On Tuesday, May 7, 2013, Frank London, a trumpeter, composer and the bandleader of Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars, presented a Klezmer-Bhangra Extravaganza as part of the diverse lineup of the Washington Jewish Music Festival at the Washington DCJCC. London invited his pals Bombay Dreams‘ vet Manu Narayan, master percussionist Deep Singh, Yiddish Poet/Klezmer Singer Sarah Gordon and Guitarist/Singer Jeremiah Lockwood, who along with Aaron Alexander (Drum set), Ron Caswell (Tuba), Brian Drye (Trombone); Patrick Farrell (Accordion), and Michael Winograd, (Clarinet), of Londons’ Klezmer Brass All-Stars’ krewe, played for a full capacity, enthusiastic and appreciative crowd, who leapt to their feet for standing ovations and to dance.
Sitting: Deep Singh, Sarah Gordon, Frank London; Standing: Jeremiah Lockwood, Aaron Alexander, Michael Winograd, Ron Caswell, Patty Farrell, Brian Drye and Manu Narayan. Photo by Lia Chang
Frank London (trumpeter, composer, bandleader) is a member of the Klezmatics, Hasidic New Wave, has performed with John Zorn, LL Cool J, Mel Torme, Lester Bowieπs Brass Fantasy, LaMonte Young, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne, Jane Siberry, Ben Folds 5, Mark Ribot, Maurice El Medioni and Gal Costa, and is featured on over 100 cds. His own recordings include INVOCATIONS (cantorial music); Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars’ DI SHIKERE KAPELYE and BROTHERHOOD OF BRASS; NIGUNIM and THE ZMIROS PROJECT (Jewish mystical songs, with Klezmatics vocalist Lorin Sklamberg); THE DEBT (film and theater music); THE SHEKHINA BIG BAND; the soundtrack to THE SHVITZ; the soundtrack to Perl Gluck’s THE DIVAHN and four releases with the Hasidic New Wave.
Ron Caswell, Patty Farrell, Michael Winograd and Frank London during the sound check at the Washington DCJCC on May 7, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang
His projects include the folk-opera A NIGHT IN THE OLD MARKETPLACE (based on Y.L. Peretz’s Bay nakht oyfn altn mark), DAVENEN for Pilobolus and the Klezmatics, Great Small Works’ THE MEMOIRS OF GLUCKEL OF HAMELN and Min Tanaka’s ROMANCE. He composed music for John Sayles’ THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET and MEN WITH GUNS, Yvonne Rainer’s MURDER AND MURDER, the Czech-American Marionette Theaterπs GOLEM and Tamar Rogoff’s IVYE PROJECT.
Frank London, Michael Winograd and Brian Drye. Photo by Lia Chang
He was music director for David Byrne and Robert Wilson’s THE KNEE PLAYS, collaborated with Palestinian violinist Simon Shaheen, taught Jewish music in Canada, Crimea and the Catskills, and produced CD’s for Gypsy Ledgend Esma Redzepova, and Algerian Pianist Maurice el Medioni.
Jeremiah Lockwood, Sarah Gordon, Aaron Alexander, Manu Narayan, Ron Caswell, Frank London, Michael Winograd and Brian Drye. Photo by Lia Chang
He has been featured on HBO’s “Sex and the City,” at the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Lincoln Center Summer Festival, and was a co-founder of Les Miserables Brass Band and the Klezmer Conservatory Band.
Manu Narayan and Frank London. Photo by Lia Chang
Manu Narayan. Photo by Lia Chang
Manu Narayan, an actor, singer, songwriter and classical saxophonist, has collaborated with Grammy winner Frank London numerous times around the world, most recently recording and performing for his Soundbrush records’ Klezmer concept album A Night in the Old Marketplace, in which he sang the part of the Badkhn. He made his Broadway debut as Akaash in Bombay Dreams, for which he received a Drama League award nomination, and co-starred in Mike Myers’ The Love Guru as Rajneesh alongside Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, and Justin Timberlake. Narayan recently starred as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s critically acclaimed revival of Glengarry Glen Ross and was nominated for a San Diego Critics Circle 2012 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play. Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
Manu Narayan. Photo by Lia Chang
In 2003, he was invited to sing at a small state dinner for the first official visit of President George W. Bush to the UK. Narayan sang for and met the Queen of England, The Royal Family, President Bush and Colin Powell. He has had the privilege to sing for then Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign sponsored by Hillary Clinton as well as elsewhere with Cyndi Lauper, Garth Hudson and Martha Wainwright.
