The Guthrie Announces Cast for Mu Performing Arts' YELLOW FEVER

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for the Mu Performing Arts production of Yellow Fever. Written by R.A. Shiomi, the play is a groundbreaking noir comedy in the Asian American theatrical canon told through the eyes of Sam Shikaze, a nisei (second generation Japanese) Canadian detective that explores themes of political deception and cultural assimilation. Yellow Fever will be performed in Guthrie's Dowling Studio from March 8-24, 2013 and directed by Rick Shiomi.

Yellow Fever premiered in San Francisco in 1982 and was produced Off-Broadway to critical acclaim by Pan Asian Repertory Theater later that same year. The New York Times' Mel Gussow called the show, "...so captivating that it makes one eager for further adventures of the inimitable Sam Shikaze," and named it a "New York Times Critic's Pick." Edith Oliver of The New Yorker observed, "Yellow Fever is a funny mystery-a real mystery that is, that parodies private eye movies and also tucks in quite a lot of social comment without ever breaking its own comic mood."

Yellow Fever features Mu favorites including Kurt Kwan (Sam Shikaze), Sara Ochs (Nancy Wing), and Eric Sharp (Captain Kadota). Guthrie audiences may remember Kwan from his starring roles in Mu's Dowling Studio Productions of Cowboy Vs. Samurai and Yellow Face as well as recent appearances with Ten Thousand Things Theater. Ochs and Sharp were both featured in Mu's recent smash hit Into the Woods. Ochs was seen in Company at Theater Latté Da this fall and Sharp performed in Frank Theatre's The Way of Water.

The cast also features Wade Vaughn (Jameson), Jeannie Lander (Rosie), Alex Galick (Chuck Chan) and Brandon Ewald(Mackenzie). Vaughn and Walking Shadow Theatre Company were recognized with a 2012 Ivey Award for their production of Compleat Female Stage Beauty.

Set in Vancouver's Little Tokyo, Yellow Fever follows 1970s detective Sam Shikaze as he attempts to solve the disappearance of the mysterious Cherry Blossom Queen. Shikaze becomes entangled in a web of political deception and racism that rouses memories of the Japanese-Canadian internment camps and leads to an unexpected romance.

The artistic team includes Joseph Stanley (Set Designer), Kathy Kohl (Costume Designer), Karin Olson (Lighting Designer), Forest Godfrey (Sound Designer), and Lisa Smith (Stage Manager).

Yellow Fever previews March 8, opens March 9, and continues through March 24, 2013 in the Dowling Studio. Single tickets start at $18 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE,612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

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