Artists at Play

Give It Up, It's Taking Up Space!

2012-02-15T11:28:00.001-08:00

As Artists at Play prepares for another production slated for this October/November we continue to explore ways of making this production possible. As before, we are working with a limited budget and one way we've decided to raise funds this time around is to hold a yard sale. So with that in mind...

Would you be able to donate any items we can sell? It would be a great way to get rid of stuff you don't need/want anymore and to help support our artistic endeavors. Our yard sale is currently scheduled for the weekend of April 14-15, and we are available to start storing items starting Saturday, March 24. We can start making arrangements now so feel free to contact us at ArtistsAtPlayLA@gmail.com.

Thank you so much. Just think, we are preventing you from being featured on an episode of Hoarders!

Responses to CHING CHONG CHINAMAN

2011-11-16T16:57:00.001-08:00

Julia Cho and Elizabeth Ho in Ching Chong Chinaman.
Photo by M Palma Photography

"Have you heard of Artists at Play? Don't Worry. You Will." - feature in LA Stage Times

"This biting contemporary satire was an inspired choice to inaugurate Artists at Play."

- Back Stage CRITIC'S PICK

"Not only is this a must see production, it’s a must see more than once play." - Asians On Film

"Lauren Yee's riotous farce...wonderfully offbeat comic timing." - LAist.com

"Committed, Entertaining Performances." - Culture Spot LA

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN extended!

2011-11-10T16:13:00.001-08:00

Due to popular demand, Artists at Play will be extending the run of Ching Chong Chinaman to Sunday, November 27, adding four performances. That means four more chances for you to see our inaugural production, the Los Angeles premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman! (See below for remaining available dates.)

Check out the photo slideshow above, and purchase your tickets now: http://bit.ly/AAPCCC

FINAL WEEKEND
Friday, November 25 @ 8:00pm (ADDED SHOW!)
Saturday, November 26 @ 8:00pm (ADDED SHOW!)
Sunday, November 27 @ 3:00pm (ADDED SHOW!)

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN promo

2011-11-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

Check out our smart, sexy, talented cast in this video for Ching Chong Chinaman, as they speak about the show, its title, and playwright Lauren Yee. Don't miss the Los Angeles premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman, presented by Artists at Play at The Actors Company! Performances are already selling out. (See below for available dates.) Purchase your tickets here: http://bit.ly/AAPCCC

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN opens Friday, 11/4!

2011-10-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Artists at Play presents

Ching Chong Chinaman

written by Lauren Yee

directed by Peter J. Kuo

The Actors Company
916a N Formosa Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(off of Santa Monica Blvd)

November 4-20, 2011
Fridays and Saturdays @ 8:00pm
Sundays @ 3:00pm
(Thursday, November 3 @ 8:00pm - PREVIEW PERFORMANCE)
(Thursday, November 17 @ 8:00pm - UNDERSTUDY PERFORMANCE)

Turning every cliche about Asian American identity on its head, CHING CHONG CHINAMAN introduces us to the all-American Wong family whose lives are turned upside down with the arrival of Jinqiang ("Ching Chong")... who harbors his own American dreams!

FEATURING
Sue Chan, Julia Cho, Elizabeth Ho,
Steve Hu, Ken Narasaki, Helen H. Ota,
Quincy Surasmith, Scott Keiji Takeda,
Wanru Tseng, Kurt Yamamoto

Set Design by Chika Shimizu
Costume Design by Rachel Stivers
Lighting Design by Jose Lopez
Sound Design by Dennis Yen
Property Master Ken Takemoto
Choreography by Rodney To
Stage Manager Amelia Worfolk

TICKETS $12 - $30 ~ To purchase online: http://bit.ly/AAPCCC
Special group and discount rates available.

Photo Credit: Helen H. Ota, Ken Narasaki, Scott Keiji Takeda, Julia Cho
Elizabeth Ho and Steve Hu in Ching Chong Chinaman. Photos by Michael C. Palma.
* denotes member of Actors' Equity Association

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN the title

2011-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Do you see the title Ching Chong Chinaman and find yourself a little offended? The Wall Street Journal asked the playwright Lauren Yee about her reasons behind choosing the title, among which include the fact that it acts as "a reminder of how complex and complicated the concept of identity is in the U.S. especially for immigrants and their descendants."