Manu Narayan. Photo by Lia Chang
As a recording artist, Narayan has collaborated on and recorded original and cover tracks for feature film soundtracks including The Love Guru, Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song, Hiding Divya, Good Night|Good Morning, Walkaway and Vanessa Williams’ And Then Came Love. As the lead vocalist, Narayan has performed the concert version of the album throughout Europe and North America. In addition to solo work, Narayan is lead singer of the band Darunam with Radovan Jovicevic, founding member of Yugoslavia’s Grupa Zana. The band brings together the melodies and rhythms from three homelands: America, India, and Serbia. He recorded with D A R U N A M band mate Radovan Jovicevic the single Have Me for the 2007 film And Then Came Love starring Vanessa Williams. Narayan and Jovicevic released the EP All That’s Beautiful Must Die and the title track’s video featuring Janina Gavankar. Their album of Electronic Lounge/World Gypsy music with Canadian Clarinetist Milan Milosevic entitled The Last Angel on Earth was released live on CBC national radio in Canada in 2010. Click here for Manu Narayan’s Website.
Deep Singh. Photo by Lia Chang
Master indian percussionist Deep Singh has performed with everyone from the legendary Punjab singer, Malkit Singh, to the legendary British singer, Sting. A renowned percussionist/composer/studio musician, Deep Singh was born in London, England, and is currently based in NYC.
Deep Singh. Photo by Lia Chang
Singh began to play the Tabla at the age three, and at the age of seven became the youngest disciple of Ustad Allah Rakha. Singh’s professional career started at the age of nine, and since has performed at prestigious venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, London; The Royal Festival Hall, London; The Waldorf Astoria, NYC, Carnegie Hall, NYC, among many others. Singh has accompanied the finest musicians from India such as Dr. Aruna Sharma, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Sultan Khan, Hariharan, Ghulam Ali and many more. He is currently touring a concert of Indian classical music and working with other percussion bands. He has produced R&B dance tracks for Rihanna and Justin Bieber.
After many years of playing in the NYC downtown club scene and merging Indian sounds with rock/pop, he is now coming out with his own unique style of music. With his years of experience as an Indian classical musician and playing with western bands, Singh is revered as a master in blending music from the East and West.
Deep Singh, Frank London and Manu Narayan. Photo by Lia Chang
Sarah Gordon. Photo by Lia Chang
Sarah Gordon is the lead singer of the prog-ethnic band, Yiddish Princess. A third generation Yiddish singer and composer of new Yiddish song, she composed and sang on FLKBAS’ Carnival Conspiracy (Rolling Stones’ #1 non-English recording).
Jeremiah Lockwood. Photo by Lia Chang
Jeremiah Lockwood, leader and singer of the Sway Machinery, guitarist with Balkan Beat Box, and co-collaborator with Frank on Songs of Zebulon, a project reinventing the music of the great Cantor Zebulon ‘Zawel’ Kwartin.
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. She is a Signature Theatre alumni who was in the cast of Sam Shepard’s Chicago, during his Signature 1996-1997 Playwright-in-Residence Season.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2013, Bombay Dreams‘ vet Manu Narayan and master percussionist Deep Singh will perform with Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars’ Klezmer-Bhangra Extravaganza at the Washington DCJCC, at 1529 Q Street Northwest, Washington, DC at 7:30pm. The concert also features special guests Sarah Gordon and Jeremiah Lockwood. Click here for tickets.
Indian and Jewish musics collide. Trumpeter Frank London of the Klezmatics joins master percussionist Deep Singh in presenting a new look at some old traditions.
