East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, opens its 45th Anniversary season, themed Shake It Up, with the Los Angeles premiere of MYSTERIOUS SKIN by Prince Gomolvilas, based on the novel by Scott Heim. This production will be directed by EWP's Producing Artistic Director, Tim Dang. The cast of the production will feature artists with diverse backgrounds: David Huynh, Scott Keiji Takeda, Marcus Choi, Christine Corpuz, Ruffy Landayan, and Elizabeth Liang.
MYSTERIOUS SKIN is a searing drama that follows the story of a boy who believes he was once abducted by aliens. All roads lead back to a childhood classmate, now a hustler, who holds the key to the terrifying and heart-breaking truth. Due to its subject matter, graphic language and nudity, MYSTERIOUS SKIN is intended for mature audiences. "We're definitely shaking it up this season with MYSTERIOUS SKIN. The novel by Scott Heim was adapted for the screen by Asian American writer/director Gregg Araki. The play was adapted by Thai-American playwright Prince Gomolvilas. And we're going one step further by casting Asian American performers," says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang.
Writer Prince Gomolvilas is a Thai-American playwright. His plays include BIG HUNK OF BURNIN' LOVE and THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, which received their world premieres at East West Players. He writes BAMBOO NATION, an arts and entertainment blog. He teaches in the Master of Professional Writing Program at USC and in the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute at East West Players. He received his M.F.A. in Playwriting and his B.A. in Film from San Francisco State University.
Director Tim Dang has been artistic director of East West Players since 1993. Tim has been recognized with honors such as two Ovation Awards for Best Direction of a Musical (SWEENEY TODD and PACIFIC OVERTURES), Actors Equity Association Diversity Award, the Durfee Foundation Sabbatical Award and most recently received the Irvine Foundation Leadership Award in 2009. He recently directed the New York premiere of IMELDA, a musical, which was originally produced by East West Players, for Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.
A Canadian transplant, David Huynh, playing the role of Neil, has had the fortunate opportunity to have performed on both Canadian and American theatre, television and film productions. David studied film and theatre at The University of Mantioba, The Prairie Theatre Exchange and was a member of the influential Manitoba Theatre for Young People. David was last seen on stage in Benjamin Bettenbender's SWORDPLAY at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, in addition to The Underground Theatre's production of Langford Wilson's BALM IN GILEAD. David made his feature film debut, starring in Juwan Chung's gangland thriller Baby, to great acclaim.
Scott Keiji Takeda, playing the role of Brian, recently graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in Theatre Arts. MYSTERIOUS SKIN marks his first professional theatre production.
The design team consists of set and projection designer Alan E. Muraoka, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, costumer designer Nicholas Hirata, sound designer John Zalewski and property master Ken Takemoto. The stage manager is Odina Dominguez.
Generous support for this production of MYSTERIOUS SKIN is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, California Community Foundation, Shubert Foundation, LA County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. This production is presented in association with our community partner the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.
All performances of MYSTERIOUS SKIN will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. MYSTERIOUS SKIN opens Wednesday, September 15, 2010 and closes on Sunday, October 10, 2010. Opening night will be accompanied by a pre-performance cocktail reception and a post show reception with the cast and creative team. Performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, September 9 - 11 at 8pm and Sunday, September 12 at 2pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Thursday, September 16 at 8 pm with a suggested $5 minimum donation.
General Tickets range from $25 - $35. Preview tickets are $20 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $60 for all seats. Tickets are currently on sale. For ticket purchases or more information, please call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit
www.eastwestplayers.org. Senior, student and group discounts are available. Dates and details are subject to change.
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