Check out the full article here: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/04/04/ching-chong-chinaman-playwright-explains-controversial-title/

For a more in-depth explanation of the title and how it applies to the play, here is a letter issued by Pan Asian Rep in conjunction with their production back in 2010:

http://www.panasianrep.org/ching_chong_chinaman.shtml

CCC Design Sneak Peek

2011-10-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a peek at the design presentation from our first rehearsal for Ching Chong Chinaman. Check out this behind-the-scenes look at how designs change over time.

Set designs come courtesy of Chika Shimizu, including a few earlier sketches as well as photos of the set model. The set was inspired by all-American sitcoms while also fitting the parameters of the play’s multiple-room house-setting.

To see the larger versions of these and other set designs, click here.

Next, we have costume designs from Rachel Stivers. Interesting to note, the character of Grace's wardrobe was inspired by June Cleaver.

To see larger versions of these and other costume designs, click here.

Tickets are on sale now for Ching Chong Chinaman! If you haven't already, get your tickets now by clicking here.

Meet the Artists of CCC

2011-10-05T18:43:00.001-07:00

Written by Lauren Yee and directed by Peter J. Kuo, Ching Chong Chinaman presents the all-American Wong family. As the baby-obsessed mother "Grace" is Helen H. Ota, the Artistic Director of Cold Tofu Improv, As her golf-obsessed husband "Ed" is playwright/actor Ken Narasaki, whose works include Innocent When You Dream, The Mikado Project and the stage adaptation of No-No Boy. As his Princeton-obsessed daughter "Desdemona" is Artists at Play founding member Julia Cho, last seen in the Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts film Larry Crowne. As her World of Warcraft-obsessed brother "Upton" is Scott Keiji Takeda, whose professional stage debut was in East West Players' Mysterious Skin. Playing the Chinese indentured servant "Jinqiang" is Steve Hu, who recently ended a production of Richard III at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum. Playing an array of characters from a naughty Asian schoolgirl to Jinqiang's mother is Elizabeth Ho from East West Players' Wrinkles and Circle X Theatre's The Chinese Massacre (Annotated). The cast also includes Sue Chan (u/s Desdemona), Quincy Surasmith (u/s Upton), Wanru Tseng (u/s Grace & Chinese Woman) and Kurt Yamamoto (u/s Ed).

The creative team consists of Set Designer Chika Shimizu, Costume Designer Rachel Stivers, Lighting Designer Jose Lopez, Sound Designer Dennis Yen, Property Master Ken Takemoto, Choreographer Rodney To and Stage Manager Amelia Worfolk.

Click to read all the production team bios.

Purchase tickets for Ching Chong Chinaman here: http://bit.ly/AAPCCC

Kickstarter final thank-you video

2011-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here's our final video thanking the $20+ Kickstarter backers who pledged a donation to support Ching Chong Chinaman. Thank you to everyone who has supported Artists at Play and the Los Angeles premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman.

Ching Chong Chinaman opens Friday, November 4th and will run the first three weekends of November (Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sunday matinees at 3:00pm). Tickets available here: http://bit.ly/AAPCCC

'Early Bird' Pre-Sale for CHING CHONG CHINAMAN

2011-09-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Pre-sale tickets are currently available for our inaugural production, Ching Chong Chinaman... but you only have until Friday, September 30th to take advantage of this offer!

The show will premiere on Friday, November 4th and will run the first three weekends of November (Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sunday matinees at 3:00pm).

Tickets are available at http://bit.ly/AAPCCC (or click on our sidebar). We are offering a special 'Early Bird' discount; simply use the code "AAPEarly" at checkout. Pre-sale ends next Friday, September 30th at 12pm noon.

Get your tickets now so you won't miss this Los Angeles premiere. We can't wait for you to see Ching Chong Chinaman!

Kickstarter thank-you video #4

2011-09-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here's our latest video thanking the $20+ Kickstarter backers who pledged a donation to support Ching Chong Chinaman. Thank you to everyone who has supported Artists at Play and the Los Angeles premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman.

If you donated $50+ and earned a ticket to the show, e-mail AAP.boxoffice@gmail.com to claim your reward for any performance between November 5 - 13 (excludes opening night and closing weekend). Please claim your ticket by Friday, October 14th.