Back Row (l to r) Manu Narayan, Aaron Alexander, Frank London, Ron Caswell, Deep Singh. Front Row (l to r) Sarah Gordon, Patrick Farrell, Jeremiah Lockwood on 5/2/13 at Rivington Studios, NYC. Photo by Lia Chang.
India was host to one of the oldest living Jewish communities in the world, with roots stretching back to biblical times. The country of India is called Hodu in Hebrew, most commonly recognized from the opening lines of the Megilla Esther on Purim, when King Achashverosh is depicted as ruling a kingdom that stretched “me’hodu v’ad kush” from India (Hodu) to Ethiopia (Kush). The contemporary Jewish community in Calcutta dates back to 1784 when Shalom Cohen arrived from Aleppo, Syria to be the court jeweler of the Nawab of Oudh. The connection between Jewish and Indian culture is a long one.
Deep Singh. photo by Lia Chang
The roots of this Klezmer-Bhangra Extravaganza concert have little to do with these historical antecedents, and spring from a more personal source. Frank London and Deep Singh are neighbors in New York’s Lower East Side. The pair have played together for both traditional Jewish and Punjabi Sikh weddings, playing bhangra and klezmer music for baraats and khuppah processions. They toured Europe performing Jewish sacred mystical music with Judith Berkson, recorde tsuker-zis with Lorin Skleamberg, and collaborated with writer Glen Berger (Spiderman, A Night in the Old Marketplace) on the apocalyptic psychedelic Bollywood musical, On Words and Onwards. Their dinner parties (replete with massive amounts of overly spicy food, early morning alcohol and ghee fueled percussion jams, and stunt ping pong tricks) are legendary. A benefit for the HONK! Festival of Brass Bands gave them the opportunity to bring together the worlds of klezmer and bhangra party music, and that experience is the impetus for this collaboration. The concert will explore both the ecstatic and the meditative aspects of Jewish and Indian music, and will feature songs by Malkit Singh and Moyshe Oysher. Songs will be sung in multiple languages: Yiddish, Punjabi, Hebrew, Hindi, and English.
Frank London. Photo by Lia Chang
The Cast:
Member of the Klezmatics, leader of many bands (including the new Shekhinah Big Band that has been rocking John Zorn’s venue, The Stone); Grammy award winner, composer and trumpeter, Frank London remains on the cutting edge of Jewish music.
Manu Narayan. Photo by Lia Chang
Manu Narayan, an actor, singer, songwriter and classical saxophonist, has collaborated with Grammy winner Frank London numerous times around the world, most recently recording and performing for his Soundbrush records’ Klezmer concept album A Night in the Old Marketplace, in which he sang the part of the Badkhn. He made his Broadway debut as Akaash in Bombay Dreams, for which he received a Drama League award nomination, and co-starred in Mike Myers’ The Love Guru as Rajneesh alongside Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, and Justin Timberlake. Narayan recently starred as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s critically acclaimed revival of Glengarry Glen Ross and was nominated for a San Diego Critics Circle 2012 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play. Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross In 2003, he was invited to sing at a small state dinner for the first official visit of President George W. Bush to the UK. Narayan sang for and met the Queen of England, The Royal Family, President Bush and Colin Powell. He has had the privilege to sing for then Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign sponsored by Hillary Clinton as well as elsewhere with Cyndi Lauper, Garth Hudson and Martha Wainwright.
Frank London and Manu Narayan in rehearsal at Rivington Studios in New York on May 2, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang
As a recording artist, Narayan has collaborated on and recorded original and cover tracks for feature film soundtracks including The Love Guru, Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song, Hiding Divya, Good Night|Good Morning, Walkaway and Vanessa Williams’ And Then Came Love. As the lead vocalist, Narayan has performed the concert version of the album throughout Europe and North America. In addition to solo work, Narayan is lead singer of the band Darunam with Radovan Jovicevic, founding member of Yugoslavia’s Grupa Zana. The band brings together the melodies and rhythms from three homelands: America, India, and Serbia. He recorded with D A R U N A M band mate Radovan Jovicevic the single Have Me for the 2007 film And Then Came Love starring Vanessa Williams. Narayan and Jovicevic released the EP All That’s Beautiful Must Die and the title track’s video featuring Janina Gavankar. Their album of Electronic Lounge/World Gypsy music with Canadian Clarinetist Milan Milosevic entitled The Last Angel on Earth was released live on CBC national radio in Canada in 2010. Click here for Manu Narayan’s Website.
