MARRY ME A LITTLE & THE LAST FIVE YEARS Closes EWP 43rd Season

East West Players (EWP), the Nation's Premier Asian American Theatre, brings its 43rd Anniversary Season, Beyond Presence, to a close with an evening of two one-act musicals, MARRY ME A LITTLE by Stephen Sondheim, directed by Jules Aaron and THE LAST FIVE YEARS by Jason Robert Brown, directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. The cast will feature some of Asian America's top musical theatre artists, Mike Dalager, Jennifer Hubilla, Michael K. Lee and Jennifer Paz.

"Stephen Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown are America's foremost musical theatre composers," states Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang, "And during these challenging times, everyone wants the best at an affordable cost, which is exactly what we are offering. Two musicals for one price! Two great composers for the price of one! Who could ask for more? Both casts feature actors named Jennifer and Michael! I am proud of the team of talent that will energize these shows both on and off the stage. These two productions will showcase not only some of the best musical writing, but direction, design, singing and acting. This is the first time that Sondheim and Brown are presented in the same evening so it will be an event to experience."

MARRY ME A LITTLE is a compilation of songs composed by Stephen Sondheim for many of his Broadway musicals but for various reasons didn't make it to opening night. The story focuses on a man and a woman who are living right next door to each other and are pining away for true love never realizing that their one love is right next door. Featuring songs that were cut from SATURDAY NIGHT, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, FOLLIES, THE GIRLS OF SUMMER, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, COMPANY, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE and one of Sondheim's unproduced musicals, THE LAST RESORT. You will also hear lyrics from Being Alive from COMPANY set to a different melody, and lyrics for the ghostly opening overture of FOLLIES.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS tells the story of a five year relationship between Jamie and Cathy, from their first date to their wedding to the end of their relationship seen with a unique twist - the musical tells the story traveling in two directions of time. Cathy travels backward starting when Jamie has moved out of their home and ending with the excitement of a potential second date with Jamie. Jamie travels forward in time, opening with a song about how much he could fall in love with Cathy and ending with a goodbye note as he moves out of their home.

MARRY ME A LITTLE will be directed by Jules Aaron who previously directed a production of MASTER CLASS at East West Players. Aaron has been nominated and won numerous awards including DramaLogue Awards, L.A. Drama Critics Awards, Garland Awards, inland Drama Critics Awards, Dean Goodman Awards and L.A. Weekly Awards. He has directed over 200 productions Off and Off-Off Broadway. Recently he directed THE GRADUATE at West Coast Ensemble and THREE PENNY OPERA at International City Theatre.

In MARRY ME A LITTLE, Mike Dalager will be performing as The Man and Jennifer Hubilla will be performing as The Woman. Mike Dalager, a native Hawaiian, was seen in the lead role of the critically acclaimed production, PASSION. He performed the role of officer Giorgio. Dalager was last seen on East West Players' stage in the 2006 revival of SWEENEY TODD, where he performed the lead role of SWEENEY TODD during its two week extension. His national credits include JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and THE KING AND I. Jennifer Hubilla has appeared mostly in the UK including the acclaimed role of Kim in MISS SAIGON. Additional Regional Theatre performances include SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, SHOWBOAT and CHILDREN OF EDEN.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS will be directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, the founding artistic director of Playwrights' Arena. This will be his third production at East West Players having previously directed MIXED MESSAGES in 2004 and the recent box office hit THE JOY LUCK CLUB. Rivera has directed in numerous companies and received nominations and awards for his direction of another Jason Robert Brown piece, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD at Rubicon Theatre. Some of Rivera's directing credits include works at Center Theatre Group, Actors Co-op, Hayworth Theatre, Getty Villa Theater Lab and Elephant Theater.

In THE LAST FIVE YEARS, Michael K. Lee will be performing as Jamie and Jennifer Paz will be performing as Cathy. Michael K. Lee started his career as a musical theatre artist by taking musical theatre classes at East West Players. He is best known for performing as Thuy in MISS SAIGON with the 2nd National Touring Company, and later on Broadway. He returned to East West Players to perform in the David Henry Hwang Theater's 1998 inaugural production of PACIFIC OVERTURES in the role of Kayama. Recently he performed the role of Chris in MISS SAIGON in an all Korean production which toured Korea. Jennifer Paz began her professional career playing the lead role of KIM in the 1st National US tour of MISS SAIGON. She recently reprised the role in 2008 at South Bay Civic Light Opera where she won the Ovation Award for her performance. Additional credits include BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LES MISERABLES, EVITA, THE WHO'S TOMMY and THE KING AND I. Jennifer Paz and Michael K. Lee will be reunited on the East West Players stage from when they last performed together here in AND THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND in 2002.

The musical director for both productions will be Marc Macalintal. Macalintal was the musical director and score adaptor for East West Players' box office hit PIPPIN, which fused Japanese anime, hip-hop and martial arts. He was also musical director for the last two East West Players' holiday special ‘TIS THE SEASON: Celebrate The Holidays with The Three Filipino Tenors. He has appeared in several East West Players productions including A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, IMELDA and MASTER CLASS.

The design team for both musicals consists of: set designer John Binkley, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, costume designer Ivy Y. Chou, property master Ken Takemoto and stage manager Christine Martin.

All performances of MARRY ME A LITTLE and THE LAST FIVE YEARS 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. MARRY ME A LITTLE and THE LAST FIVE YEARS opens Wednesday, May 13, 2009 and closes on Sunday, June 7, 2009. 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 & Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Previews are Thursday - Saturday, May 7 - 9 at 8pm and Sunday, May 10 at 2pm. The Pay-What-You-Can Performance will be held Thursday, May 14 at 8pm. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 2pm.

General ticket prices are $50 in the orchestra and $45 in the balcony. Preview tickets are $25 for all seats. Opening night tickets are $70 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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