Summer FUNdraiser recap

2011-08-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

Couldn't make it out to our fundraiser this past Saturday? Not a problem! You can check out some of the highlights from the evening in this video recap (filmed by Jared Asato, edited by Chris Miyasaki):

Also check out the images on the M Palma photography blog. Thank you to everyone for making the night so much FUN!

And did you know we're down to the final hours of our Kickstarter campaign? You can still pledge a donation before the clock strikes twelve tonight (Wednesday, August 31st): http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artistsatplay/ching-chong-chinaman

"the stage begs" by traci kato-kiriyama

2011-08-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

--

the stage begs

--

(for Marie-Reine, Peter, Julia and Stefanie)
Saturday, August 26, 2011 at Fais Do-Do for Artists at Play

.

.

.

sometimes we believe we must beg for the arena

they took
her
and we protested
without arms

stood by while they
promised her the
green car and
a red carpet,
"no lines just yet,
but stand
over there,
nice and straight,
drop your chin,
and by your own
breath,
synch your waist,
strap your watch
to our clock,
you're on call now"

she followed and
we watched without
eyes
while she shrank
into the folds of her skin

sometimes we stand center with our voice caught in the wings

when they took
him
we scathed
without tongues

witnessed as they
promised the
world for
Making It
so long as he
carry their dictionary
as his bible

signed their notes
of promise
to be placed
tenth folder
on the shelf
ever since
so he's back
doing admin
five days a week
at his office desk

sometimes the proscenium sucks back the light

their identities were
encased in glass

fragmented limbs stuck
behind a beveled cabinet
eyes bulging,
cheeks stuck to the front,
next to dusty sets of
hollow gold statues

and we know too
well
this story

so this poem
shall end in
another world

sometimes within the black box are the only remaining bones

in some
great wash of light,
some brilliant pool of
hope

not another dimension
near the Rosette Nebula,
nor even
the four Galilean moons
of Jupiter

it must end here
in brick walls
concrete dance floors
bad traffic
and elusive street parking
signs

with 4 souls
in overalls
and paint buckets
and a revered donation box

and a big city with
small town life experience
standing at the edge
of its sandy roads
to protest you from
the high rollers
who'd rather offer you
straight jackets
than sincere nods

our feeble fingers
may pinch at
tiny pockets
but
our hands will
pull from big hearts
who know
something about
your blood and tears
and sweat

and we will be there
in the round
before the play has been penned

in the thrust
before it has been sanded down,

at the front of the house
next to critics who've
crossed their arms
before the show has begun,

your silk scrim,

your humble backdrop,

running up and down tbhe rake,

we will be your apron wings

sometimes, that is all and everything you will need

--

--

tkk

--

--

Kickstarter thank-you video #3

2011-08-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

Here's our latest video thanking the $20+ Kickstarter backers who pledged a donation to support Ching Chong Chinaman. Amelia Lau is our featured star; special thanks to dad John Lau (guest director, M&M's handler) and Chris Miyasaki (go-to video editor).

Watch cute-as-a-button Amelia, and leave a comment!

And don't forget pre-sale tickets to our Saturday, August 27th fundraiser are still available, so get them while you can! Just click here: http://bit.ly/AAPFundraiser

Summer Fundraiser video & flyer

2011-08-17T00:07:00.000-07:00

**PURCHASE PRE-SALE TICKETS NOW**

click image below to view larger size

Artists at Play Summer Fundraiser

2011-08-16T00:54:00.000-07:00

**PURCHASE PRE-SALE TICKETS NOW**

Join Artists at Play as we celebrate our inaugural production with a special event to help raise funds for the Los Angeles premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman by Lauren D. Yee. Come enjoy the food buffet, live entertainment by artists including Prince Gomolvilas and Traci Kato-Kiriyama, and a Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament!

co-hosted by Café-Club Fais Do-Do

We’ll also have a raffle with amazing prizes:

2 opening night tickets to Bring It On at the Ahmanson Theatre
Cold Tofu Improv class
Photo session with M. Palma Photography
Blacklava T-shirts
2 tickets to a show at East West Players
2 tickets to a show at South Coast Repertory
Boudoir photo or video session with Little Red Car Productions
4 opening night tickets to Ching Chong Chinaman

...AND MUCH MORE!

