Laura Michelle Kelly, Ben Davis, Loretta Ables Sayre, Josh Young, Sumie Maeda and Tally Sessions Set for The Muny’s South Pacific, July 8-14, 2013

From July 8-14, 2013, The Muny is presenting South Pacific, directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins, as the fourth show of its fantastic 95th Season. South Pacific is sponsored by Emerson. To purchase season tickets by phone, call (314) 361-1900, extension 550, or order online at www.muny.org. The Muny Box Office is now open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Laura Michelle Kelly will star as Ensign Nellie Forbush, with Ben Davis co-starring as Emile de Becque. Joining them will be Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary, Josh Young as Lt. Joseph Cable, Sumie Maeda as Liat, Tally Sessions as Luther Billis, James Anthony as Capt. George Brackett, Michael James Reed as Cdr. William Harbison, Caitlin Chau as Ngana, and Spencer Jones as Jerome.

“We’re thrilled to have the creative team for last year’s glorious The King & I return for another Rodgers & Hammerstein classic,” said Muny Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “Last year, the Muny audience fell in love with Laura Michelle, and we’re thrilled she’s returning. I’m confident they’ll feel the same for Ben, Loretta, Josh and Sumie. This is an extraordinary cast for this landmark musical.”

South Pacific remains one of Richard Rodgers (composer) and Oscar Hammerstein’s (lyricist) most eloquent dramas and deeply felt musical romances. It features a book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The masterful and lyrical love story between Army nurse Nellie Forbush and the mysterious French planter, Emile de Becque, won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and its most recent revival swept the 2008 Tony® Awards.

The Muny production features scenic design by Michael Schweikardt, sound design by Jason Krueger, lighting design by John Lasiter, video design by Nathan Scheuer, and costume design by Tracy Christensen. Brad Haak serves as the musical director, and the production stage manager is Bonnie Panson.

Laura Michelle Kelly

LAURA MICHELLE KELLY (Ensign Nellie Forbush) originated the title role in Mary Poppins for which she received an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. In London’s West End, she has been seen in The Lord of the Rings—The Musical, Speed The Plow (opposite Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum), Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia, My Fair Lady and Whistle Down the Wind. Broadway credits include the revival of Fiddler on the Roof and the reprise of her award-winning role in Mary Poppins. Other London appearances include The Second Mrs. Tanqueray and Peter Pan. Regional credits include The King & I (The Muny). Film and TV appearances include Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd, Miss Marple: Nemesis, and the upcoming Goddess, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this past season. Her recording’s include The Storm Inside (EMI), the motion picture soundtrack of Sweeney Todd, and the original cast recordings of Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof and The Lord of the Rings—The Musical.

Ben Davis

BEN DAVIS (Emile de Becque) will be portraying Anna Nicole’s first husband, Billy, this fall in the BAM/NY City Opera production of Anna Nicole, The Opera. Broadway credits include A Little Night Music (Mr. Lindquist, understudy Carl Magnus, Fredrik), Les Misérables (Javert and Enjolras), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon), Baz Luhrmann’s La Boheme (Marcello, 2003 Tony® Honor.) Ben was seen in the national tour of Spamalot (Galahad.) Regionally, he has starred in The Sound of Music at Paper Mill Playhouse (Cpt. Von Trapp), Boys From Syracuse at DC Shakespeare Theatre (Antipholus of Ephesus), Show Boat at Goodspeed Opera House (Ravenal), 110 In The Shade at Pasadena Playhouse (File), Mame (Older Patrick) at The Hollywood Bowl. Concerts include Kurt Weill’s Knickerbocker Holiday at Lincoln Center (Brom Broeck) opposite Kelli O’Hara and Victor Garber, Westchester Philharmonic with Kelli O’Hara, LA Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony. Film and TV credits include “30 Rock,” Papageno in Mozart’s The Magic Flute directed by Kenneth Branagh, and “Numb3rs”.

Loretta Ables Sayre

LORETTA ABLES SAYRE (Bloody Mary) made her NYC and Broadway debut as Bloody Mary in Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific. She received a Tony® Award nomination and a Theatre World Award for her performance. Loretta then made her London debut continuing her role of Bloody Mary in the London and UK tour of South Pacific with performances across England, Scotland and Wales. Other theatre credits include You Somebody (Diamond Head Theater), Effie in Dreamgirls (Hawaii Theatre), Song of the Navigator (Honolulu Theater for Youth) which toured the U.S. (including the Kennedy Center), Micronesia and Australia. Concerts include opening act for the Beach Boys, Kenny Loggins, James Brown, and the Four Tops. Nightclubs appearances include Halekulani Hotel and Mandarin Hotel. She has been seen on TV in “Beyond the Break” (Nickelodeon), “North Shore” (Fox), “Hawaii” (NBC), “Baywatch Hawaii,” “Byrds of Paradise” (ABC), and is the voice of PBS Hawaii. She was also seen in the movie Sex and The City 2. www.lorettaablessayre.com

