Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang Celebrates 20 Years with East West Players Today

Today, August 17th, East West Players (EWP), the nation's largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theatre of color in the country, will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Tim Dang as Producing Artistic Director. This signature "one night only" event takes place at East West Players, featuring some of the best talent to grace the EWP stage, along with dinner al fresco in the Aratani Courtyard, just outside the theater. Proceeds of One Night Only benefit the artistic/educational programs of East West Players and the organization's endowment.

In EWP's 48 years, Dang is the third Artistic Director of the organization, succeeding Nobu McCarthy and taking the helm in 1993. Among the key milestones in his leadership, the most pivotal was growing EWP from a 99-seat theater on Santa Monica Blvd. in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, to a 240-seat state-of-the-art mid-size theater in its current location at the Union Center for the Arts in Little Tokyo.

"I can't believe it's been twenty years. It's gone by so quickly. I'm proud of what we as an organization has accomplished to raise the visibility of Asian Pacific Islanders through the performing arts but there is still a lot of work to be done," says Dang. "Change is happening quickly in the world around us, and I hope our stories, our community, our artists will be more visible on stages all over America."

Accomplishments to date under Dang's tenure also include: spearheading the inaugural convening of the National Asian American Theatre Conference hosted by EWP, which led to the creation of the national network Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA) in 2006; and throughout his tenure, widening the scope of Asian Pacific American (APA) artistic works produced onstage, such as the first Vietnamese American play "Monster" (2002) and the South Asian play "Queen of the Remote Control" (2002). The EWP Arts Education and Literary programs were also expanded under Dang's direction - the youth program Partners in Education and Arts Collaboration (PEAC), an afterschool program for middle schools; the professional development program Alliance of Creative Services (ACTS) - connecting artists to the entertainment industry; and the Writers Gallery, a partnership with the Japanese American National Museum (JANM).

Groundbreaking playwright David Henry Hwang says of Tim: "Over the past twenty years, Tim Dang made certain that EWP, the nation's oldest theatre of color, would remain on the cutting edge of Asian American theatre into the 21st century. As our community became more diverse, as our artists explored new forms and stories, Tim embraced change and innovation, never settling for playing it safe. He succeeded in honoring the past, while also setting the stage for the future." Hwang is also the namesake of East West Players' theater at the Union Center for the Arts in Little Tokyo.

Confirmed performers include: Joan Almedilla ("Miss Saigon" and "Les Miserables" on Broadway; most recently in EWP's production of "Chess"), Elijah Rock (EWP's "Chess"), Lito Villareal (EWP's "Sweeney Todd," NBC's "The Winner Is"), Antoine Diel (Three Filipino Tenors, EWP's "Imelda" and "Sweeney Todd"); Keo Woolford (EWP's "I-Land," director of "Three Year Swim Club"; West End's "The King and I"), Jenni Selma ("Miss Saigon" on Broadway), Ethan Le Phong (EWP's "Pippin," "Mamma Mia!" on Broadway, "King & I" West End), and Orville Mendoza ("Pacific Overtures" - Broadway and EWP, EWP's "Sweeney Todd," "Into the Woods," "Passion"). The show will be hosted by Reggie Lee ("Carousel" on Broadway, EWP's "F.O.B.," "Carry the Tiger to the Mountain," "Pacific Overtures"; NBC TV's Grimm). Additional talent to be confirmed.

One Night Only: Tim's 20th will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2013 at the East West Players David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, located at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. The event starts at 6:00pm with a hosted bar and reception, dinner catered by Executive Chef Glen Ishii (Noe at the Omni Los Angeles, owner of Jist Café). It continues with the performance at 7:30pm, and concludes with a raffle drawing and dessert reception catered by Majestic Caterers. One Night Only: Tim's 20th is a benefit performance, and all proceeds will go toward East West Players' arts and education programs. Various levels of sponsorships are available ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Single tickets are $250 for VIP, $125 in the orchestra and $75 in the balcony. For more information on sponsorship and tickets, visit www.eastwestplayers.org, and/or contact the Development Manager Rosalyn Kawahira at rkawahira@eastwestplayers.org or call (213) 625-7000 x17.

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