Lia Chang Photos: Tonya Pinkins, André De Shields, S. Epatha Merkerson, Billy Porter and George C. Wolfe at 54 Below

Billy Porter, Tonya Pinkins and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang

On the last Monday in August, the joint was jumpin’ at 54 BELOW for Tonya Pinkins who performed excerpts from Hurricane Ethel, her upcoming one woman show written in collaboration with director Dennis Courtney.

The actress, who won a Tony Award for Jelly’s Last Jam, was transcendent as she channelled Ethel Waters, the legendary African-American actress and jazz-era singer who was America’s first International superstar of any race, weaving a vibrant tapestry of characters instrumental in Waters’ life, and highlighting the canon of songs in the Great American Songbook written especially for her golden pipes.

Many in the theater community turned out on this sultry summer night to join her in celebrating the iconic entertainer, including André De Shields, George Faison, David Ives, S. Epatha Merkerson, Billy Porter, Elaine Stritch, Jeanine Tesori, Charles Turner, George C. Wolfe, Colleen Zenk, and Pinkins’ son Maxx Brawer.

George C. Wolfe, Tonya Pinkins and S. Epatha Merkerson. Photo by Lia Chang

Born on October 31, 1896 in Chesterfield, PA., Ethel Waters was a pioneer as an African American artist in the entertainment field whose talents and accomplishments were peerless. She was the first black woman heard on the radio, the first black singer to perform on television, the first African American to perform in an integrated cast on Broadway, the first black woman to perform in a lead dramatic role on Broadway, and the first African American to receive equal billing on Broadway. source: http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/musician.php?id=11192

Jeanine Tesori,Tonya Pinkins and George Faison. Photo by Lia Chang

Ms. Pinkins, accompanied by her musical director Barry Levitt on piano, Dick Sarpola on bass, and Waldren Ricks on trumpet, sang arrangements of songs that Waters made famous and utilized signature tunes as signposts to tell the story of the famed singer’s life. Her set list included “I Got Rhythm,” “You Can’t Do What My Last Man Did,” “Last of the Red Hot Mamas,” “Come Up and See Me Sometime,” “Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Lil Black Boy,” “Eli Eli,” “Heatwave,” “Dinah,” “Old Man Harlem/ Harlem on My Mind,” “Moon Glow/Taking a Chance on Love,” “Honey in the Honeycomb/Happiness is a Thing Called Joe/Cabin in the Sky Medley,” “Suppertime,” “Stormy Weather,” “Handyman,” “Black and Blue,” and “A Hundred Years from Today.”

On Broadway, Ms. Waters starred in As Thousands Cheer, At Home Abroad, Mamba’s Daughters, Cabin in the Sky, and Member of the Wedding. She was an indelible presence in the films Cabin in the Sky, The Member of the Wedding,The Sound and the Fury, and Pinky, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 1949, following Hattie McDaniel as the second Black woman to be nominated for an Oscar. The following year, she won the New York Drama Critics Award for best actress. Ms. Waters starred in the television show “Beaulah,” wrote her autobiography “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” with Charles Samuel, and in the late Fifties, performed and toured with evangelist Billy Graham until her death in 1977.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Waters

Tonya Pinkins (Photo by Lia Chang)

In the past twelve months alone, Tonya Pinkins has given five critically acclaimed performances in roles as diverse as an aging Countess, a syphilitic Bawd, a bitter ghetto mom, a diabetic great grandmother and a faithful Latina from the Bronx. Her performance in Milk Like Sugar won the 2012 Lucille Lortel Award. On Broadway, Ms. Pinkins made her debut in the original cast of Merrily We Roll Along, appeared in Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Play On!, The Wild Party, Caroline, or Change, and Radio Golf. Television audiences are most familiar with her from “As The World Turns,” “All My Children” and “Army Wives”.

Maxx Brawer and his mom Tonya Pinkins. Photo by Lia Chang

Her performances have been nominated for the Olivier, Jefferson, Helen Hayes, NAACP, Dramaleague, What’s On Stage, Audience Choice, Soap Opera Digest, Noel and Ovation awards. She is the winner of the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic’s Circle, Clarence Derwent, Monarch, Black theater Alliance, Garland, L.A. Drama Critics, Audelco and Obie Awards.