Josh Young

JOSH YOUNG (Lt. Joseph Cable) received a 2012 Tony® Award nomination and Theatre World Award for his critically-acclaimed Broadway debut as Judas in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, (directed by Des McAnuff). He appeared for two seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where his credits include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Connie Rivers in Grapes of Wrath, and Che in Evita (directed by Gary Griffin), earning Toronto’s Broadway World awards for each. Josh also appeared as Marius in the U.S. National Tour of Les Misérables, and as Tony in the International tour of West Side Story (directed by Joey McNeely). Josh’s debut, and his new album Still Dreaming of Paradise are available on iTunes, Amazon, and at http://www.Josh-Young.com.

Sumi Maeda

SUMIE MAEDA (Liat) is making her Muny debut. Her Broadway and New York credits include Hot Feet (City Center Encores!), Kismet (Princess Ababu), and Victor Woo (Fringe NYC). She was seen in the tours of the Lincoln Center Revival of South Pacific (directed by Bartlett Sher) and The King and I (playing the role of Topsy). Regional credit includes Flower Drum Song (AMTSJ). She has been seen on Film and TV in Disney’s “College Road Trip,” “Law and Order: CI/SVU,” and “One Life to Live.” Television commercials include American Express, Heineken, and the web commercial for DKNY. Sumie is originally from Hiroshima, Japan.

Tally Sessions

TALLY SESSIONS (Luther Billis) was recently seen in Big Fish (Oriental Theatre, Chicago). His Broadway credits include The House of Blue Leaves. He was in the national tours of South Pacific (Lincoln Center Theatre), Legally Blonde, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Off-Broadway credits include Giant (Public Theatre), Queen of the Mist (Transport Group), Yank! (York Theatre), Anyone Can Whistle (Encores!), and Godspell (2000 revival). Regionally, he has been seen in Robin and the Seven Hoods (The Old Globe); Assassins and The Gospel According to Fishman (Signature Theatre); Carousel and Lizzie Borden (Goodspeed Opera House); The Immigrant (Westport Country Playhouse, Connecticut Critic’s Circle nomination); Little Shop of Horrors (Paper Mill Playhouse); Chess (Arvada Center, Henry Award); Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Pioneer Theatre); The Spitfire Grill (Florida Stage); Floyd Collins (Actors’ Playhouse, Carbonell Award); The Full Monty (Carbonell Award); and The Last Five Years (SpeakEasy Stage, IRNE Award nomination).

James Anthony

JAMES ANTHONY (Capt. Brackett) last appeared at The Muny in 2011’s Singin in the Rain and Bye Bye Birdie. Since 1991, he has performed in 42 productions at The Muny, including The Music Man (Mayor Schinn), Mame (Claude Upson), and Peter Pan (Smee), to name just a few. He has also performed at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis as one of the 12 Angry Men, and in St. Joan (Archbishop of Riems). In New York he appeared on daytime’s “One Life to Live”. His film credits include Murder Ordained (Richard Jordan), Back to Hannibal (The Sheriff), Gone in the Night (Detective Foley), The Black Hole (Spencer Toland), and the recently-released Joint Body (Cappy Knight). His professional career spans five decades and includes more than 230 productions.

Michael James Reed

MICHAEL JAMES REED (Cdr. William Harbison) made his Muny debut last summer in The King and I, appearing as Capt. Orton and Sir Richard. A recent transplant to St. Louis, he was most recently seen in the New Jewish Theatre’s production of Speed-the-Plow, and will be appearing this summer in the Shakespeare Festival’s Twelfth Night. He has appeared with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in Clybourne Park; Steady Rain; The Invisible Hand; Macbeth; In the Next Room or the vibrator play; and many years back, in Life of Galileo and The Three Musketeers. Other St Louis credits include The Taming of the Shrew with Shakespeare Festival, and Upstream Theatre’s Blood Wedding. NY theatre credits include La Bête (Broadway), King Lear (starring Hal Holbrook, Roundabout Theatre), and work at Classic Stage Co., NY Theatre Workshop, and The Pearl. Regionally, he has appeared in numerous shows at the Old Globe, including Pericles in Pericles (directed by Darko Tresnjak) and Mark Antony in Julius Caesar (directed by Daniel Sullivan), at the Alley Theatre as Joe Pitt in Angels in America, at A.C.T. in San Francisco as Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, as well as appearances at South Coast Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Asolo Theatre, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Michael trained in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and appeared with the RSC in Richard III starring Antony Sher. TV appearances include “24,” “JAG,” “Six Feet Under,” “The Shield,” “King of Queens,” “That ‘70s Show,” “Numb3rs,” “So Notorious,” “Family Law,” and “Family Man”.