Saturday, August 27^th
7:00 – 10:30 pm
$22 pre-sale
$27 at the door (limited availability)

To purchase pre-sale tickets, visit www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/190081

Café-Club Fais Do-Do
5253 W. Adams Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
http://faisdodo.com/

Catering provided by Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant in Van Nuys and Sugar Fix Desserts in Old Town Pasadena.

RSVP on our Facebook Event Page!

Kickstarter thank-you video #2

2011-08-03T16:11:00.001-07:00

Here's another special video to thank our $20+ Kickstarter backers who pledged a donation to support Ching Chong Chinaman. And as before, more thanks are on the way...

Check out the video and leave a comment!

Kickstarter thank-you video #1

2011-07-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

As promised in the rewards section of our Kickstarter page, here's a special video to thank our $20+ backers who pledged a donation to support Ching Chong Chinaman during the first week of our campaign. There have been many more since we shot this video, so many more thanks are on the way...

For now, check out this thank-you video and leave us a comment!

Casting

2011-07-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

Artists at Play will hold auditions for the roles listed below as part of their inaugural production, Ching Chong Chinaman (Los Angeles premiere). If interested, please send your headshot and resume to AAP.casting@gmail.com by Friday, July 15th.

Ching Chong Chinaman

Producers: Julia Cho, Peter Kuo, Stefanie Wong Lau, Marie-Reine Velez
Author: Lauren Yee
Director: Peter J. Kuo

Rehearsals: October 2011
Performances: November 4 - 20, 2011

Auditions: Saturday, July 23, 2011

Please submit to this project by emailing your headshot and resume to AAP.casting@gmail.com. Submission deadline is this Friday, July 15th. Script is available at Samuel French.

CURRENTLY SEEKING:

ED – 40s; Chinese-American; ultra-assimilated. Businessman, father and husband in an upper-middle-class family. Habitually avoids conflict, projects an optimistic and amiable image, but has a nervous laugh.

CHINESE MAN – 20s; Chinese; also known as J, JINQIANG, or CHING CHONG. Illegal immigrant who works as Upton’s indentured servant. Dance/movement experience preferred.

CHINESE WOMAN – all ages; Chinese. This role plays a variety of characters, including MRS. J, KIM LEE PARK, REPORTER, and ASIAN SCHOOLGIRL. Strong character work preferred.

* Note: CHINESE MAN and CHINESE WOMAN do not speak with Asian accents.

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN: Kickstarter project

2011-07-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

Artists at Play recently launched a Kickstarter project to help fund the upcoming fall production of Ching Chong Chinaman. We are hoping to reach $3500 by the end of August, but we're going to need your help! If we don't meet that $3500 goal by our deadline, then guess what... We'll end up with absolutely nothing.

See that on the right? That marks our progress so far. (You can also click on it to go straight to our Kickstarter page.) We invite you to check out our video and the rewards that we're offering. Please consider pledging a donation and help us spread the word!

Here's a direct link to our Kickstarter page
here.

We're also on YouTube! Check us out:

Artists at Play Kick-off Event

2011-05-21T00:58:00.000-07:00

Time: Saturday, June 11
7:30pm - 9:30pm

Location: Chop Suey Café

347 East 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(Google Map)

Julia Cho, Peter Kuo, Stefanie Wong Lau and Marie-Reine Velez invite you to the kick-off event of Artists at Play, a new collective creating work that provides more artistic opportunities for communities under-represented in Los Angeles theatre.

At this event we'll introduce you to our new collective and our goals toward impacting the Los Angeles theatre scene. We will also announce our inaugural production "Ching Chong Chinaman" by Lauren Yee and speak with playwright Prince Gomolvilas, who is a great supporter of Lauren Yee's play.

The event is FREE and will feature a no-host bar, light complimentary hors d'œuvre, buttons and a parting gift.

Be one of the first to get your ticket to "Ching Chong Chinaman," a biting new comedy. We will be raffling away five pairs of tickets at the event. Raffle tickets will be $2 each or three for $5.

RSVP on our Facebook Event Page!

Coming Soon...

2011-03-07T02:15:00.000-08:00

Artists at Play presents
Ching Chong Chinaman
A new comedy by Lauren Yee

Directed by Peter J. Kuo
November 3-20, 2011
Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.
Sunday at 3 p.m.