OPRAH named her “One of the ten women in America who will take your breath away” and TIME OUT New York included Ms. Pinkins as One of Broadways 25 all Time Greatest Divas. www.tonyapinkins.com

Director Dennis Courtney staged a re-envisioned production of Fiddler on the Roof (currently in its 5th year running in Tel Aviv) as the official production for the 60th Anniversary of Israel, for which he won the Israeli National Theatre Award. He recently directed the off-Broadway premiere of Civil War Voices (6 MITF Awards). He has been the director/choreographer of over 150 stage productions including Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby (Los Angeles Drama Critics and DramaLogue Awards for Direction & Choreography) and Can-Can with Leslie Uggams. Mr. Courtney has conceived and staged special events and award shows, working with such performers as Bette Midler, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones, Warren Beatty, The Bacon Brothers & David Letterman. On television, Mr. Courtney directed the 5th season opener of TV’s “Perfect Strangers.”

54 BELOW is owned and operated by Tony Award winning producers Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, and Steven Baruch. 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly and has audio and video recording capabilities. The cover charge ranges from $5-$85.

54 BELOW is located at 254 West 54th Street. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com.

Tonya Pinkins and Colleen Zenk. Photo by Lia Chang

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Jennifer Lim, Julyana Soelistyo, Greg Watanabe Set for Signature Theatre’s Production of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child, October 23-December 2, 2012
Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins Celebrates Ethel Waters at 54 Below in New York on August 27, 2012
Faith Prince and Jason Graae: The Prince & the Showboy in Concert at 54 Below, August 21-25, 2012
André De Shields Returns to The Laurie Beechman Theatre with I Put A Spell on You, October 5 and 12
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
Photos: Tonya Pinkins, Billy Eugene Jones, Matthew Murumba and Toccarra Cash in Reading of Camille Darby’s Lords Resistance
Reading of Camille Darby’s Lords Resistance Stars Tonya Pinkins, Billy Eugene Jones, Tocarra Cash and Matthew Murumba at The Red Room on January 18
MTC’s An Enemy of The People Starring Boyd Gaines and Richard Thomas Begin Previews at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Tony Award – winning Playwright Terrence McNally to be Honored at Westport Country Playhouse Annual Gala, September 24, 2012
Signature Theatre’s World Premiere of Sam Shepard’s Heartless Starring Lois Smith, Gary Cole, Jenny Bacon, Betty Gilpin, and Julianne Nicholson Extends through September 30, 2012
Sean Dugan Set for West Coast Premiere of George C. Wolfe’s Tony Award-Winning Production of The Normal Heart at A.C.T., September 13 – October 7, 2012
David Henry Hwang to Receive the 2012 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award at the 5th Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards on October 29, 2012
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
Broadwayworld.com Photo Flash: Library of Congress’ IN REHEARSAL Exhibit
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.
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

Darren Lee, Francis Jue, Tari Kelly, Beth Leavel and Leslie Uggams set for MUNY’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, June 18 – 24

The Muny’s 94th season kicks off with Thoroughly Modern Millie, directed by Marc Bruni and choreographed by Chris Bailey, and starring Broadway veteran Tari Kelly as Millie Dillmount, Tony Award winner Beth Leavel as Mrs. Meers, and legendary performer Leslie Uggams reprising her Broadway role of Muzzy. Also appearing are Andrew Samonsky as Jimmy, Megan McGinnis as Miss Dorothy, Stephen Buntrock as Trevor Graydon, Francis Jue as Ching Ho, Darren Lee as Bun Foo and Tory Ross as Miss Flannery.

Darren Lee (Photo by Lia Chang)

Based on the 1967 film by Richard Morris, Thoroughly Modern Millie has a book by Jeanine Tesori and new lyrics by Dick Scanlan. Millie tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love – a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce.

The production features scenic design by Sam and Steve Gilliam, sound design by Jason Krueger, lighting design by Seth Jackson and costume coordination by Tracy Christensen. Michael Horsley serves as the musical director, and the production stage manager is Peter Hynds.

