Christine Toy Johnson, Thom Sesma, Ali Ewoldt, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Telly Leung and More Set for The Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre on May 19, 2013

In celebration of Asian Heritage month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of Actors’ Equity Association and ReImagined World Entertainment will present the debut of “The Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project”, an evening of works created and sung by Asian American theatre artists. The free 90-minute concert will take place on Sunday, May 19 at 8 p.m. at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42 St. in New York.
Featuring original words and music by Adam Gwon, Timothy Huang, Christine Toy Johnson, Leon Ko, Felice Kuan, Robert Lee, Yan Li, and Jason Ma, the event will be directed by Alan Muraoka and emceed by Ann Harada (CINDERELLA).

Singers will include Jose Llana (HERE LIES LOVE, SPELLING BEE), Ali Ewoldt (THE FANTASTICKS, LES MISERABLES), Telly Leung (GODSPELL, RENT), Christine Toy Johnson (THE MUSIC MAN, HELLO, DOLLY!), Thom Sesma (THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’, THE LION KING), Joshua dela Cruz (HERE LIES LOVE), Ann Sanders (AVENUE Q), Daniel J. Edwards (ANYTHING GOES), Raymond J. Lee (ANYTHING GOES), Cindy Cheung, Brooke Ishibashi, Brian Jose, Karl Josef Co, Jaygee Macapugay, Marc de la Cruz, Joanne Javien, Gyu Jin Lim, Helen Park, Diane Phelan and Hansel Tan.

Tickets are free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP to EEO@actorsequity.org before Friday, May 17.

The Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project was founded by librettist/lyricist/actor Christine Toy Johnson in 2012 as an ongoing initiative to increase the visibility of Asian American theatre artists, putting to rest the misconception that we do not exist. The artists taking part in this event have collectively performed in over 40 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, have had their works produced around the world, and have been participants in The BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop, The Dramatists Guild Fellows Program, and the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU.

This performance of the Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project is made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
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
Photos: Working Theater’s World Premiere of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s La Ruta through May 12, 2013
Christine Toy Johnson and Raul Aranas Lead the Cast of the National Asian Artists Project’s (NAAP) Benefit Presentation of Hello Dolly!, at The Pershing Square Signature Center on April 29 and May 6
Playing Lady Thiang in the Harbor Lights’ Production of The King and I is a dream come true for Christine Toy Johnson
Theater of the Stars Presents The King and I Starring Ronobir Lahiri, Victoria Mallory, Raul Aranas, Ali Ewoldt, Josh Dela Cruz, Jee Hyun Lim and Raphael Aranas, Helmed by Baayork Lee on Tour through September 11, 2012
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
Mu Performing Arts Honors Rick Shiomi at Mu Gala 2013 on April 27, 2013; Randy Reyes to Succeed Shiomi as Artistic Director
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
Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Conrad Ricamora, Kelvin Moon Loh and More Set for World Premiere of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Here Lies Love at The Public, April 2 – May 19, 2013
Keith David, January LaVoy, John Douglas Thompson, Glynn Turman, Lillias White and More Set for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the CTG/Mark Taper Forum, April 24 – June 9, 2013
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
Signature Theatre’s Revival of David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and The Railroad Set for Wuzhen Theatre Festival in Wuzhen, China, May 9-12, 2013
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

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. Lia is headed for the National Black Theatre Festival this summer to reprise her role as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Penwah.
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

Raymond J. Lee and Ali Ewoldt star in Concert Reading of Jason Ma’s Gold Mountain on May 21, 2012

Ali Ewoldt

In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, the Eastern Region Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of Actors’ Equity Association will present a concert reading of GOLD MOUNTAIN (book, music and lyrics by Jason Ma), on Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m. Directed by Christine Toy Johnson, the reading will take place at Hunter College’s Lang Recital Hall, 69th Street (between Park and Lex) and will feature Raymond J. Lee (ANYTHING GOES), Ali Ewoldt (LES MISERABLES), Alan Ariano (MISS SAIGON), Steven Eng, Whitney Kam Lee, Paolo Montalban (PACIFIC OVERTURES), Buzz Roddy, Marc de la Cruz, Joshua Dela Cruz, Daniel J. Edwards, Andrew Eisenman, Brian Jose, Jake Manabat and David Shih. Musical direction is by Michael Larsen. Production design is by Bruce Alan Johnson.

Raymond J. Lee

GOLD MOUNTAIN is the untold story of the Chinese men who, in search of a better life for their families, came to California to build the Central Pacific Railroad — endangering their own lives and finding heartache and hardship instead of the gold they were promised. Two star-crossed lovers find each other in the midst of it all and must find a way to escape, or risk never being together again.

Tickets are free, but space is very limited. RSVP to eeo@actorsequity.org by May 18.