Location: The Actors Company
916a N. Formosa Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(Google Map)

Tickets: http://bit.ly/AAPCCC

Turning every cliché about Asian American identity on its head, Ching Chong Chinaman introduces us to the all-American Wong family: Ed the patriarch loves to golf and mom Grace wants another child; Desdemona obsesses over early admission into Princeton while her brother Upton is focused on World of Warcraft superstardom. To ease the burden of homework and free up more time for training, Upton acquires an indentured servant from China. Life in the Wong household is turned upside down with the arrival of Jinqiang ("Ching Chong")... who harbors his own American dreams!

Featuring
Sue Chan, Julia Cho, Elizabeth Ho*, Stephen Hu, Ken Narasaki*, Helen Ota, Quincy Surasmith, Scott Takeda, Wanru Tseng and Kurt Yamamoto.

Set Design by Chika Shimizu
Costume Design by Rachel Stivers
Lighting Design by Jose Lopez
Sound Design by Dennis Yen
Property Master Ken Takemoto
Choreography by Rodney To
Stage Management by Amelia Worfolk

Production Manager Darlene Miyakawa

Producers
Julia Cho, Peter J. Kuo, Stefanie Wong Lau, Marie-Reine Velez

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW: http://bit.ly/AAPCCC

Artists headshots and bios.

Download a Flyer to Share.

Previous Production Press Coverage

*denotes member of Actors Equity Association.

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN - Bios

2011-03-07T01:38:00.000-08:00

CAST

Sue Chan (u/s Desdemona) Oh boy, Sue was surrounded by Desdemonas for 6 years (she attended a college-prep high school, where everybody [and their mothers, literally] would obsess about college). She is very happy to be part of such a great and fun production. She would like to thank the friends and family who have been there for her through her on-and-off relationship with acting, inspirational cast and crew, Quincy for introducing her to oh-so many cool theatre opportunities (like this play), Peter for giving her this opportunity to learn and shine and AAP for being awesome.

Julia Cho (Desdemona, Producer) has performed/toured with East West Players, hereandnow theatre company, Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, and sketch comedy group OPM. Film credits include Wedding Palace and the Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts film Larry Crowne. TV credits include I’m In the Band (Disney XD), Hannah Montana (Disney Channel), and roles in two new shows: Whitney (NBC) and Work It (ABC). Julia also starred in the web series Jeff and Ravi Fail History, which screened at SXSW this year. She is incredibly proud to be a part of Artists at Play and the Los Angeles premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman.

Elizabeth Ho* (Chinese Woman) is honored to be a part of Ching Chong Chinaman, the inaugural production of Artists at Play! A lover of all things Hello Kitty and Star Trek, recent theatre credits include: The Chinese Massacre (Annotated) (Circle X Theatre Company), Wrinkles (East West Players), Grace Kim & the Spiders from Mars (Lodestone), Recent TV credits include How to Be a Gentleman, Bones, Melissa & Joey, Two and Half Men, Grey’s Anatomy and Castle. Elizabeth would like to give a huge hug to her CCC family and thanks her loved ones for all their support! For more information visit www.LizHo.com.

Steve Hu (Chinese Man) is thrilled to be in AAP's inaugural production. He recently finished an acting internship and production of Richard III at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum. Past Bay Area credits include working with Ferocious Lotus Theatre, Asian American Theater Company, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Steve is a member of Bay Area Trifecta Ensemble.

Ken Narasaki* (Ed) is an actor, writer and working stiff. His plays include the recent adaptation of No-No Boy, award-winning plays Innocent When You Dream, and The Mikado Project (co-written with Doris Baizley), and Ghosts and Baggage. As an actor, he starred in Zwei Profis for German television, and appeared in Lane Nishikawa’s Only the Brave. He’s also appeared in nearly 60 plays, including Po Boy Tango, A Winter People, Theory of Everything, in Chicago, Los Angeles, Singapore, New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Sacramento, and elsewhere. He’s been married for more than 25 years to actress Sharon Omi with whom he has a beautiful daughter, Rosie.

Helen H. Ota (Grace) is thrilled and honored to be a part of Artists at Play’s first production. Congratulations Stefanie, Peter, Julia and Marie-Reine! Helen is the Artistic Director of COLD TOFU Improv and co-founder of Yes, And … Productions. Helen is also a performing member of the Grateful Crane Ensemble. Stage credits include Songs for a New World, The Betrayed, Project Momotaro, Manzanar: Story of an American Family, Natsukashi no Kouhaku Utagassen, Nihonmachi: The Place to Be, Twelfth Night, The Golden Hour and A Jive Bomber’s Christmas. Love to her family and most of all, MCP.