Francis Jue © Lia Chang

Francis Jue (Ching Ho) returns to The Muny, where he has appeared in The Little Mermaid, Damn Yankees, Miss Saigon, Peter Pan, The King & I,and Mame. On Broadway, Francis originated the role of Bun Foo in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other Broadway credits: M. Butterfly and Pacific Overtures. Francis won Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards (plus Drama Desk and Drama League nominations) for Yellow Face. Other favorite NYC credits include Love’s Labour’s Lost, Coraline, Falsettoland, A Language of Their Own, No Foreigners Beyond This Point, Hamlet,and King Lear. Francis has won regional theatre awards for In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), Cabaret, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Into the Woods, The Illusion, Pacific Overtures, Miss Saigon,and Red. TV: “The Good Wife,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Law & Order.” Film Debut: Joyful Noise. Francis Jue, At Home on the Stage

David Henry Hwang as D.H.H. and Francis Jue as H.Y.H. in a scene from Yellow Face
at WNYC’s The Greene Space in New York on May 7, 2012, courtesy New York Public Radio. © 2012 Lia Chang

Darren Lee

Darren Lee (Bun Foo) began his career at age 11 as a contestant on “Jr. Star Search.” Shortly thereafter he became a series regular on “Kids Incorporated,” a Disney Channel favorite. In the years following he appeared in a variety of national commercials, television shows, and feature films such as Hackers, playing a role (Razor) opposite Angelina Jolie. He also danced alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger in the Academy Award-winning film Chicago. By the early ’90s, Lee relocated to New York and performed in Chicago, Guys and Dolls, and in the original companies of Shogun the Musical, Miss Saigon, Victor/Victoria with Julie Andrews, Kiss Me Kate, On the Town, Seussical the Musical, Pacific Overtures, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. After 18 years as a Broadway performer, Darren refocused his energies on directing and choreography. His Broadway work includes associate choreographer on Pacific Overtures, and other New York productions including: History of War (NYMF), Heading East starring BD Wong (Asia Society), Bronx Express (Fringe Festival), Andy Warhol Was Right (NYMF) and Stephen Sondheim’s 75th Birthday Celebration (New Amsterdam). Most recently, Lee served as director/choreographer for Wishes, which premiered on the brand new Disney Cruise Line ship The Fantasy in March of 2012 and reprised his work on Herringbone with BD Wong at Dixon Place in New York.

Choreographer Darren Lee rehearses a number from Herringbone with BD Wong at Dixon Place in New York on May 22, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Tari Kelly (Millie Dillmount) was most recently in the Tony® Award winning revival of Anything Goes on Broadway where she understudied and performed the role of Reno Sweeney over 50 times. Other Broadway/national tour credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Show Boat (Ellie), The Boy From Oz (Trio, u/s Liza Minnelli), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Mama Who) and Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl, u/s Babette). Some of her favorite regional credits are Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney -2011 Carbonell Award Winner), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie – Jeff Award Nomination), Once Upon a Mattress (Winnifred), Chicago (Velma Kelly) and White Christmas (Judy Haynes). Additionally, she can be heard on the original cast recordings of The Boy From Oz and Anything Goes.

Beth Leavel (Mrs. Meers) was last seen at The Muny as Miss Hannigan in Annie in 2009. She received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received a Tony®, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nomination for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby It’s You. She recently performed the role of M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias at the North Carolina Theatre and the much put upon maid, Berthe, in Boeing-Boeing at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Other Broadway roles include Emily in Elf, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Tess in the original company of Crazy For You, Mrs.Bixby in The Civil War, Ellie in Hal Prince’s Showboat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Ms. Leavel was also seen in New York City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette as Lucille. Numerous Off-Broadway, regional theatre, commercials, and TV, including the final episode of “ER.”

Leslie Uggams (Photo by Lia Chang)

Leslie Uggams (Muzzy) is a Tony® and Emmy® Award-winning actress and singer whose career has brought her from Harlem (Uptown) to Broadway (Downtown), the big screen (Skyjacked) to television (“The Leslie Uggams Show”). Perhaps best known for her stirring portrayal of “Kizzy” in the landmark TV mini-series Alex Haley’s “Roots” (Critics Choice Award, Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominations), Ms. Uggams has performed to critical and popular acclaim ever since her first professional appearances at the age of nine at the famed Apollo Theater. There she opened for such musical legends as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington. On Broadway, Ms. Uggams made her stunning musical theater debut starring in Hallelujah, Baby!, earning both Tony® and Theater World Awards. Since then she has starred on Broadway in Blues in the Night, Her First Roman, Jerry’s Girls, Anything Goes, King Headley II, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and most recently On Golden Pond opposite James Earl Jones.