Deep Singh. Photo by Lia Chang
Master indian percussionist Deep Singh has played with everyone from the legendary Punjab singer, Malkit Singh, to the legendary British singer, Sting. He has performed Indian classical music internationally since beginning tabla at age 4, and has produced r&b dance tracks for Rihanna and Justin Bieber.
Sarah Gordon. Photo by Lia Chang
Sarah Gordon is the lead singer of the prog-ethnic band, Yiddish Princess. A third generation Yiddish singer and composer of new Yiddish song, she composed and sang on FLKBAS’ Carnival Conspiracy (Rolling Stones’ #1 non-English
recording).
Jeremiah Lockwood. Photo by Lia Chang
Jeremiah Lockwood, leader and singer of the Sway Machinery, guitarist with Balkan Beat Box, and co-collaborator with Frank on Songs of Zebulon, a project reinventing the music of the great Cantor Zebulon ‘Zawel’ Kwartin.
At the core of this special project is London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars krewe – Ron Caswell, Aaron Alexander, Brian Drye, Patty Farrell and Michael Winograd.
Patty Farrell. Photo by Lia Chang
Aaron Alexander. Photo by Lia Chang
Ron Caswell. Photo by Lia Chang
Back Row (l to r) Manu Narayan, Aaron Alexander, Frank London, Deep Singh, Ron Caswell. Front Row (l to r) Patrick Farrell,Sarah Gordon, Jeremiah Lockwood on 5/2/13 at Rivington Studios, NYC. Photo by Lia Chang.
Click below for a slideshow of Manu Narayan and Deep Singh with Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars’ in rehearsal at the Rivington Studios in New York.
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. She is a Signature Theatre alumni who was in the cast of Sam Shepard’s Chicago, during his Signature 1996-1997 Playwright-in-Residence Season.
Two-time Grammy nominated American jazz fusion band Hiroshima kicks off their 2013 spring tour at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA, with special guest artist Taiko Master Kenny Endo, on Monday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. This special performance is part of the Jammin’ Concert Series at the Laguna Playhouse and will feature new music from their latest CD Departure, the follow-up to their 2010 Grammy-nominated Legacy CD. Click here to purchase tickets or call (949) 497-2787 ext. 225 for more information on the show.
HIROSHIMA. Photo by Jaimee Itagaki
Since galvanizing the instrumental music world with its unique East meets West approach in the late 70s, Hiroshima has always kept its eye on a distinctive One World philosophy which seamlessly blends Asian and North American culture to reflect both cultural and spiritual connections. This year marks 20 years since the band’s unique combination of distinctively Japanese elements-June Kuramoto’s classical flavored koto, Johnny Mori’s booming taiko drum-with funky pop, urban and jazz sensibilities first hit the instrumental music charts, and 25 years since saxophonist and East L.A. native Dan Kuramoto, along with June, first formed the ensemble. Also featured in the band are Kimo Cornwell, Danny Yamamoto, Dean Cortez and Shoji Kameda.
Dan Kuramoto co-founder and leader of the band stated, “After more than 30 years in the recording industry — and almost 4 million records sold we’ve decided to leave record companies behind and venture on our own. “It is a new beginning for us in many ways. Departure is a journey of nine songs — all originals with just one guest artist, the incredible harmonica player Tetsuya “Tex” Nakamura. The opening track “Have You Ever Wondered,” is a luscious, textured piece featuring Nakamura and June’s shimmering koto.
“Koto Cruise,” is the second song and features a funky groove and a burning koto solo, “Blues for Sendai,” a soulful jazz blues piece, is dedicated to the spirit of the Japanese people who are rebuilding after the tragedies of March, 2011. The rockin’ blues in “Smiling Jack,” recalls the music of the 80’s and features the roaring B3 organ playing of Kimo Cornwell The sensual soul of “See You Again,” is a tribute to our friend and mentor James Moody. If you listen closely you’ll hear “Moody’s Mood for Love.”