Caitlin Chau

CAITLAN CHAU (Ngana) made her Muny debut as one of the King’s children and Buddha in last season’s The King and I. Caitlin is 11 years old and is passionate about dancing, acting and singing. At the age of 7 ½, Caitlin started dancing at GSPDC and joined the studio’s dance competition team a year later. Her favorite subjects in school are math and social studies, and she enjoys crafting and sketching.

Spencer Jones

SPENCER JONES (Jerome) is “thrilled” to be cast in South Pacific. He debuted at The Muny last year in The King and I. Spencer is an 8-year-old from Kirkwood, Missouri, where he attends Robinson Elementary.

To purchase season tickets by phone, call (314) 361-1900, extension 550, or order online at www.muny.org. The Muny Box Office is now open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

The 2013 Season:

Monty Python’s Spamalot June 17 – 23

Shrek The Musical June 24 – 30

Nunsense Muny Style! July 1 – 7

South Pacific July 8 – 14

Les Misérables July 15 – 21

Mary Poppins the Musical July 25 – August 2

West Side Story August 5 – 11

Season Ticket buyers will enjoy their reserved seats for Mary Poppins from July 25 – 31. Additional performances (August 1 and 2) are non-subscribed, and offer exceptional seating opportunities for groups.

Groups of 20 or more people can enjoy a 20% discount. The group sales office is taking orders now. For more information or to make reservations, call (314) 361-1900, extension 308.

Single tickets will be available beginning 9 am Saturday, June 1 at The Muny Box Office in Forest Park, online or by phone. For more information, call (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

For information on becoming a Muny Partner, visit www.muny.org or call (314) 361-1900.

The Muny’s mission is to enrich lives by producing quality musical theatre accessible to all, continuing its remarkable tradition in Forest Park.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Lorey Hayes’ Power Play Set for National Black Theatre Festival 7/29-8/3
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Photos: All-Access Pass to Disney’s Aladdin at The Muny with Thom Sesma, Francis Jue, Robin De Jesus, John Tartaglia, Jason Graae, Curtis Holbrook, Eddie Korbich, Samantha Massell and Ken Page
Bhangra Brass Party: The Frank London Klezmer Brass Allstars with Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and Sarah Gordon, at The Stone on June 14, 2013
Peter Jay Fernandez, Francois Battiste, Charles Brice, J. Bernard Calloway, Bryan Terrell Clarke, Patrick Cummings, Devin E. Haqq, Billy Eugene Jones, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Cedric Turner, Stephen Tyrone Williams Set for PROJECT1VOICE’s Benefit Staged Reading of A Soldier’s Story at Kumble Theatre on June 17, 2013
Chuck Cooper, Austin Pendleton, Nicholas L. Ashe, Kyle Beltran, Grantham Coleman, Jeremy Pope, and Wallace Smith Set for MTC’s World Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy, June 18- July 21, 2013
Two-Time Tony Nominee André De Shields, Nehal Joshi, Akash Chopra and More Set for Mary Zimmerman helmed The Jungle Book at The Goodman, 6/21-8/4 and The Huntington, 9/7-10/6
Photos: All-Access Pass to August Wilson’s Two Trains Running with John Earl Jelks, Harvy Blanks, Chuck Cooper, Anthony Chisholm, Owiso Odera, Roslyn Ruff and James A. Williams
Ghostlight Records Releases ‘Giant’ Original Cast Album Featuring Kate Baldwin, Brian d’Arcy James, P.J. Griffith, Raul Aranas, Katie Thompson and more
Photos & Video: Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and More
Here Lies Love, Starring Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles, Extends at The Public through July 28, 2013
Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
Photos: David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and The Railroad Opening Night at Signature Theatre
Photos: Partying with the Cast of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child
Performing Arts Images from the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection on Display at the Library of Congress to Celebrate APA Heritage Month
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Thom Sesma

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. This summer Lia will appear as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Penwah, July 30-August 1, 2013.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Married Stars of “In Living Color”, Stephen Park and Kelly Coffield Park, Launch Indiegogo.com Campaign for their New Reality Web Series “So…that just happened”; Live Performance on June 13, 2013

My very funny friend and colleague Stephen Park and his wife Kelly Coffield Park have launched an http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/so-that-just-happened campaign to fund their latest passion project, their new web video reality series, “So… that just happened.” Born out of unique live performances that the pair has staged in New York City, the series, which they are co-creating together, is currently in development and has begun filming.

