HUGE PARKING LOT SALE AT EAST WEST PLAYERS THEATRE COMPANY WAREHOUSE  - THIS SATURDAY, JULY 11!

You have one last chance this weekend at a great deal on furniture, clothing, and more, or perhaps grab a piece of theatre history.

East West Players is moving their costume/props/sets warehouse and needs to downsize their inventory. They will be holding a parking lot sale this Saturday.  If you will be in Los Angeles this weekend, please stop by and support this great theatre company.

If you want to beef up your play library, there are some fantastic plays for sale for a very reasonable price!  Also there are costumes, period stuff and other random items. Buy some choice costumes, weird props, rare furniture, pianos and other random interesting items at a bargain price.

Date: Saturday, July 11
Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: 2338 East 8th Street, LA CA 90021

East West Players theatre company (EWP) is moving its warehouse location, and is needing to unload much of its inventory. Come out and support the theatre this weekend, and get a deal in return. 

Many will know that EWP, just completing its 43rd season, is where I got my start and much of my training.  It is also where I learned to accept and celebrate my identity, as an Asian American actor. In addition to performing I have understudied, directed, stage managed, designed sets, run lights and sound, and many other tasks. EWP has provided me with more opportunities than I can count, and has done so for many, many other AA performers, writers, directors and designers.  Our community of theatre artists would not be what it is or where it is, without this company.

In a small effort of payback, I ask anyone in Southern California to come out this weekend, and maybe take a piece of history home with you.

EWP warehouse/parking lot sale

Saturday & Sunday, June 27 & 28

9 am to 5 pm 

EWP Warehouse (old location)

2338 East 8th Street

Los Angeles, CA  90021

Items available: costumes/clothing, shoes, hats, furniture, office equipment, weird props, fabric, sewing machines, carpets... ALL KINDS OF STUFF!

Thanks for reading

—CT

Please sign this petition if you believe U.S. Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling must be released from North Korea.
The goal is 50k signatures. We're so close. Please sign, forward and post:
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Many Thanks,
—CT

We are spoiled, living in LA.  Having been around as long as I have, I sometimes find it remarkable how much is going on in the Asian American artists' community.  

There was a time when our numbers were smaller, our role-models were fewer, our community's interest in the arts seemed less impassioned, and, well, we struggled more.  Maybe not more, but on a different scale, within a smaller scope.  Today, we are much greater in numbers, we stand upon the shoulders of those upon shoulders, generations have been able to reach higher, dream bigger, and shine brighter.  We don't struggle just to be heard, but to be understood.  Not just to be seen, but to be respected.  Not just to be equal among the masses, but to step forward and lead.

These are changing times, and it is the arts which will tell future generations what it felt like to be here, what our struggle was, and is.  And it is the next generation of artists who will keep the struggle going.  Or at least, an emotional record of it.

I am grateful to have a community which has built the Japanese American National Museum, here in downtown LA's Little Tokyo, and grateful that this museum has recognized the importance of the arts, and organized the "Imagined Futures" forum, taking place next month (see announcement below). Young artists, be seen! Be heard! Lead!

One of many things going on here in town.  I love LA.

Thanks for reading,
—CT

ps: Thanks, Marilyn, for the post

* * *

IMAGINED FUTURES

Just a reminder, we are a few weeks away from our first API young artists conference here at the Japanese American National Museum... If you're interested in coming, please be sure to register now. More information about the conference below:

"Imagined Futures" a special one day free conference, from 1 to 5pm on Saturday May 2, 2009 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles's Little Tokyo. This conference will teach as well as inspire young Japanese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans to future artistic and cultural production through an innovative conference format.

Following a special dance performance by U.C.L.A.'s Nikkei Student Union, participants will hear from keynote speakers: Eric Nakamura, publisher of Giant Robot, and George Takei, actor. Then participants will have the opportunity to take a two hour workshop from leaders in the fields of: Filmmaking, Anime/Comics, Blogs/New Media, Spoken Word/Hip Hop, Fiction, and the Art and Business of Clothing. Following the workshops, participants are invited to join the workshop leaders for a closing reception with light refreshments.

• Filmmaking with director/writer/producer Quentin Lee
• Anime/Comics with the author of the biweekly column "Asian Pop" for the San Francisco Chronicle, Jeff Yang
• Blogs/New Media with Phil Yu of Angry Asian Man
• Spoken Word/Hip Hop with LA hip-hop sensation Shin-B
• Fiction with award winning writer, Naomi Hirahara
• The Art and Business of Clothing with Ryan Suda of Blacklava

Through the generous support of the Aratani Endowment at the University of California at Los Angeles and the Japanese American National Museum, the conference is offered free of charge. Registration is required in order to ensure a place in the workshops.

To find out more information and to register for the workshops, participants can visit the Imagined Futures group on Facebook, email ImaginedFutures2009@gmail.com, or call the Japanese American National Museum at 213-625-0414.

The Robey Theater Company
in association with
THE NEW LATC
presents a World Premiere



BRONZEVILLE

Written by Tim Toyama and Aaron Woolfolk
Directed by Ben Guillory

With
Candice Afia • CeCe Antoinette • Robert Clements • Benjamin Fitch
Dana Lee • Landon H. Lewis Jr. • Jeff Manabat • Adenrele Ojo
Dwain A. Perry • Darrell Philips • Larry Powell • Michael Yama

Set Design by John Paul Luckenback
Lighting Design by Luke Moyer
Costume Design by Naila Aladdin Sanders
Composer/Sound Design by Dave Iwataki

April 17 through May 17, 2009

8pm Friday/Saturday
3pm Sunday

THE NEW LATC • Theater 4
514 S. Spring St.
Downtown Los Angeles 90013

Tickets:
$30 - General
$20 - Students/Seniors

$10.00 - Special low-price previews April 15 & 16
Group rates available

Call (213) 489-0094 for Reservations
Call (213) 489-7402 for Group Rates

It’s WWII. FDR has signed Executive Order 9066 requiring that all Japanese Americans be transported to internment camps during the war. High-paying factory jobs are luring huge numbers of Southern Blacks to Los Angeles. “No Blacks Allowed” clauses limit housing choices however so many Blacks end up in recently vacated commercial and retail property in Little Tokyo. When one of those Black families discovers a young Japanese American man hiding in their new home, the three generational family members struggle with doing the right thing.