Andrew Samonsky (Jimmy) played Lieutenant Joseph Cable in Lincoln Center’s Tony® Award winning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, where he was also seen on the Live From Lincoln Center PBS broadcast. He recently received a Drama Desk nomination for the role of Frank Russell in Michael John LaChiusa’s Queen of the Mist off-Broadway. This last year he was seen in New York City Center’s Merrily We Roll Along, and originated roles in James Lapine and William Finn’s Little Miss Sunshine at The La Jolla Playhouse, and the Scissor Sisters’ Tales of the City at A.C.T. You can hear him on the cast recordings of Merrily We Roll Along, Queen of the Mist, and Disney’s On The Record.

Megan McGinnis (Miss Dorothy) returns to Thoroughly Modern Millie, having performed in the Broadway company for a year. Other Broadway credits include Lés Misérables (Eponine), Little Women (Beth), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Diary of Anne Frank, and Parade. She has appeared in the tours of Daddy Long Legs (LA Ovation Award, Chicago Jeff Nomination, Cincinnati Acclaim Award), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), The Sound of Music (Liesl), and James Joyce’s The Dead (Lily). Film/TV credits include: Anywhere But Here; A Goofy Movie; “Sister, Sister”; “Dear John”; “Wings” and “Blossom” (recurring). Megan can be heard on the original cast recordings of Daddy Long Legs, Little Women, Parade, and also Sutton Foster’s “Wish,” singing the duet “Flight.”

Stephen Buntrock (Mr. Graydon) is currently starring in the Encore Series production of Gentleman Prefer Blondes. Other Broadway engagements include starring opposite Bernadette Peters as Fredrik Egerman in A Little Night Music, Curly in Oklahoma!, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, St. John in the original cast of Jane Eyre, Barrett in Titanic, Enjolras in the Tenth Anniversary Cast of Lés Misérables, Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, and creating Teen Angel for the latest revival of Grease! He has toured extensively across the United States and Canada as Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Rueben in Joseph…Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond, originating the role of Arnaud du Thil in Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Martin Guerre, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Tory Ross (Miss Flannery) has been seen on Broadway in Cry-Baby (Hatchet-Face) and 9 to 5 (Candy Striper). National tours include Wicked (Mid-wife), White Christmas (Mrs. Snoring-Man) and The Producers (Shirley Markowitz). She also appeared in the London production of Silence! the Musical (Agent Clarice Starling). She has been seen at Carnegie Hall in Jerry Springer the Opera (Jerry Cam Stripper), and at The Grand Ole Opry in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mrs. Claus). Favorite regional credits include Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical (Rosemary Clooney, Human Race Theatre), Mame (Cousin Fan; Kennedy Center), Merrily We Roll Along (Gussie, Signature Theatre). Movie appearances include Sex and the City 2 and The Producers.

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 7-show line-up is:
Thoroughly Modern Millie June 18 – 24
Chicago June 25 – July 1
Disney’s Aladdin July 5 – 13
Dreamgirls July 16 – 22
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat July 23 – 29
Pirates! (or, Gilbert & Sullivan Plunder’d) July 30 – August 5
The King and I August 6 – 12

Season Ticket buyers will enjoy their reserved seats for Aladdin from July 5 – 11. Additional performances (July 12 and 13) are non-subscribed, and offer exceptional seating opportunities for groups. The Muny’s group sales office offers a 20% discount for groups of 20 or more, and is taking orders now. For more information or to make reservations, call (314) 361-1900, extension 308. Single tickets will be available beginning Saturday, June 2 at The Muny Box Office in Forest Park, online or by phone. For more information, call (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Thom Sesma, Francis Jue, Robin de Jesus and John Tartaglia set for MUNY’s Aladdin, July 5-13
Samrat Chakrabarti in Ajay Naidu’s Ashes, Italo Spinelli’s Gangor and Shome Banerjee’s Hotel New York 2012 at Washington D.C. South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF 2012)
Richard Thomas and Boyd Gaines to star in An Enemy of the People at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre during Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2012-2013 Season
Thom Sesma is the keynote speaker for the Library of Congress celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) at the Mary Pickford Theater on May 17
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
Multimedia: Exclusive photos and video of Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas -In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
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: In Rehearsal with Director Bartlett Sher and the cast of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan
David Henry Hwang Set as Signature Theatre’s Residency One Playwright for the 2012-2013 Season
C.J. Wilson navigates armor and swordplay in Signature Theatre Company’s World Premiere of Kenneth Lonergan’s Medieval Play
Photos: In Rehearsal with BD Wong at Dixon Place for Live Concert Recording of Herringbone
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Oskar Eustis, BD Wong, Brian d’Arcy James, Francis Jue, Jennifer Lim and Leigh Silverman at WNYC’s The Greene Space
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”