Stephen Park and Kelly Coffield Park are co-creators and co-producers of the new comedy video series “So…that just happened.” Credit: So…that just happened

On Thursday, June 13, 2013, the couple is staging a special live, outdoor performance of “So…that just happened” in the middle of Manhattan’s Union Square Park, from 3-6pm in front of Barnes & Noble. While a classical guitarist performs, they will have a private conversation in public on camera on their sofa, rain or shine!!!!

The comic duo met while starring in “In Living Color” the Fox Network sketch comedy television series created by Keenen and Damon Wayans, which ran for four seasons from 1990 to 1994. Since that time, Coffield and Park were married, and relocated from Los Angeles to Brooklyn to raise their two children. Their active careers have continued to include television, films and New York theater.

The performances evolve out of recordings that the couple makes of their own, idiosyncratic, daily personal conversations – which are then performed as staged readings for live audiences. “It’s sort of like inviting people into our living room and allowing them to eavesdrop on our most spontaneous thoughts and ideas,” explains Coffield Park, “It has been really extraordinary to feel more connected to our audience than ever before while doing this work that is so intimate and close to ourselves.” Park agreed, noting “It seemed like we really needed to take this to the next level!” The couple then began filming these conversations, as well as the ensuing live performances, and adding to the mix editing and writing a third ‘layer’ of reality, which in the case of their soon to be released preview ‘minisode,’ takes the form of a darkly comic nightmare sequence.

“The sky’s the limit in terms of what we can do to dramatize our conversations, we’re not limiting ourselves in any way,” says Park. Conducting a search online, one finds that many of the couple’s individual past funny video performances from television and film can be found and these comedy video clips are regularly viewed. Indeed, the couple quickly began connecting with collaborators who were equally excited to be involved with the project, including filmmakers, editors, and designers – all of whom are working on a deferred payment basis. The duo has embraced the increasingly popular crowd-funding method of raising production capital – a method now being seen utilized by even major studios and recording companies.

Check out the special preview “minisode” of the new series, which can be viewed at the “So…that just happened” Indiegogo campaign page ‘updates’ tab at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/so-that-just-happened, as well as on their sothatjusthappenedseries.tumblr.com page.

Kelly Coffield Park was an original member of the “In Living Color” sketch comedy ensemble, which also starred Keenen and Damon Wayans, Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and David Alan Grier, and featured Kim, Shawn and Marlon Wayans in regular roles, as well as Rosie Perez as the shows choreographer and Jennifer Lopez and Carrie Ann Inaba (of “Dancing with the Stars”) among the shows troupe of famed dancers, “The Fly Girls.” Coffield Park also appeared on television in Fox’s “413 Hope St.,” “Wings,” “My Wife and Kids,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” and in the “Seinfeld” episodes “The Chinese Woman” and “The Pledge Drive.” Her film appearances include Field of Dreams, Quiz Show, Jerry Maguire, Rhinos, Scary Movie, The Specials, and most recently Bride Wars.

Stephen Park, originally a stand-up comedian, joined “In Living Color” for the 1991-92 season, and appeared elsewhere on TV’s “Friends” and the Cartoon Network Adult Swim’s “The Venture Brothers,” as well as memorable roles in acclaimed films such as Mike Yanagita in the Coen Brothers’ Fargo, Sonny in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, and Detective Brian in Joel Schumacher’s Falling Down. Other film roles include the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man, and Rocket Science.

“So…that just happened” Facebook page.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Lorey Hayes’ Power Play Set for National Black Theatre Festival 7/29-8/3
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Bhangra Brass Party: The Frank London Klezmer Brass Allstars with Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and Sarah Gordon, at The Stone on June 14, 2013
Peter Jay Fernandez, Francois Battiste, Charles Brice, J. Bernard Calloway, Bryan Terrell Clarke, Patrick Cummings, Devin E. Haqq, Billy Eugene Jones, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Cedric Turner, Stephen Tyrone Williams Set for PROJECT1VOICE’s Benefit Staged Reading of A Soldier’s Story at Kumble Theatre on June 17, 2013
Chuck Cooper, Austin Pendleton, Nicholas L. Ashe, Kyle Beltran, Grantham Coleman, Jeremy Pope, and Wallace Smith Set for MTC’s World Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy, June 18- July 21, 2013
Two-Time Tony Nominee André De Shields, Nehal Joshi, Akash Chopra and More Set for Mary Zimmerman helmed The Jungle Book at The Goodman, 6/21-8/4 and The Huntington, 9/7-10/6
Photos: All-Access Pass to August Wilson’s Two Trains Running with John Earl Jelks, Harvy Blanks, Chuck Cooper, Anthony Chisholm, Owiso Odera, Roslyn Ruff and James A. Williams
Ghostlight Records Releases ‘Giant’ Original Cast Album Featuring Kate Baldwin, Brian d’Arcy James, P.J. Griffith, Raul Aranas, Katie Thompson and more
Photos & Video: Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and More
Here Lies Love, Starring Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles, Extends at The Public through July 28, 2013
Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
Photos: David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and The Railroad Opening Night at Signature Theatre
Photos: Partying with the Cast of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child
Photos: All-Access Pass to Disney’s Aladdin at The Muny with Thom Sesma, Francis Jue, Robin De Jesus, John Tartaglia, Jason Graae, Curtis Holbrook, Eddie Korbich, Samantha Massell and Ken Page
Performing Arts Images from the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection on Display at the Library of Congress to Celebrate APA Heritage Month
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Thom Sesma

