Pan Asian Repertory Theater Presents NY Premiere of Edward Sakamoto's FISHING FOR WIVES, Now thru 4/27

PAN ASIAN REPERTORY THEATRE continues its 37th Milestone Season with the New York premiere of FISHING FOR WIVES, a comic battle of the sexes written by Edward Sakamoto and directed by Ron Nakahara. The production will begin previews tonight, April 5, 2014 and run until April 27, 2014 at the Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street between 9th and Dyer). The official opening is on Thursday April 10th at 7:30PM.

FISHING FOR WIVES is a vintage romantic comedy of errors: Nishi, tired of life as a single fisherman, sends for a picture bride from his native Japan but includes a photo of his handsome friend in his place. The bride arrives and falls in love- with the wrong bachelor- setting off a comic rivalry and a final surprise turn of events, colorfully visualized against the backdrop of the Hawaiian islands.

"Like Horton Foote whose family dramas define Texas country life, septuagenarian Sakamoto specializes in the rich fabric of Hawaii," says Artistic Producing Director Tisa Chang. "FISHING FOR WIVES is a significant renewal of Nakahara and Sakamoto's longtime artistic partnership that will continue to explore the colorful characters of Hawaii for a new generation of artists and audiences."

PAN ASIAN first began producing Edward Sakamoto's work in 1981. FISHING FOR WIVES is his fifth play with the company and his nineteenth in a career that spans 5 decades. The play is pure storytelling at its best, helmed by longtime collaborator, Ron Nakahara (who can be seen in the film The Wolf of Wall Street and TV's House of Cards).

Playwright Edward Sakamoto returns to PAN ASIAN REPERTORY THEATRE with his newest play, FISHING FOR WIVES, which draws on his family history: both his grandmothers were picture brides who emigrated from Japan to Hawaii near the turn of the century. His plays have been staged in various venues, including East West Players in Los Angeles, Kumu Kahua Theatre in Hawai'i and in cities like Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, etc. In 1998 Sakamoto received the Hawai'i Award for Literature, the highest literary honor presented by the Hawai'i State Council. Then Gov. Cayetano presented the award to Sakamoto in a special ceremony at the Hawai'l State Capitol. He received Po'okela theater awards for ALOHA LAS VEGAS and OUR HEARTS WERE TOUCHED WITH FIRE. During his career he was awarded the Rockefeller Foundation Playwright in Residence grant. He graduated from the University of Hawai'i with a B.A. degree in English. He worked thirty years as a newspaperman spending twenty years as a copy editor at the Los Angeles Times.

Director Ron Nakahara has been an actor/director in New York City since 1979 and was designated a Senior Artist with that city's PAN ASIAN REPERTORY THEATRE in 1987. He was then named Artistic Associate for the company and continues in that position today. Ron has directed one-woman shows at Don't Tell Mama and The Duplex, and has worked extensively with and directed the Asian-American performance group SLANT at La MaMa ETC, and NYSF Public Theatre. His other directing credits in New York include NAATCO, and Ensemble Studio Theatre. His regional credits include The Studio Theatre (Washington, DC), Hartford Stage Co., Fulton Opera House (Lancaster, PA) where his production of Miss Ever's Boys won him a best director award, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, New York State Theatre Institute, Hangar Theatre (Ithaca,) Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Virginia Stage Company (Norfolk,) and Actor's Theatre of Louisville. In addition, Ron has also directed for New York University and Virginia Commonwealth University. He has served on several NEA panels and was one of the first recipients of an NEA/TCG Directing Fellowship. He is a member of SDC, SAG-AFTRA, and AEA.

The cast of FISHING FOR WIVES stars Hawaii natives Bobby Foley (TV's Hawaii Five-0, Girls) and Viet Vo (TV's Lost) as hapless bachelors Nishi and Aoki, who are joined by Akiko Hiroshima (last seen at Pan Asian in TEA), Allison Hiroto, and Kiyo Takami (Kiyohime in 2013's production of DOJOJI).

Production design includes sets by Sheryl Liu, lights by Marie Yokoyama (THREE TREES, BAUDELAIRE: La Mort), costumes by Carol Pelletier (SHOGUN MACBETH, DOJOJI), and sound design by Kevin Brouder (DOJOJI). SMs are Elis C. Arroyo and Phillip Rudy.

Performances of FISHING FOR WIVES are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm with matinees Sunday at 2:30pm, and special Saturday matinees April 5 and 19 at 2:30pm.

Tickets are $51.25. Contact Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

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