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

Shinsai: Theaters for Japan Photos: (3pm) with André Bishop, Mary Beth Hurt, Jennifer Lim, Angela Lin, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Richard Thomas, Jay O. Sanders, and more

Richard Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang

On March 11, 2012, regional theater companies across the country presented Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, a series of benefit performances to raise funds for Japanese theater artists devastated by last year’s great earthquake (Shinsai).

New York City’s leading theatre companies, including Atlantic Theater Company, Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, The Play Company, Playwrights Horizons and The Public Theater, joined forces to present performances at 3pm and 8pm at the Great Hall at Cooper Union, Seventh Street at Third Avenue in New York.

Thom Sesma and Paolo Montalban. Photo by Lia Chang

Director Barlett Sher. Photo by Lia Chang

Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza) helmed a stellar lineup of artists. The cast of the 3pm performance featured Michi Barall, Cindy Cheung, Lisa Emery, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Kim, Jennifer Lim, Angela Lin, Paolo Montalban, Olivia Oguma, Jay O. Sanders, Thom Sesma, Jon Norman Schneider, Sab Shimono, Richard Thomas, Jade Wu, James Yaegashi and Stacey Yen.

The ensemble of actors performed a series of ten minute plays and musical numbers by award-winning American and Japanese writers and composers including The Remaining by Shoki Kokami; A Few Stout Individuals by John Guare; Sayonara II by Oriza Hirata; Wind from the Northwest by Kumiko Shinohara; and Dropping by the House by Yoji Sakate. Playwrights Philip Kan Gotanda (Child is Father to Man), Richard Greenberg (Where Were We) and Suzan-Lori-Parks (The Length of this Play Has the Half Life of Uranium, a “forever play” for Japan on 3.11), contributed original work to the benefit which featured a segment from the 1976 musical Pacific Overtures revised especially for the occasion by its creators librettist John Weidman and composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

Playwrights Suzan-Lori Parks, Philip Kan Gotanda, John Weidman and Kumiko Shinohara.
Photo by Lia Chang

With musical direction by Paul Gemignani, scenic design by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

All proceeds from the performances that day around the country, will be sent from the Dramatists Guild Fund to the Japan Playwrights Association, who will in turn distribute the monies to those members of Japan’s theatre community who were stricken by the earthquake.

James Yaegashi and Sab Shimono in CHILD IS FATHER TO MAN by Philip Kan Gotanda. Photo by Lia Chang

Shinsai (SHEEN-sigh) means great quake in Japanese. The genesis of the event began shortly after the disaster when actor James Yaegashi, whose family is from a nearby area, called friends in New York theatre to say “We as a theatre community have to do something to help our fellow artists on the other side of the world.” This galvanized the various theatre professionals to whom Yaegashi reached out who in turn joined forces with the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, Cooper Union, Dramatists Guild Fund, Japan Playwrights Association, Japan Society, The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center and Theatre Communications Group to present this nation-wide effort. The Dramatists Guild Fund is the fiscal sponsor for Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, collecting donations on behalf of Japan Playwrights Association (JPA) through June 1, 2012 to help restore the conditions that surround the Japanese theater. Click here to donate now.

Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, James Yaegashi. Photo by Lia Chang

Olivia Oguma, Jennifer Lim, Cindy Cheung, Sab Shimono, Thom Sesma, Paolo Montalban, Peter Kim, Jon Norman Schneider and Angel Desai. Photo by Lia Chang

Angela Lin, director Barlett Sher, Lincoln Center Theater Dramaturg Anne Cattaneo, Andre Bishop, Artistic Director of Lincoln Center Theater, Jade Wu and playwright Philip Kan Gotanda. Photo by Lia Chang

Richard Thomas, Paolo Montalban, Thom Sesma, Olivia Oguma, Barlett Sher, Angela Lin, Jennifer Lim, Jon Norman Schneider, Peter Kim, Michi Barall and Kumiko Shinohara. Photo by Lia Chang

Jade Wu, Angel Desai, Philip Kan Gotanda, Sab Shimono and Michi Barall. Photo by Lia Chang

Jay O. Sanders, Jennifer Ikeda, John Guare, Mary Beth Hurt, Barlett Sher, Suzan-Lori Parks and Philip Kan Gotanda. Photo by Lia Chang

Click below for a slideshow of the 3pm performance.