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. This summer Lia will appear as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Penwah, July 30-August 1, 2013.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Peter Jay Fernandez, Francois Battiste, Charles Brice, J. Bernard Calloway, Bryan Terrell Clarke, Patrick Cummings, Devin E. Haqq, Billy Eugene Jones, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Cedric Turner, Stephen Tyrone Williams Set for PROJECT1VOICE’s Benefit Staged Reading of A Soldier’s Story at Kumble Theatre on June 17, 2013

On Monday, June 17, 2013, PROJECT1VOICE (P1V), in association with Kumble Theatre, is presenting the New York benefit staged reading of Charles Fuller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, A SOLDIER’S STORY, at Kumble which is located on the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University (One University Plaza) at 7:30pm. PROJECT1VOICE (P1V) is a New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to national programming that strengthens, nurtures and promotes African American theater. The presentation is part of P1V’s third annual 1VOICE/1PLAY/1DAY event when Black theater companies across the United States produce simultaneous readings of a classic play from the African American theater canon to raise funds and awareness for Black theater. This year, over 30 theaters (including one in South Africa) will celebrate the brilliance of Fuller’s seminal work on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 7:30 pm. (For a complete list of participating theaters visit www.project1voice.org).

Peter Jay Fernandez

Clinton Turner Davis (Joe Turner’s Come and Gone) helms an extraordinary cast that includes several actors who are on Broadway this theater season. They are: Francois Battiste (MAGIC/BIRD, Detroit ’67), Charles Brice (Othello), J. Bernard Calloway (Memphis, The Good Negro), Bryan Terrell Clarke (Motown: The Musical), Patrick Cummings (Donnybrook!), Peter Jay Fernandez (Richard III: Born With Teeth), Devin E. Haqq (Macbeth), Billy Eugene Jones (Big Knife), Stanley Wayne Mathis (The Book of Mormon), Cedric Turner (A Soldier’s Play) and Stephen Tyrone Williams (Lucky Guy). Xavier Pierce will provide the lighting design and Janice C. Lane will serve as the stage manager.

Erich McMillan-McCall

“This international day of celebration (1VOICE/1PLAY/1DAY) will not only honor the playwright Charles Fuller’s groundbreaking work. It will also pay tribute to the 45th anniversary season of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) and its co-founder Douglas Turner Ward,” Project1Voice Founder/Director Erich McMillan-McCall said.

A SOLDIER’S PLAY tells the story of the racially charged search by a black captain for the murderer of a black sergeant on a Louisiana army base in 1944. The play originally was staged and produced by the Negro Ensemble Company at the Theatre Four (now called the Julia Miles Theatre). It opened on November 10, 1981 and ran for 468 performances and won, in addition to the Pulitzer Prize, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Play, New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play, and the Obie Award for Distinguished Ensemble Performance. Douglas Turner Ward directed the original cast that included Adolph Caesar as Sergeant Waters, Denzel Washington as Private Peterson, Larry B. Riley as Private C.J. Memphis, Samuel L. Jackson as Private Louis Henson, Peter Friedman as Captain Charles Taylor, and Charles Brown as Captain Davenport.

The New York staged reading of A SOLDIER’S STORY is Monday, June 17, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kumble Theater. Tickets are $50 general admission and $25 rush tickets for students with identification. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.kumbletheater.org, by calling 718.488.1624, or at the Kumble Theater Box Office (One University Plaza on LIU Brooklyn Campus). Proceeds from the New York reading will benefit PROJECT1VOICE to support its national programs including 1VOICE/1PLAY/1DAY.

“Through this one-day simultaneous event, PROJECT1VOICE seeks to highlight African-American theatre companies that continue to tell stories about black communities despite their ongoing struggles to exist.” McMillan McCall said.