Quincy Surasmith (u/s Upton) is a jack-of-all-trades artist currently residing in Los Angeles. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz, where he studied Theater Arts and American History. There, Quincy was involved in a number of shows, including directing 12-1-A by Wakako Yamauchi and performing in Excerpts from Peeling the Banana for UCSC's Rainbow Theatre. Quincy is very excited to be part of Artists at Play's inaugural production, Ching Chong Chinaman. He can usually be found behind the computer at TN Project's Tuesday Night Cafe. Quincy can also currently be seen in the storytelling/cooking webseries, Romance of the Three Kitchens.

Scott Keiji Takeda (Upton) graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in Theatre Arts. He made his professional debut at East West Players in September 2010, starring as “Brian Lackey” in Mysterious Skin. Scott most recently understudied the part of “Lee/Lee Tong” in Circle X Theatre’s world premiere of The Chinese Massacre (Annotated) by Tom Jacobson, directed by Jeff Liu. Scott is thrilled to be a part of Artists at Play’s inaugural production and thanks Julia, Stefanie, Marie-Reine and Peter for making it all possible. Scott also thanks his talented cast-mates, his family, and his girlfriend for all the love and support.

Wanru Tseng (u/s Grace, u/s Chinese Woman) spends most of her time working in a lab, always in the proper protective equipment, but she has also been knocking around the improv/commercial/ canceled-cable-series circuit for the past few years. She is excited to be working on a project that doesn't involve slating and turning to show her profile. Much love and gratitude to her castmates, Artists at Play, friends and family.

Kurt Yamamoto (u/s Ed) would like to thank Artists at Play for the opportunity to be part of this production of Ching Chong Chinaman. He recently understudied the role of “Edward” in Sun Sisters at Company of Angels Theater in Los Angeles. He is a past member of L.A.’s 68 Cent Theater Crew and is studying improv with Cold Tofu.

* denotes member of Actors' Equity Association

CREATIVE TEAM

Lauren Yee (Playwright) Plays include Hookman; in a word; A Man, his Wife, and his Hat; and Samsara. Born and raised in San Francisco, she has been a MacDowell Colony fellow, a Dramatists Guild fellow, and a Public Theater Emerging Writers Group member; and a finalist for the Heideman, Jerome, Princess Grace, PONY Fellowship, and Wasserstein Prize. Published by Samuel French, Ching Chong Chinaman has been produced at Impact Theatre, Mu Performing Arts, Pan Asian Rep, and SIS Productions. Commissions: AlterTheater, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Kennedy Center, Mu Performing Arts (supported by the MAP Fund), and PlayGround. This season, catch more of her work at AlterTheater, Company One, Impact Theatre, and Moxie Theatre. BA: Yale. MFA: UCSD.

Peter J. Kuo (Director, Producer) is a founding member of Artists at Play. He has directed several plays and readings for numerous LA theatre companies. Favorites include Songs for a New World, Letters to a Student Revolutionary, Chinatown Correspondent, La Llorona Llora, Election Day and Bat Boy: The Musical. His written plays, The Amazing Wedding Race and Three Steps Back, have been developed and read at East West Players' David Henry Hwang Writers Institute. Previously the PR/Marketing Manager for East West Players, he is currently the Communications Associate for South Coast Repertory. Special thanks to Julia, Stefanie and Marie. Twitter: @PeterJKuo

Chika Shimizu (Set Designer) is a recent graduate from California State University, Fullerton, with a bachelors degree in Technical Theatre and an emphasis in Set Design, where she designed the sets for Romeo and Juliet and Tartuffe. After graduating, she worked as the assistant set designer to Sara Clement on Into the Woods and How the World Began for South Coast Repertory. Chika is currently assisting Takeshi Kata on Red at Alley Theatre and Outside People at Vineyard Theatre. She would like to say thank you to the director, cast, and design team.

