Leviathan Lab Presents Free Staged Reading of Christine Toy Johnson’s New Play Today, 8/9

New York City-based Leviathan Lab presents a free staged reading/talkback of actor, playwright and diversity advocate Christine Toy Johnson's ("Pacific Overtures", "Merrily We Roll Along") new play "Adventures of a Faux Designer Handbag", featuring Filipino American actors Ali Ewoldt ("Les Miserables"), Jaygee Macapugay ("Imelda", "Honor") and other leading Asian-American actors, at the Center Stage NY (48 W 21st Street, 4th Floor, between 5th & 6th Avenues, New York City), today at 7:30 p.m.

Diverse City Theater Company Artistic Director Victor Lirio directs.

In the "Adventures of a Faux Designer Handbag", the audience is introduced to three lead characters who are frantically trying to find a replacement for a priceless special edition handbag.  Their personal adventures bring them through space and time -- from the busy streets of Chinatown , New York City to "Splendid China" theme park in Orlando, Florida -- where they try to find out if authenticity is really in the eye of the beholder.

The Leviathan Lab, founded by Ariel Estrada, has been home to more than 60 Asian-American actors, writers, and directors since 2009. The lab's current projects include development cover theatre, television, film, and online presence.

This free staged reading/talkback of Ms. Johnson's "Adventures of a Faux  Designer Handbag" also features Leviathan Lab actors Judy W. Chen, Nancy Eng, Kurt Uy ("The Pearl Project"), and Moses Villarama.

Ms. Johnson will be honored, together with United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) community leader Etsu Mineta Masaoka, journalist and writer Roxanna Saberi et al., at the JACL's annual gala awards dinner on September 6, 2010 in Washington, D.C. for her excellent achievements as a theatre actor, playwright/producer, and diversity advocate. 

The award-winning actor and playwright is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and New York University's (NYU) screenwriting program. 

Photos by Jo Macaldo

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