For more information about A SOLDIER’S PLAY and other programs and events presented by PROJECT1VOICE visit www.PROJECT1VOICE.ORG.

WHO’S WHO

CHARLES FULLER (PLAYWRIGHT) Charles Fuller was born in Philadelphia. He achieved critical notice in 1969 with The Village: A Party. He later wrote plays for the Henry Street Settlement theatre and the Negro Ensemble Company in New York. His 1975 play The Brownsville Raid, won him critical acclaim. He won an Obie Award for Zooman and the Sign in 1980. His next work, A Soldier’s Play, was a critical success, winning the 1982 Pulitzer Prize, Best American Play, New York Critics and Edgar Awards. He later adapted the script into the 1984 film “A Soldier’s Story.” Directed by Norman Jewison the film and his screenplay were nominated for Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Writers Guild of America Award. Fuller has received grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. He has also written short fiction, a novella ‘Snatch: The Adventures of David and Me in Old New York’ for young readers, screenplays for CBS, Showtime, NBC and PBS, and worked as a motion picture producer. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild and Writers Guild of America, East. A new play ‘One Night…’ commissioned by Cherry Lane Theatre will open in September 2013 in New York City. 

Project1VOICE (Producer, 1VOICE, 1PLAY, 1DAY) is a not-for-profit, performing arts service organization, advocating on issues that specifically affect African American theater. It is dedicated to the preservation of African American theater–its legacy and tradition–now and for future generations. The mission is to strengthen, nurture and promote African American theater–connecting people and communities to the arts with a continuum of experiences that reflect the virtuosity, creative and inclusive spirit of the arts. Key members of the Project1VOICE team are producer/production manager Gwen Gilliam, award-winning playwright and MOTOWN: The Musical director Charles Randolph-Wright and marketing consultant/producer Marcia Pendelton (Walk Tall Girl Productions).

ERICH MCMILLAN-MCCALL (Founder/Director, Project1VOICE) A native of Birmingham, Al, Erich McMillan-McCall received a BFA from Birmingham-Southern College. His Broadway credits include The Who’s Tommy and Chicago. He was part of the national tours of Dreamgirls, Ragtime, Chicago, Sunset Boulevard, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Dirty Dancin’. His television appearances include roles on “30 Rock”, “One Live to Live,” “All My Children” and “Guiding Light.” He has also worked in editorial fashion at Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair and Glamour Magazines.

Other Articles about Peter Jay Fernandez:
James Wallert, Peter Jay Fernandez, Melissa Friedman, Godfrey L. Simmons and More Set for Epic Theatre’s RICHARD III: Born with Teeth at the Pershing Square Signature Center, April 16 – May 4, 2013
Peter Jay Fernandez Set for World Premiere of Catherine Filloux’s LUZ at La MaMa’s First Floor Theatre, September 28-October 14, 2012
Photos: Larry Bryggman, Denise Burse, Peter Jay Fernandez, Tim Hopper, Arliss Howard, Kobi Libii, Mary McCann, Neil Pepe, David Pittu, Steve Rosen, Sheila Tapia, Debra Winger at Atlantic Theatre’s Opening Night of Gabe McKinley’s CQ/CX
Larry Bryggman, Peter Jay Fernandez, Arliss Howard and David Pittu Set for Atlantic Theater Company’s CQ/CX, January 25-March 4, 2012
Denise Burse & Peter Jay Fernandez Featured in INTAR Reading of Andrew Dolan’s The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther King
Multimedia: Zooman and The Sign Opening Night Party
Peter Jay Fernandez and Laura Heisler Star in Too Much Memory

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Lorey Hayes’ Power Play Set for National Black Theatre Festival 7/29-8/3
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Bhangra Brass Party: The Frank London Klezmer Brass Allstars with Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and Sarah Gordon, at The Stone on June 14, 2013
Chuck Cooper, Austin Pendleton, Nicholas L. Ashe, Kyle Beltran, Grantham Coleman, Jeremy Pope, and Wallace Smith Set for MTC’s World Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy, June 18- July 21, 2013
Two-Time Tony Nominee André De Shields, Nehal Joshi, Akash Chopra and More Set for Mary Zimmerman helmed The Jungle Book at The Goodman, 6/21-8/4 and The Huntington, 9/7-10/6
Photos: All-Access Pass to August Wilson’s Two Trains Running with John Earl Jelks, Harvy Blanks, Chuck Cooper, Anthony Chisholm, Owiso Odera, Roslyn Ruff and James A. Williams
Ghostlight Records Releases ‘Giant’ Original Cast Album Featuring Kate Baldwin, Brian d’Arcy James, P.J. Griffith, Raul Aranas, Katie Thompson and more
Photos & Video: Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and More
Here Lies Love, Starring Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles, Extends at The Public through July 28, 2013
Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
Photos: David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and The Railroad Opening Night at Signature Theatre
Photos: Partying with the Cast of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child
Photos: All-Access Pass to Disney’s Aladdin at The Muny with Thom Sesma, Francis Jue, Robin De Jesus, John Tartaglia, Jason Graae, Curtis Holbrook, Eddie Korbich, Samantha Massell and Ken Page
Performing Arts Images from the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection on Display at the Library of Congress to Celebrate APA Heritage Month
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Thom Sesma