After many years of requests, we offer our first live taiko recording, “Yamasong Duet” – - capturing the voice and the thunder of Shoji’s taiko and Danny’s fierce percussion interplay. The power and spirit of “First Nation,” a composition by the Hawaiian Kimo Cornwell, is a song embracing many native cultures – - and some serious jazz.
Departure ends with two new visitations to our most popular songs, “Thousand Cranes,” and a soulful version of “One Wish,” done as an acoustic trio.” Departure is available on the Hiroshima website, iTunes, Amazon.com, facebook and CDbaby. HiroshimaMusic.com
Kenny Endo. Photo by Lia Chang
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kenny Endo began early training in western drums and percussion. He began his taiko career with the first two kumi-taiko groups established outside of Japan – L.A.’s groundbreaking Kinnara Taiko, and then with the renowned San Francisco Taiko Dojo. In 1980, he embarked on a decade-long odyssey in his ancestral Japan, studying and performing with Osuwa Daiko, Sukeroku Taiko, Oedo Sukeroku Taiko, Hogaku Hayashi with Mochizuki Ryu, and Matsuri Bayashi with Maru Kenjiro He has the honor of being the first foreigner to have received a “natori” in hogaku hayashi.
In the greater musical world in America, “Kenny Endo” has become synonymous with the word “taiko.” He is one of the most versatile musicians in the genre, crossing easily between the traditional and his own globally-inspired style. Endo also has an MA in Ethnomusicology and is highly sought after for educational programs and workshops.
Endo has recorded five CDs of original taiko compositions and his latest CD release is “Convergence”, a collaborative work with Kaoru Watanabe, which is now available on CD Baby. He was a featured artist on the TV special “Spirit of Taiko” in America and as artist-in-residence at New York’s Lincoln Center Institute. A consummate artist, he blends Japanese taiko with rhythms influenced by his jazz background and by collaborations with musicians from around the world. He has performed for musicians Prince and the late Michael Jackson, as well as the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles. He has performed with Japanese musicians Hayashi Eitetsu (taiko), Sato Michihiro (Tsugaru shamisen), Semba Kiyohiko (percussion), Watanabe Kazumi (jazz guitar), Uzaki Ryudo (rock & roll), Koinuma Hiroyuki, Leonard Eto, Hirota Joji, John Kaizan Neptune, Christopher Yohmei Blaisdel, Amanojaku, and many others. He opened for The Who, performed a duet with singer Bobby McFerrin, and is featured on the soundtracks of Kayo Hatta’s “Picture Bride,” and “Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now.” He also recorded in motion capture suit for James Cameron’s “Avatar.” He has also performed as guest soloist with the Honolulu Symphony and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, traveling across Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, the former Soviet Union, and the Americas in his effort to share taiko with the world. Endo had a day named for him – “Kenny Endo Day” – by the Mayor of Honolulu, and was honored by the National Endowment for the Arts for American Masterpieces. www.kennyendo.com
The Garden’s horticulture staff has observed the first flush of blossoms on the early-blooming Prunus sargentii ‘Fudan-zakura’—indicating Hanami has begun at Brooklyn Botanic Garden! Hanami, the Japanese cultural tradition of enjoying the cherry blossom season from first buds to lush flowers to multitudes of falling petals blanketing the ground, is one of the most extraordinary times of year at the Garden. More than 200 flowering cherry trees encompassing over twenty cultivars—the nation’s most diverse collection—provide a spectacular seasonal show that continuously unfolds over three to five weeks, depending on seasonal weather.
Cherry Blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo by Lia Chang
As Hanami progresses, the cherry display is tracked on BBG’s web-based CherryWatch feature, which maps the main part of the collection and provides a daily blooming status for each tree as well as photos of and detailed information about each cultivar. This year, the Garden encourages visitors to share their own cherry blossom images—amateur or professional—on social media including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #bbgcherries. Photographers can also post images in BBG’s visitor photo pool on Flickr.