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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 and more
For additional information: visit www.tcg.org/shinsai. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SHINSAI-Theaters-for-Japan/286171358070366

James Yaegashi, Pacific Overtures' librettist John Weidman, director Bartlett Sher and musical director Paul Gemignani. Photo by Lia Chang

Angela Lin, director Bartlett Sher and Lia Chang. Photo by Peter Kim

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: In Rehearsal with Director Bartlett Sher and the cast of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan
Thom Sesma, Patti LuPone, Cindy Cheung, Jennifer Lim, Sab Shimono, James Yaegashi and more set for Shinsai: Theaters for Japan Benefit on March 11 at the Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York
Photos: BD Wong in Rehearsal for “Passing It On: An Evening of Mentorship to Benefit Rosie’s Theater Kids”
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

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 lia@backstagepasswithliachang.com.

Shinsai: Theaters for Japan Photos: (8pm) with Oskar Eustis, Patti LuPone, Lisa Emery, Ann Harada, Paolo Montalban, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Henry Stram, Richard Thomas, John Weidman and more

Patti LuPone and Ann Harada. Photo by Lia Chang

On March 11, 2012, regional theater companies across the country presented Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, a series of benefit performances to raise funds for Japanese theater artists devastated by last year’s great earthquake (Shinsai).

New York City’s leading theatre companies, including Atlantic Theater Company, Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, The Play Company, Playwrights Horizons and The Public Theater, joined forces to present performances at 3pm and 8pm at the Great Hall at Cooper Union, Seventh Street at Third Avenue in New York.

Oskar Eustis, artistic director of The Public Theater and His Excellency and Madame Shigeyuki Hiroki, Ambassador & Consul General of Japan in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza) helmed a stellar lineup of artists.

Director Barlett Sher. Photo by Lia Chang

The cast of the 8pm performance featured Michi Barall, Joel de la Fuente, Angel Desai, Lisa Emery, Ann Harada, Jennifer Ikeda, Paul Juhn, Li Jun Li, Patti LuPone, Paolo Montalban, Olivia Oguma, Jeffrey Omura, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Henry Stram, Richard Thomas, Adria Vitlar and Johnny Wu.

The ensemble of actors performed a series of ten minute plays and musical numbers by award-winning American and Japanese writers and composers including Seascape by Edward Albee; Hassaku by Nen Ishihara; The Sonic Life of Giant Tortoises by Toshiki Okada; “Underwater” from Caroline, or Change, Book and Lyrics by Tony Kushner, Music by Jeanine Tesori; Abandon Home by Toshiro Suzue; A Problem of Blood by Yoji Sakate; and “Skin of Our Teeth” from the musical The Skin of Our Teeth, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, Book by Joseph Stein. Playwrights Naomi Iizuka (The Isabel Who Disappeared) and Doug Wright (A Guide to Japanese Etiquette), contributed original work to the benefit which featured a segment from the 1976 musical Pacific Overtures revised especially for the occasion by its creators librettist John Weidman and composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

Ann Harada, Johnny Wu, Angel Desai, Paul Juhn, Li Jun Li, Olivia Oguma, Jeffery Omura, Thom Sesma, Paolo Montalban, Sab Shimono and Adria Vitlar sing Four Black Dragons/Next. Photo by Lia Chang

With musical direction by Paul Gemignani, scenic design by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

The cast of Shinsai. Photo by Lia Chang

All proceeds from the performances that day around the country, will be sent from the Dramatists Guild Fund to the Japan Playwrights Association, who will in turn distribute the monies to those members of Japan’s theatre community who were stricken by the earthquake.