Rachel Stivers (Costume Designer) started her theatrical career in the Wardrobe Department at Sacramento Music Circus. She worked there for eight seasons and treasures her time in the big tent! She graduated in 2008 from UC Irvine with a BA in Drama and Honors in Costume Design. Since graduating she has designed for The Chance Theater in Anaheim (Inventing Van Gogh, Hot 'N' Throbbing), The Ahimsa Collective (Foster Care to Fabulous, Two Figures), and It’s Top Secret with Golden Performing Arts. She has assistant designed with The Matrix Theater (Stick Fly), Ebony Repertory Company (Crowns), and South Coast Repertory (Fences, In a Garden, Crimes of the Heart).

José López (Lighting Designer) Born and raised in Boyle Heights. Solomania! (Kirk Douglas Theatre); Black Butterfly, Carpa Clash (Mark Taper Forum); Passion, Golden Child, A Widow of No Importance (East West Players); Loot (South Coast Rep); Everyman In the Mall, Twelfth Night (Cornerstone). Regional: ¡Gaytino!, Black Butterfly (Kennedy Center); Taking Flight (San Diego Rep); The Dodo Vaccine (Northwest Asian American Theater); Culture Clash's The Mission (La Jolla Playhouse). International: Guanyin: She Who Sees the Cries of the Universe (Hong Kong Cultural Center); Red (Singapore Rep). Durfee Artist Fellowship, Brody Visual Artist Fellowship, NEA/TCG Design Fellowship, Made in California LACMA, artist MTA Goldline Maravilla Station.

Dennis Yen (Sound Designer) is a Los Angeles based composer for film and television. He is also an award-winning composer and sound designer in the Los Angeles theatre world. He is excited to take part in this amazing production. Thanks Julia and Peter! It is great being reunited with my friends. Thanks for having me on board! Shout outs to The Gwai and 11!

Ken Takemoto (Property Master) calls Hawaii his home. He retired from LAUSD after 25 years as an art teacher. At East West Players, he worked on 50 productions as Property Master, five as Costumer Designer and four on stage as an actor. Television credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Ken was most recently seen in Transformers 3. Yoko, a German movie, is in post-production and will be released in 2012. He is honored to be Property Master of the first production by Artists at Play.

Rodney To (Choreographer) New York and Regional Theater credits include work with: The Public (New Works Festival), NYTW, Ma-Yi, Mark Taper Forum (New Works Festival), La Jolla Playhouse, East West Players, Playwrights' Arena, Steppenwolf & the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. TV/Film credits include: Wilfred, The Whole Truth, The American Mall, Love Monkey, Melissa & Joey and The Chris Rock Show. Jeff Award nomination for the title role in The Romance of Magno Rubio at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater. Inductee in the Filipino American Hall of Fame (Chicago). Congrats to Artists at Play!

Amelia Worfolk (Stage Manager) is happy to be stage managing with her friends on this production. She is currently the Business Manager/Box Office Manager for Company of Angeles where she also been spreading her wings as a producer. Look for her next CoA production Wind Chimes by John Dubiel coming in February 2012. She was the Resident Stage Manager for Lodestone Theater Ensemble 2009 season. She was also ASM for East West Players’ Ixnay and worked crew at the Colony Theater. She studied Stage Management at UCLA and worked with their Graduate Level Director’s program while getting her BA in Economics.

Stefanie Wong Lau (Producer) is a graduate of UCLA and has been a theatre professional in Los Angeles for more than 10 years. She has done marketing, public relations, audience development, fundraising and special event planning for organizations such as East West Players, Ford Amphitheatre and Center Theatre Group, among others. Producing credits include Cold Tofu Improv’s original sketch comedy show Tofu Exposed, a university tour of Letters to a Student Revolutionary and a production of The Maids in a home on the National Register of Historical Places. Stefanie is a founding member of Artists at Play and excited to embark on this journey with her partners in crime.

Marie-Reine Velez (Producer) is a theatre and music events producer. Previous accomplishments include producing new performance work for over three years at TeAda Productions, including the TEADAWORKS New Performance Festivals, Ramble-Ations: A One D’Lo Show, The Healing Aloud Festival, Farid Mercury (with Robert Karimi) and Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in Santa Monica. From 2005 to 2009 she co-founded and ran the Eagle Rock Indie Rock Bowling Night at All Star Lanes, providing community and production support for local and touring bands in Los Angeles. She currently works in production and marketing for Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative.

CCC Set Design

2011-03-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

All images courtesy of Chika Shimizu

CCC Costume Design

2011-03-06T00:56:00.000-08:00

All images courtesy of Rachel Stivers