During Hanami, the Garden offers special programs including:
Free tours (April 3–24 on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m.) focusing on BBG’s Japanese plant collections and specialty gardens, including cherry trees, the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum, and the Tree Peony Collection.
Hanami culminates in the Garden’s legendary weekend festival Sakura Matsuri—popularly considered New York’s rite of spring. A celebration of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture, Sakura Matsuri (April 27 and 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) features over 60 performances, demonstrations, and exhibits—many of which are specially commissioned for this dynamic festival—and attracts one of the largest, most colorful audiences for any cultural event in the city.
For more information about Hanami, Sakura Matsuri, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherry blossoms, please visit bbg.org/discover/cherries.
On April 27, 2013, Mu Performing Arts will pay tribute to Rick Shiomi’s legacy and body of work, at the Annual Mu Gala 2013, at The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. Join hosts Sara Ochs and Eric Sharp for an evening of delicious food, exciting performances by your favorite Mu artists, and as always, the first peek into Mu Performing Arts upcoming 2013-2014 season. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Mu office at 651-789-1012. Single tickets start at $125.00. Visit www.muperformingarts.org for more details.
April 27, 2013
The Varsity Theater
1308 4th St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
PROGRAM
5:00 PM Doors open
5:00-6:30 PM Silent Auction
6:30-7:30 PM Three Course Dinner
7:30-9:00 PM Entertainment and Program
Ticket price includes complimentary valet parking, dinner, beer, and wine.
Rick Shiomi (Photo by Lia Chang)
As the result of a national search for its next Artistic Director, Randy Reyes will succeed Mu Performing Arts co-founder Rick Shiomi in the company’s first leadership transition since 1993. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Shiomi arrived in the Twin Cities in the early 1990s. Under his guidance the company has grown from a handful of theater artists to one of the largest Asian American performing arts organizations in the nation. Mu Performing Arts’ business model is unique in North America as it is composed of Theater Mu, a professional theater company as well as Mu Daiko, a nationally recognized taiko drumming ensemble. During his tenure as Mu’s Artistic Director, Shiomi has been instrumental in developing the local pool of Asian American actors, directors, playwrights and designers, as well as an entire generation of taiko players. Shiomi received the 2012 Ivey Award for Lifetime Achievement and will step down as Artistic Director on August 31, 2013. Mu Performing Arts’ Artistic Director Rick Shiomi takes home Ivey Award for Lifetime Achievement From current Artistic Director Rick Shiomi:
“Over the past six years, Randy has been deeply dedicated to Mu as an actor, director, administrator, and member of our Core Artistic Group. A critical player in Mu’s success, he is blessed both with great artistic talent and organizational skills. It is my great pleasure to see him take Mu Performing Arts to the next level.” Up Close and Personal with Rick Shiomi, Award-winning Playwright & Artistic Director of Mu Performing Arts
Randy Reyes
Randy Reyes is an award-winning multi-disciplinary theater artist who has called the Twin Cities home since 2005. He trained as an actor at The Juilliard School, The University of Utah, and with Anne Bogart’s renowned SITI Company. As a performer, Reyes has worked at theaters across the nation. In the Twin Cities, he makes regular appearances at Mu Performing Arts, Guthrie Theater, Ten Thousand Things Theater, and Workhaus Collective among many others. As a director and teaching artist, Reyes has directed Mu’s productions of Cowboy Vs. Samurai and Circle Around the Island (both in the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio), and at many other theaters around the Twin Cities. In 2006 Mu was awarded a TCG New Generations grant. This funding provided the basis of Reyes’ administrative mentorship under Rick Shiomi for the following two years.
From incoming Artistic Director Randy Reyes:
“I am truly humbled and exhilarated to be asked to serve as Mu’s next Artistic Director. Rick Shiomi has been my mentor for over seven years and I’ve had the honor of seeing firsthand how his leadership has raised the company to its highest level of artistry and professionalism. I can only hope to build on that strong foundation. I feel ready to take on this wonderful challenge and I look forward to working with Mu’s artists, staff members, board of directors, funders, and all of our loyal supporters.” Randy Reyes Embraces his Passion for Storytelling as an Actor, Director and Theater Educator
Lia Chang