James Yaegashi and Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of the Public Theater. Photo by Lia Chang

Shinsai (SHEEN-sigh) means great quake in Japanese. The genesis of the event began shortly after the disaster when actor James Yaegashi, whose family is from a nearby area, called friends in New York theatre to say “We as a theatre community have to do something to help our fellow artists on the other side of the world.” This galvanized the various theatre professionals to whom Yaegashi reached out who in turn joined forces with the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, Cooper Union, Dramatists Guild Fund, Japan Playwrights Association, Japan Society, The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center and Theatre Communications Group to present this nation-wide effort. The Dramatists Guild Fund is the fiscal sponsor for Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, collecting donations on behalf of Japan Playwrights Association (JPA) through June 1, 2012 to help restore the conditions that surround the Japanese theater. Click here to donate now.

Ann Harada, Henry Stram, Lia Emery and Richard Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang

Sab Shimono and Pacific Overtures librettist John Weidman. Photo by Lia Chang

Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, James Yaegashi. Photo by Lia Chang

Click below for a slideshow of the 8pm performance.

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Photo Highlights of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan (3pm) with André Bishop, Mary Beth Hurt, Jennifer Lim, Angela Lin, Philip Kan Gotanda, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Richard Thomas, Jay O. Sanders, and more

For additional information: visit www.tcg.org/shinsai. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SHINSAI-Theaters-for-Japan/286171358070366

James Yaegashi, Pacific Overtures' librettist John Weidman, director Bartlett Sher and musical director Paul Gemignani. Photo by Lia Chang

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Photos: In Rehearsal with Director Bartlett Sher and the cast of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan
Thom Sesma, Patti LuPone, Cindy Cheung, Jennifer Lim, Sab Shimono, James Yaegashi and more set for Shinsai: Theaters for Japan Benefit on March 11 at the Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York
Photos: BD Wong in Rehearsal for “Passing It On: An Evening of Mentorship to Benefit Rosie’s Theater Kids”
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Angela Lin, director Bartlett Sher and Lia Chang. Photo by Peter Kim

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 lia@backstagepasswithliachang.com.

Lia Chang Photos: In Rehearsal with Director Bartlett Sher and the cast of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan

Paolo Montalban and Thom Sesma. Photo by Lia Chang

On Sunday, March 11, 2012, Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, will be performed at 3pm and 8pm at the Great Hall at Cooper Union, Seventh Street at Third Avenue in New York.

Director Bartlett Sher (far right) and the cast of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan in the Lincoln Center rehearsal hall on Friday, March 9, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, a two performance benefit to raise funds that will go directly to Japanese theater artists devastated by last year’s great earthquake (Shinsai), will feature Michi Barall, Cindy Cheung, Lisa Emery, Joel de la Fuente, Angel Desai, Ann Harada, Mary Beth Hurt, Jennifer Ikeda, Paul Juhn, Peter Kim, Li Jun Li, Jennifer Lim, Angela Lin, Patti LuPone, Paolo Montalban, Olivia Oguma, Jeffrey Omura, Jay O. Sanders, Jon Norman Schneider, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Henry Stram, Richard Thomas, Adria Vitlar, Jade Wu, Johnny Wu, James Yaegashi and Stacey Yen, under the direction of Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher.

Sab Shimono, Jade Wu, Jon Norman Schneider, Thom Sesma, Michi Barall and Angela Lin in Wind from Northwest by Kumiko Shinohara. Photo by Lia Chang

Patti LuPone and Henry Stram will appear in the 8pm performance only. Jay O. Sanders and Mary Beth Hurt will appear in the 3pm performance only. Richard Thomas will appear in both the 3pm and 8pm performances.

Jay O. Sanders, Mary Beth Hurt and Richard Thomas in A Few Stout Individuals by John Guare. Photo by Lia Chang

Edward Albee. Photo by Lia Chang

This stellar lineup will perform a series of ten minute plays and musical numbers by an eclectic group of award-winning American and Japanese writers and composers including Edward Albee, Shoki Kokami, Oriza Hirata, Richard Greenberg, John Guare, Kumiko Shinohara, John Kander, Fred Ebb & Joseph Stein, Tony Kushner & Jeanine Tesori, Nen Ishihara, Toshiki Okada, Toshiro Suzue and Yoji Sakate. Playwrights Philip Kan Gotanda, Richard Greenberg, Suzan-Lori-Parks, Naomi Iizuka and Doug Wright will contribute original work to the benefit which will also feature a segment from the 1976 musical Pacific Overtures revised especially for the occasion by its creators librettist John Weidman and composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

John Weidman and Stephen Sondheim's Four Black Dragons/Next, a revised segment from Pacific Overtures. Photo by Lia Chang

The New York performances of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan will be just one of many presentations taking place on March 11, the first anniversary of the quake, at regional theatres throughout the United States. All proceeds from the performances that day around the country, will be sent from the Dramatists Guild Fund to the Japan Playwrights Association, who will in turn distribute the monies to those members of Japan’s theatre community who were stricken by the earthquake.

