East West Players is an Asian American theatre organization in Los Angeles, founded in 1965. As one of the nation?s first Asian American theatre organizations, East West Players today continues to produce works and educational programs that give voice to the Asian Pacific American experience.

Overview

Established in 1965 by Mako, Beulah Quo, James Hong, Pat Li, June Kim, Guy Lee and Yet Lock as a place where Asian American actors could perform roles beyond the stereotypical parts they were being limited to in Hollywood, early STATEMENT OF PURPOSE read:

"To further cultural understanding between the East and West by employing the dual Oriental and American heritages of the East-West Players."^[1]

East West Players has been called ?the nation?s pre-eminent Asian American theater troupe? ^[2] for their award-winning productions blending Eastern and Western movement, costumes, language, and music. EWP has premiered over 100 plays and musicals about the Asian Pacific American experience and has held over 1,000 readings and workshops. Its emphasis is on building bridges between East and West; attendance estimates are 56% Asians and 44% non-Asians.

In 1998, EWP Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang led the company?s move from a 99-seat Equity Waiver "black box? into a new 240-seat venue at an Actors Equity Association contract level. EWP?s mainstage is the David Henry Hwang Theater, housed within the historic Union Center for the Arts in downtown Los Angeles? Little Tokyo district, where it serves over 10,000 people each year, including low income audiences provided free and discounted admissions and deaf audiences attending a series of ASL-interpreted shows.

Educational Programs

EWP offers a growing array of educational programs training over 200 multicultural artists each year ? the Actors Conservatory (performance workshops and an intensive Summer Conservatory); David Henry Hwang Writers Institute; the career program, Alliance of Creative Talent Services (ACTS); and the touring Theatre for Youth (reaching an estimated 50,000 K-8th graders and their families via in-school performances and festivals).

Alumni

Notable EWP alumni include actors Mako, Nobu McCarthy, Pat Morita, James Hong, Yuki Shimoda, John Lone, Rodney Kageyama, B.D. Wong, James Saito, Freda Foh Shen, Lauren Tom, Amy Hill, Alec Mapa, Alan Muraoka, Emily Kuroda, Sala Iwamatsu, Chris Tashima, John Cho and Daniel Dae Kim, and dramatists Wakako Yamauchi, Hiroshi Kashiwagi, David Henry Hwang, Philip Kan Gotanda, Roberta Uno, R.A. Shiomi and Judith Nihei. East West Players has also had the opportunity to work with many respected artists and faculty such as actors Dennis Dun, Danny Glover, Bill Macy, Takayo Fischer, George Takei, Tsai Chin, and Nancy Kwan, directors, Lisa Peterson and Oskar Eustis, musician Dan Kuramoto and instructors Calvin Remsberg and Fran Bennett.

Over seventy-five percent of all Asian Pacific performers in the acting unions living in Los Angeles have worked at EWP. East West Players has provided training and opportunities to many emerging and professional artists who have gone on win Tony Awards, Obie Awards, Emmy Awards, LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, and Academy Awards.

East West Players has collaborated with many organizations though its history, including Center Theatre Group, Robey Theatre Company, Ma-Yi Theatre Company and Cedar Grove OnStage.

Current season

2008/09 43rd Anniversary Season

• Be Like Water, written by Dan Kwong, directed by Chris Tashima
• The Joy Luck Club, written by Susan Kim, directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera
• Ixnay by Paul Kikuchi, directed by Jeff Liu
• Marry Me a Little, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, directed by Jules Aaron and The Last Five Years, music & lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

See also

• Asian American theatre

References

1. ↑ 1968 playbill for "The Medium"
2. ↑ New York Times 12/16/01

External links

• East West Players site
• East West Players on MySpace