East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to the Board of Directors: Christine Chang, Alex Giza, Andrew Huynh, May Lee, and Nayan Shah. The new appointments hail from diverse backgrounds in law, media, education, e-commerce, and global management, and are avid supporters of the performing arts and Asian American theater. The size of EWP's Board of Directors has increased to 17 members from 12 members last year.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Anna Moench's Man of God. Directed by Jesca Prudencio, Man of God begins performances on January 31 and runs until February 24, 2019, with opening night on February 7, 2019.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to that announce that the award-winning Broadway musical Mamma Mia! will be part of its 53rd Anniversary Season, Culture Shock, which takes place from Fall 2018 through Summer 2019. With Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Book by Catherine Johnson, Mamma Mia! will be directed by Snehal Desai and close out the season. Mamma Mia! begins performances on May 9, 2019 and runs until June 9, 2019, with opening night on May 16, 2019.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for the Los Angeles premiere of Qui Nguyen's Vietgone, which the New York Times has hailed as "a raucous comedy" and Rolling Stone has described as "a wild, enjoyable ride." Directed by Jennifer Chang, Vietgone begins performances on October 18 and runs until November 11, 2018, with opening night on October 25, 2018.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to announce a new series of community conversations and readings titled, Counter-Culture, as part of its 53rd Anniversary Season, Culture Shock.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producer of Asian American theatrical work, is pleased to announce that its signature EWP Night Market season kick-off event on Saturday, September 15, 2018 will honor Hon. Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Second District), and actor Gedde Watanabe (Sixteen Candles). Co-hosted by actress Mouzam Makkar (ABC's The Fix), EWP Night Market will feature tasting stations hosted by local restaurants, followed by an evening of performances. Proceeds of EWP Night Market support EWP's artistic and educational programs.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to announce the hiring of Dora Quach as Development Manager, specializing in Individual Giving. This new hire arrives during a period of significant growth and visibility for the organization as it concludes its biggest and most successful 52nd Anniversary Season, The Company We Keep.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theatre of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to announce its 53rd Anniversary Season, Culture Shock. On the heels of EWP's record-breaking 52nd Anniversary Season, the upcoming 2018/2019 season takes place from Fall 2018 through Summer 2019 and consists of three productions, including a world premiere, a Los Angeles premiere, and an award-winning Broadway musical (to be announced at a later date).
East West Players (EWP), in association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Nathan Ramos' As We Babble On, which was the winner of East West Players' 2042: See Change Playwriting Competition. Directed by Alison M. De La Cruz, Director of Performing Arts & Community Engagement at Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, As We Babble On begins performances on May 31 and runs until June 24, 2018, with opening night on June 6, 2018.
The world premiere of 'Soft Power' by David Henry Hwang (play and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori opened last night at the Ahmanson Theatre. Check out photos from opening night below!
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, has received a grant from Annenberg Foundation, a family foundation that is proud to support the arts, community, education, global issues, and development of nonprofit organizations.
OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion of American opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of the second cycle of Innovation Grants, generously funded by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian Pacific American artistic work, celebrates THE COMPANY WE KEEP, its 52nd Anniversary season with the Annual Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction. Recognizing the achievements of individuals who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through their craft, the gala fundraiser takes place on Monday, April 30, 2018 at the Hilton Universal City. Proceeds benefit East West Players' educational and artistic programs.
East West Players (EWP), in association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Nathan Ramos' As We Babble On, which was the winner of East West Players' 2042: See Change Playwriting Competition. Directed by Alison M. De La Cruz, Director of Performing Arts & Community Engagement at Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, As We Babble On begins performances on May 31 and runs until June 24, 2018, with opening night on June 6, 2018.
The reviews are in for East West Player's production of ALLEGIANCE, starring original Broadway cast member, George Takei! ALLEGIANCE opened on February 21st and will continue to run through April 1st.
George Takei is known for his founding role as Mr. Sulu in the acclaimed television series Star Trek and as an influential social media icon. But long before that fame, Takei was born in Boyle Heights and spent his childhood in the Rohwer Incarceration Camp in Arkansas and later at Tule Lake in Northern California during World War II. His story of resilience and hope is the inspiration for ALLEGIANCE, a new Broadway musical making its Los Angeles premiere, co-produced by East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) at JACCC's 900-seat Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles through April 1, 2018.
What made the Hot List? A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Theatre @ Boston Court, ALLEGIANCE by East West Players at the Aratani Theatre downtown, A WALK IN THE WOODS at Actors Co-op, and JACKIE UNVEILED at The Wallis. Check out the latest buzz below and go see a show! Reviews by BWW Sr. Editor Ellen Dostal (LADCC).
Focusing on one of the most devastatingly controversial periods in history after Pearl Harbor in the early 1940s, Allegiance portrays Japanese Americans, loyal to the US, who were forced out of their homes and relocated to centers akin to concentration camps. Treated like animals with little food, water or medications, somehow through the grace of strong will many of them toughed it out. Currently on stage at JACCC in its Los Angeles premiere, Allegiance has a fairly sturdy book and some fine uplifting music, but is not without its flaws.
East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) present stage, television, and film star George Takei in the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian Pacific American artistic work, celebrates THE COMPANY WE KEEP, its 52nd Anniversary season with the Annual Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction. Recognizing the achievements of individuals who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through their craft, the gala fundraiser takes place on Monday, April 30, 2018 at the Hilton Universal City. Proceeds benefit East West Players' educational and artistic programs.