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. This summer Lia will appear as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Penwah, July 30-August 1, 2013.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Bhangra Brass Party: The Frank London Klezmer Brass Allstars with Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and Sarah Gordon, at The Stone on June 14, 2013

Deep Singh, Frank London and Manu Narayan. Photo by Lia Chang

On Friday, June 14, 2013, the Bhangra Brass Party featuring The Frank London Klezmer Brass Allstars with Deep Singh, Sarah Gordon and Manu Narayan, will perform two sets at The Stone, Ave C and 2nd Ave in New York. They had so much fun during their Klezmer-Bhangra Extravaganza concert at the Washington DCJCC in the Washington Jewish Music Festival last month, that they decided to do it again. The sets are part of Frank London’s week long residency at The Stone, which is under the Artistic direction of John Zorn. Tickets are $15 per set. *there are no advance ticket sales, all admissions are at the door prior to each performance.

8 pm
Bhangra Brass Party: featuring Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars & guests—Yiddish Cabaret feat. Eleanor Reissa + Bhangra Brass Party feat. Deep Singh, Sarah Gordon & Manu Narayan
Frank London (trumpet, alto horn, piccolo trumpet, leader) Susan Sandler (trumpet, vocals) Mark Hamilton (trombone) David Harris (trombone, baritone horn) Curtis Hasselbring (trombone) Merlin Sheperd (clarinet)
Matt Dariau (clarinet, alto saxaphone, guida) Mark Rubin (contrabass helicon) Aaron Alexander (drums) Matt Moran (bass drum) Deep Singh (percussion) Sarah Gordon (voice) Eleanor Reissa (voice) Manu Narayan (voice) And many more!

Deep Singh, Sarah Gordon, Jeremiah Lockwood, Frank London and Manu Narayan at the WDCJCC in Washington DC on May 7, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

10 pm
Bhangra Brass Party: featuring Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars & guests—Songs of Zebulon feat. Jeremiah Lockwood & Shoko Nagai + Bhangra Brass Party feat. Deep Singh, Sarah Gordon & Manu Narayan
Frank London (trumpet, alto horn, piccolo trumpet, leader) Susan Sandler (trumpet, vocals) Mark Hamilton (trombone) David Harris (trombone, baritone horn) Curtis Hasselbring (trombone) Merlin Sheperd (clarinet)
Matt Dariau (clarinet, alto saxaphone, guida) Mark Rubin (contrabass helicon) Aaron Alexander (drums) Matt Moran (bass drum) Deep Singh (percussion) Sarah Gordon (voice) Eleanor Reissa (voice) Manu Narayan (voice) And many more!

The Cast:

Frank London. 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.

Frank London. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Other Articles about Manu Narayan:
Photos & Video: Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and More
Photos: Klezmer/Bhangra Concert w/ Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Deep Singh at the Washington Jewish Music Fest.
Manu Narayan in concert with Grammy Award winning Klezmer Artist Frank London on May 7th at the Washington DC Jewish Festival
Manu Narayan and Deep Singh will perform with Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars’ Klezmer-Bhangra Extravaganza at Washington DCJCC on May 7, 2013
Manu Narayan, Erin Dilly, Gideon Glick, and More Featured in Songs Rona Wrote, The Music of Rona Siddiqui, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on June 10, 2013
Manu Narayan, Rajika Puri, Kannan Vasudevan and More Set for THUMBPRINT, A New Contemporary Opera, by Kamala Sankaram and Susan Yankowitz at The Watermill Center on June 9, 2013
Manu Narayan, Mark Bennett, Lea Salonga, Michael K. Lee and Stafford Arima Among 2012 Craig Noel Award Nominees
Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
Good Night | Good Morning starring Manu Narayan and Seema Rahmani on J. Hurtado’s Top Ten Indian Films of 2012
Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Hosts 1st Annual Varli Culinary Awards with Co-hosts Manu Narayan, Jehangir Mehta & Gaurav Tandon in New York
Sudhish Kamath’s Good Night | Good Morning Starring Manu Narayan and Seema Rahmani in Theaters
Shailja Gupta’s WALKAWAY Featuring Manu Narayan & Samrat Chakrabarti, Opens on 26Screens Across 18 Cities on 10/29
ONE Musical stars Paolo Montalban, Manu Narayan, Pearl Sun and Michael Winther
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Thom Sesma