The cast and creative team of Jason Ma’s Gold Mountain, directed by Christine Toy Johnson, outside rehearsal studio D in the Actor’s Equity Association Lounge in New York on May 14, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Epic Theatre Presents Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths, starring Joel de la Fuente, May 20-21, 2012
David Henry Hwang, Oskar Eustis, BD Wong, Brian d’Arcy James, Francis Jue, Jennifer Lim and Leigh Silverman at WNYC’s The Greene Space
Filmmaker Justin Lin Acquires Film Rights to David Henry Hwang’s Critically Acclaimed Broadway Comedy Chinglish
BD Wong to Star in Live Concert Recording of HERRINGBONE for 2 Nights Only as a Benefit for Dixon Place, 5/21, 5/22
David Henry Hwang Set as Signature Theatre’s Residency One Playwright for the 2012-2013 Season
Emmy Award Winner Richard Thomas Hosts Give Kids a Shot! National Meningitis Association Gala 2012 at the New York Athletic Club
Photos: BD Wong, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tom Viola at “Passing It On: An Evening of Mentorship to Benefit Rosie’s Theater Kids”
Photos: BD Wong in Rehearsal for “Passing It On: An Evening of Mentorship to Benefit Rosie’s Theater Kids”
Photos: Highlights of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan (3pm) with Andre Bishop, Mary Beth Hurt, Jennifer Lim, Angela Lin, Philip Kan Gotanda, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Richard Thomas, Jay O. Sanders, and more
Photos: Highlights of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan (8pm) with Oskar Eustis, Patti LuPone, Lisa Emery, Ann Harada, Paolo Montalban, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Henry Stram, Richard Thomas, John Weidman and more
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Photos: “How To Succeed” stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rose Hemingway and John Larroquette at Lord & Taylor for Windows Unveiling
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Broadwayworld.com Photo Flash: Library of Congress’ IN REHEARSAL Exhibit
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo at Opening Night Party of Neil LaBute’s Break of Noon
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist.
All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2012 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

Lia Chang: Christine Toy Johnson, Jaygee Macapugay, Jon Norman Schneider to perform in National Asian Artists Project: Discover: New Musicals at 47th Street Theatre on May 23

Christine Toy Johnson Photo by Bruce Alan Johnson

The National Asian Artists Project (NAAP) is presenting Discover: New Musicals on Monday, May 23 at the 47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street in New York at 7pm.

The 3 one-act musicals to be presented are BIRTH DAY, written by J. Oconer Navarro and directed by Diana Glazer; CROSSING OVER written by Timothy Huang to be directed by Dev Bondarin; and THE TRAIN TO CHICAGO written by Tom Kenaston and Tom Paitson-Kelly directed by Michael Perreca. The projects were selected through the National Asian Artists Project’s inaugural Discover: New Musicals program, by a panel of industry professionals who chose from 21 projects submitted for consideration. Discover presents a forum for talented performers of Asian ancestry to gain exposure and experience; by having artists of Asian descent performing roles not strictly Asian, with the mission to expand casting.

Jon Norman Schneider

Cast members include Nathan Atkinson, Lori Tan Chinn, Nathaniel P. Claridad, Ryan Cusino, Kimiko Glenn, Christine Toy Johnson, Deborah Lew, Jose Llana, Kelvin Moon Loh, Jaygee Macapugay, Amanda Morton, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Jon Norman Schneider, Herman Sebek, and Hansel Tan. Casting is by Michael Cassara. The evening is produced by NAAP in association with Ellen Rusconi and Nikole Vallins.

Jaygee Macapugay

Reservations can be made by email to Discover@Naaproject.org. There is a suggested donation of $10 per ticket to defray some of the costs of production, payable in cash or by check at the door.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Discover: New Musicals
47th Street Theatre
304 West 47th Street
New York
7pm.

This project is supported by grants from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council through their programs Fund for Creative Communities and Manhattan Community Arts Fund.

About NAAP:
NAAP was founded by Baayork Lee, Steven Eng, and Nina Zoie Lam to be a leader in educating, cultivating, and stimulating audiences and artists—current and future—through showcasing exceptional work by vibrant artists of Asian descent. NAAP supports artistic growth of theatre artists of Asian descent; presents forums for them to gain exposure to industry professionals; expands opportunities for Asian theatre artists; cultivates new audiences to encourage arts patronage and involvement, including Asian communities unaccustomed to participating in the arts dialogue. http://www.naaproject.org/

Others articles by Lia Chang
Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys, Sidney Poitier among honorees at Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Gala at Edison Ballroom on May 22
Meshach Taylor talks Wigger on Wendy Williams Show
Photos: Willie Reale, Frances McDormand, Lewis Black, Bela Fleck, Renee Goldsberry, Duncan Sheik, Lisa Benavides, Abigail Washburn, Tim Blake Nelson at The 52nd Street Project Benefit
Artwork by Asia Flores on display in Mercy High School Annual Art & Soul Art Exhibition in SF
Photos of AEA’s Asian Heritage Celebration, featuring the Leviathan Lab Asian American Women Writers Workshop
Photos: Samrat Chakrabarti, Soham Mehta and Shiva Shankar Bajpai at the New York Indian Film Festival
Sixth Annual Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival – Ajay Naidu’s Ashes Screens on May 11 & May 15 in Edgewood, PA
Victory Gardens appoints renowned director and playwright Chay Yew as its new Artistic Director
André De Shields stars in Chicago Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Victory Gardens 5/14-6/12
Up Close and Personal with Darren Pettie, Star of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
House of Payne’s Denise Burse on the 2011 NAACP Image Awards & Season 7
Marva Hicks and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra light up the Southern Theatre with a “A Night at the Apollo”
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Multimedia: Exclusive photos and video of Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas -In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 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.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.