East West Players' Partners with Community Organizations for MYSTERIOUS SKIN

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, opens its 45th Anniversary season, themed Shake It Up, with the Los Angeles premiere of MYSTERIOUS SKIN by Prince Gomolvilas, based on the novel by Scott Heim. East West Players presents MYSTERIOUS SKIN in association with the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and Center for the Pacific Asian Family. This production will be directed by EWP's Producing Artistic Director, Tim Dang. The cast features artists with diverse backgrounds: David Huynh, Scott Keiji Takeda, Marcus Choi, Christine Corpuz, Ruffy Landayan, and Elizabeth Liang.

MYSTERIOUS SKIN is a searing drama that follows the story of a boy who believes he was once abducted by aliens. All roads lead back to a childhood classmate, now a hustler, who holds the key to the terrifying and heart-breaking truth. Due to its subject matter, graphic language and nudity, MYSTERIOUS SKIN is intended for mature audiences.

"Utilizing art as a powerful tool to heighten the awareness of vital issues in our community, East West Players can participate on a deeper level to enlighten and educate our community of vital services provided by our partners such as the L. A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the Center for the Pacific Asian Family. Discussion and dialogue is key to solving our community's challenges."

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center provides a broad array of services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, welcoming nearly a quarter-million client visits from ethnically diverse youth and adults each year. Through its Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic and on-site pharmacy, the Center offers free and low-cost health, mental health, HIV/AIDS medical care and HIV/STD testing and prevention. The Center also offers legal, social, cultural, and educational services, with unique programs for seniors, families and youth, including a 24-bed transitional living program for homeless youth.

Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) is a non-profit agency specializing in assisting Asian and Pacific Islanders who are surviving sexual assault and/or domestic violence. CPAF is multi-lingual and can serve people in the language they feel most comfortable using. All of their services are free of charge. CPAF's intervention services include the first stages of assisting families affected by domestic violence and/or sexual assault in the Asian and Pacific Islander Community. Some of their key services include: 24-hour hotline and intervention services, emergency shelter, transitional shelter, children's programs. CPAF provides counseling, case management, educational and recreational activities, and family field trips for children of all ages, childcare for children from birth to age five, and after-school tutoring for school-aged children. To address the broader concepts of domestic violence and sexual assault, CPAF has created programs focusing on both prevention and community education.

Generous support for this production of MYSTERIOUS SKIN is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, California Community Foundation, Shubert Foundation, LA County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.
All performances of MYSTERIOUS SKIN will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. MYSTERIOUS SKIN opens Wednesday, September 15, 2010 and closes on Sunday, October 10, 2010. Opening night will be accompanied by a pre-performance cocktail reception and a post-show reception with the cast and creative team. Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, September 9 - 11 at 8pm and Sunday, September 12 at 2pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Thursday, September 16 at 8 pm with a suggested $5 minimum donation. Post-show discussions will be held on various dates. Different featured guests include novelist Scott Heim, playwright Prince Gomolvilas, director Tim Dang, representatives from the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and Center for the Pacific Asian Family, the actors, and the design team.

General Tickets range from $25 - $35. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $60 for all seats. Tickets are currently on sale. For ticket purchases or more information, please call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org. Senior, student and group discounts are available. Dates and details are subject to change.

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