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. This summer Lia will appear as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Penwah, July 30-August 1, 2013.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Taiko Master Kenny Endo and Hiromitsu Agatsuma on Shamisen at Japan Society on June 5, 2013

On Wednesday, June 5, 2013, revered Hawaiian taiko master Kenny Endo joins forces with Japan’s trad-pop musical virtuoso Hiromitsu Agatsuma on tsugaru-shamisen (a three-stringed banjo-like instrument which originated in Northern Japan). Endo’s adrenaline-pumping performance vibes with Agatsuma’s fast, aggressive percussive sound, as they together, push the limits of one another’s instruments. Known internationally for border-crossing fusions and appealing contemporary expressions, these two musicians deliver a dazzling and unforgettable evening in their much-anticipated return to the Japan Society stage! Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street in New York. Tickets are $32/$27 Japan Society members. Buy tickets online or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. – Fri. 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 5 pm.

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

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Two-Time Grammy Nominated Hiroshima Kicks off 2013 Spring Tour at The Laguna Playhouse, with Special Guest Taiko Master Kenny Endo on April 15, 2013
Lorey Hayes’ Power Play Set for National Black Theatre Festival 7/29-8/3
Photos & Video: Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and More
Manu Narayan, Rajika Puri, Kannan Vasudevan and More Set for THUMBPRINT, A New Contemporary Opera, by Kamala Sankaram and Susan Yankowitz at The Watermill Center on June 9, 2013
Ghostlight Records Releases ‘Giant’ Original Cast Album Featuring Kate Baldwin, Brian d’Arcy James, P.J. Griffith, Raul Aranas, Katie Thompson and more
Photos & Video: Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Manu Narayan, Deep Singh and More
Here Lies Love, Starring Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles, Extends at The Public through July 28, 2013
Jeanne Sakata’s critically-acclaimed play Hold These Truths, starring 2013 Drama Desk Award Nominee Joel de la Fuente, closes the 10th Annual soloNOVA Arts Festival at Culture Project, 6/4, 6/10 and 6/11
Two-Time Tony Nominee André De Shields, Nehal Joshi, Akash Chopra and More Set for Mary Zimmerman helmed The Jungle Book at The Goodman, 6/21-8/4 and The Huntington, 9/7-10/6
Living Colour Vivid 25th Anniversary US Tour – Spring 2013
Kenny Endo and Kaoru Watanabe Celebrate New CD, Convergence with Concerts in Washington D.C. on February 27 and in New York on March 5, 2013
André De Shields Returns to The Laurie Beechman Theatre with I Put A Spell on You, October 5 and 12
Two-Time Grammy Nominated Hiroshima Performs at Yoshi’s Oakland, August 17-19, 2012
H I R O S H I M A in Benefit Concert for Japan on 9/21 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in NY
Foremost American Taiko Artist, Kenny Endo, to perform in Tokyo on April 24 and April 30
Kenny Endo 35th Anniversary Concert Tour
Koto Oyako don CD Release Concert, w/Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto & Brian Mitsuhiro Wong, Numi Tea Garden, Oakland
Kino alu Sundays with George Kuo, Martin Pahinui and Aaron Mahi at Waikiki Beach Marriott
Multimedia: Living Colour in Concert at the Highline Ballroom Photos
Multimedia: Oumou Sangare, Will Calhoun at Central Park Summerstage
Multimedia: Asian Pacific American Month Celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Richard Bona & Lionel Loueke in SF Jazz Spring Season
On Ensemble, Kenny Endo and Kaoru Watanabe in Taiko x2 at Cerritos Center
Photos: All-Access Pass to August Wilson’s Two Trains Running with John Earl Jelks, Harvy Blanks, Chuck Cooper, Anthony Chisholm, Owiso Odera, Roslyn Ruff and James A. Williams
Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
Albee, Hwang, Enos, Taylor, Wilson, Clarke and Jacobs-Jenkins Set for Signature Theatre’s 2013-14 Season
Photos: All-Access Pass to Disney’s Aladdin at The Muny with Thom Sesma, Francis Jue, Robin De Jesus, John Tartaglia, Jason Graae, Curtis Holbrook, Eddie Korbich, Samantha Massell and Ken Page
Performing Arts Images from the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection on Display at the Library of Congress to Celebrate APA Heritage Month
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Thom Sesma

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. This summer, Lia will appear as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Penwah, July 30-August 1, 2013.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com