Musical director Paul Gemignani (seated far left) rehearses with the cast of Shinsai: Theaters for Japan in the Lincoln Center rehearsal hall on Friday, March 9, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

New York City’s leading theatre companies, including Atlantic Theater Company, Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, The Play Company, Playwrights Horizons and The Public Theater, have joined forces to present Shinsai: Theaters for Japan.

Playwright Philip Kan Gotanda contributed Child is Father to Man for the Shinsai: Theaters for Japan Benefit. Photo by Lia Chang

Shinsai (SHEEN-sigh) means great quake in Japanese. The genesis of the event began shortly after the disaster when actor James Yaegashi, whose family is from a nearby area, called friends in New York theatre to say “We as a theatre community have to do something to help our fellow artists on the other side of the world.” This galvanized the various theatre professionals to whom Yaegashi reached out who in turn joined forces with the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, Cooper Union, Dramatists Guild Fund, Japan Playwrights Association, Japan Society, The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center and Theatre Communications Group to present this nation-wide effort.

Lisa Emery and James Yaegashi in Where Were We by Richard Greenberg. Photo by Lia Chang

Tickets to Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, priced at $25 for each performance are available at the Public Theater box office (425 Lafayette Street), by phone at (212) 967-7555 or by visiting www.publictheater.org.

Jennifer Lim, Stacey Yen and Mary Beth Hurt in The Length of This Play Has the Half Life of Uranium, a "forever" play for Japan on 3.11 by Suzan-Lori Parks. Photo by Lia Chang

For additional information: visit www.tcg.org/shinsai. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SHINSAI-Theaters-for-Japan/286171358070366

James Yaegashi, Pacific Overtures' librettist John Weidman, director Bartlett Sher and musical director Paul Gemignani. Photo by Lia Chang

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Thom Sesma, Patti LuPone, Cindy Cheung, Jennifer Lim, Sab Shimono, James Yaegashi and more set for Shinsai: Theaters for Japan Benefit on March 11 at the Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York
Multimedia: Exclusive photos and video of Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas -In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
The SFIAAFF30 Kicks Off with World Premiere of White Frog Featuring Booboo Stewart, Harry Shum, Jr., Joan Chen, Kelly Hu and BD Wong, at the Castro Theater on March 8
Tony award-winning actor BD Wong stars in NBC’s Awake; video preview and interview
David Henry Hwang to Receive 2012 William Inge Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award
Chinglish Playwright David Henry Hwang Moderates “RepresentAsian: The Changing Face of New York Theater” at Pope Auditorium at Fordham University
Photos & Video: Celebrate Chinese New Year with David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Coming to America through The Angel Island Immigration Station
Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) Media Advisory on Jeremy Lin News Coverage
Gary Wilmes & Scott Shepherd Set for Elevator Repair Service’s GATZ at The Public, March 14-May 6, 2012
Orville Mendoza Joins the Broadway Cast of Peter and the Starcatcher, Previews Begin March 28 at the Brooks Atkinson
Photos: Laila Robins, Sean Dugan, C.J. Wilson, Peter Francis James, Bill Irwin and Tricia Paoluccio at Signature Theatre Company’s revival of Edward Albee’s The Lady From Dubuque
Pan Asian Rep’s 35th Anniversary Gala on March 19 honors Daniel Dae Kim and Dr. Patrica E. Taylor; New Season includes Stella Rising, BAUDELAIRE: La Mort
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
Athol Fugard’s Blood Knot, starring Colman Domingo & Scott Shepherd in The Alice Griffith Jewel Box at The Pershing Square Signature Center through March 11, 2012
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
Celebrating my mom – AN ACTIVE VISION: BEVERLY UMEHARA…LABOR ACTIVIST…1945-1999
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 lia@backstagepasswithliachang.com.