42nd season on the Proscenium Stage with the return of audience favorite The Soul of Gershwin: The Musical Journey of an American Klezmer, created and written by Joseph Vass who also serves as musical director.

The Jungle's 26th season concludes with the Midwest premiere of THE OLDEST BOY, an astonishing original tale by award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl (In the Next Room, The Clean House). Directed by the Jungle's Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen, The Oldest Boy is on stage November 4 through December 18 at the Lyn-Lake neighborhood theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S. in Minneapolis. The lyrical drama with evocative puppetry and live musical elements is being brought to life through a partnership with the Tibetan community of Minneapolis-St. Paul. 

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) and the Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA) will present the 2016 National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival (ConFest) Oct. 1-9, 2016, hosted by OSF's biannual CultureFest.

A reading of PAPER SON, a play written and directed by Christine Toy Johnson (currently playing 'Bloody Mary' in SOUTH PACIFIC at the Guthrie Theater), will be presented on Monday, August 8 at 7 pm in the Guthrie's Kitchak Lounge, 818 S. 2nd Street, Level 3, Minneapolis, MN.

For the past 16 years, The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance has marked pride month by presenting the Bronx's only consistent gay pride celebration - The OUT LIKE THAT! Festival at BAAD!  The festival takes place at BAAD!'s home at 2474 Westchester Avenue from Saturday, June 4 through Wednesday, June 22, 2016 with a fierce line-up of dance, theatre, literature, documentary film and wonderful performances featuring queer artists from the Bronx and beyond.  For information and directions call (718) 918-2110 or visit www.BAADBronx.org.

Mu Performing Arts released casting and thematic details today for the World Premiere production of ?tot: THE UNTOLD, YET SPECTACULAR STORY OF ?(a filipino)?HULK HOGAN?, June 17 - 26, 2016, written by playwright ?Victor Maog?and directed by ?Randy Reyes at Park Square Theatre's Boss Thrust Stage. This production is the final play of the 2015?2016 season and marks Mu's 50th World Premiere of new works by Asian American artists and playwrights.

Park Square's 2016-2017 season promises to showcase Park Square at its inclusive best:

YOU FOR ME FOR YOU. Judging by the title I wondered if this was a play about former American Idol judge Randy Jackson. But of course it's not, rather this regional premiere by Mu Performing Arts is about North Korea, a subject I (and most Americans) know less about than American Idol. I was fortunate enough to attend the play when there was a post-show discussion with the playwright Mia Chung and director Randy Reyes, facilitated by the Star Tribune's Rohan Preston (read his review here). Hearing from the playwright, the director, and the cast about their experiences creating this piece gave me greater insight into the story. Mia shared that because there is so little known about what North Korea is actually like, she felt freedom in creating this world through 'magic realism' and really tried to focus on the human aspect of the story. She succeeds beautifully, as I was completely engrossed in the lives of these characters as brought to life by Mu's strong cast. This specific story of North Korean refugees is also universal in its themes of family, love, and sacrifice, themes that will feel familiar to any audience.

Park Square continues its 41st season next month with the Minnesota premiere of the musical comedy MURDER FOR TWO on the Andy Boss Thrust Stage. The whodunit by Kellen Blair (book and lyrics) and Joe Kinosian (book and music) is the perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder. In this hilarious 90-minute show, two performers play thirteen roles -- not to mention the piano -- in a witty and winking homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries.