Lia Chang Photos: Working Theater’s World Premiere of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s La Ruta through May 12, 2013

Ed Cardona, Jr.’s La Ruta is being performed in a truck. Photo by Lia Chang

Working Theater, the 28-year-old Off-Broadway company, in collaboration with Magnum Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving the Magnum Photos legacy and supporting photography around social justice issues, have joined forces to present Ed Cardona, Jr.’s LA RUTA, a world premiere immigration-themed play that is being staged inside the trailer and cab of an actual 48’ truck.

Brian D Coats and Sheila Tapia in La Ruta. Photo by Lia Chang

An accompanying photographic installation about the immigrant experience will also be presented. This unique collaboration will shed a deeper light on one of today’s hot-button issues – immigration reform. La Ruta, which began previews on April 10, 2013, will continue through May 12, 2013. Helmed by Tamilla Woodard, the play is being performed in various communities throughout New York City in order to directly realize Working Theater’s mission to bring theater to working people.

The Magnum Foundation exhibition. Photo by Lia Chang

LA RUTA, an immersive theatrical experience, follows the crossing of several undocumented immigrants into the U.S. to make a better life for themselves and their family. Audiences experience the journey alongside the characters, surrounded by the harsh reality of their environment and the poignant narrative unfolding within.

Annie Henk, Zoë Sophia Garcia, Gerardo Rodriguez and Bobby Plasencia. Photo by Lia Chang

Magnum Foundation has organized a photo-based installation–featuring both award-winning Magnum photographers and emerging documentary photographers–outside of the truck that will focus audiences on the experiences of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Images from the renowned Magnum Photos archive will also be projected within the performance to illuminate the interior worlds of the characters.

Gerardo Rodriguez and Zoë Sophia Garcia. Photo by Lia Chang

“Through LA RUTA, we, at Working Theater, in partnership with Magnum Foundation, hope to raise awareness about the plight of undocumented immigrants,” said Working Theater’s Producing Artistic Director Mark Plesent. “Our goal is to challenge our diverse communities to consider the experience of this large, yet too often misrepresented immigrant constituency.” The cast features Brian D. Coats (MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, Public Theater), Zoë Sophia Garcia (THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, Actors Theatre of Louisville), Annie Henk (THE PLAY ABOUT DAD, 59E59), Sheila Tapia (CQ/CX, Atlantic Theater Company), Bobby Plasencia (VESUVIUS, South Coast Repertory), Gerardo Rodriguez and Jacob Alden Roa.

Annie Henk, Bobby Plasencia, Gerardo Rodriguez and Zoë Sophia Garcia. Photo by Lia Chang

The production team includes Raul Abrego (scenic design), Emily DeAngelis (costume design), Lucrecia Briceño (lighting design), Dave Tennent, IMA & Kate Freer, IMA (projection design), Sam Kusnetz (sound design), and Production Core (Production Supervision)The production stage manager is Michael Aaron Jones and the assistant stage manager is Sarah Levine.

Zoë Sophia Garcia. Photo by Lia Chang

Community partner venues include, the Bronx United Federation of Teachers (Bronx), St. John the Divine (Manhattan), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Queens) and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (Staten Island).

Annie Henk, Zoë Sophia Garcia, Shelia Tapia, Gerardo Rodriguez and Bobby Plasencia. Photo by Lia Chang

The performance schedule is April 10th through May 12th, Wednesday through Saturday at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Additional performances in Manhattan on Tuesdays at 6:30 and 8:30.

Annie Henk, Zoë Sophia Garcia and Gerardo Rodriguez. Photo by Lia Chang

Tickets are $25 (General Admission) and $23 (Students/Seniors/Union Members) and may be purchased in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. For group rates, contact info@theworkingtheater.org. Due to mature content, patrons under the age of 13 will not be admitted. Latecomers will not be admitted. The running time is 70 minutes without intermission.

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WORKING THEATER (Producer). Now in its 28th season, Working Theater is New York’s only professional Off-Broadway theatre company dedicated to producing plays for and about the working men and women of New York. Past productions include Lisa Ramirez’s play about nannies, EXIT CUCKOO directed by Colman Domingo; Roberto Aguirre Sacasa’s KING OF SHADOWS; PORT AUTHORITY THROW DOWN; HOLD PLEASE; ABUNDANCE; RECONSTRUCTION; Israel Horovitz’s HENRY LUMPER, Rob Ackerman’s TABLE TOP; Stefanie Zadravec’s HONEY BROWN EYES and many others. For more information, visit www.theworkingtheater.org.

MAGNUM FOUNDATION (Collaborator) The Magnum Foundation champions in-depth, independent documentary photography that fosters empathy, engagement, and positive social change. The Magnum Foundation supports, trains, and mentors the next generation of photographers and seeks to increase the exposure of both historical and contemporary documentary photography in the digital age. An independent public charity, the Magnum Foundation carries forward the core values held dear by Magnum photographers and sustains the practice of high-quality documentary photography. For more information, visit http://magnumfoundation.org/.

Ed Cardona, Jr. Photo by Lia Chang

ED CARDONA, JR. (Playwright). Ed’s play AMERICAN JORNALERO received its world premiere at INTAR Theatre in the spring of 2012; the play was also selected as a finalist by the 2011 Metlife Nuestras Voces National Playwriting Competition. Ed is also currently a member of Theater 167’s theatrical ensemble which is developing its next project JH3am, a collaborative work based on Jackson Heights, Queens, N.Y.C. after 3:00 am. An Artistic Associate for the Working Theater’s 25th Anniversary Season, he adapted PABLO’S CHRISTMAS (commissioned and published by Dramatic Publishing, 2009) from the children’s book by Hugo C. Martin. Ed has also been a resident playwright with the Hispanic Playwrights-in-Residence Lab at INTAR Theatre, The Professional Playwrights Unit at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and the Hall Farm Center for the Arts & Education in Townsend, VT. He is a founding member of NY Madness. Ed received his M.F.A. in playwriting from Columbia University where he received the John Golden Award for his thesis play, PICK UP POTS! Multimedia: Photos of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s American Jornalero at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre

TAMILLA WOODARD (Director) is a director, actor and adapter residing in New York City. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, an alumnus of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and a founding member of The Internationalists, a collective of directors from around the world creating an interactive global theatrical community. Most recent work includes co-creator of the site specific performance HOTEL PROJECT, that had its American premiere at Washington Jefferson Hotel and the Summit Grand Hotel in January 2012; VALIANT by Lanna Joffrey (InterAct Theatre); NIGHTLANDS by Sylvan Oswald (New Georges) and the development and direction of Saviana Stanescu’s POLANSKI POLANSKI (starring Grant Neale and produced by Nomad Theatricals at PS122/ SoloNOVA festival in New York City, Teatrul Odeon in Bucharest, The Sibiu International Theatre Festival, TIFF International Festival in Cluj and HERE in NYC). New Dramatists honored her with The Charles Bowden Award and the League of Professional Theatre Women with the Josephine Abady Award. She serves as an adjunct professor teaching solo performance at City College’s Center for Worker Education. More about Tamilla at www.Tamilla.com

REMAINING DATES & LOCATIONS FOR LA RUTA
Tuesday, April 16 thru Sunday, April 28 The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025 For tickets: http://larutamanhattan.bpt.me
Wednesday, May 1 thru Sunday, May 5 IBEW Local 3 Headquarters 158-11 Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Avenue, Flushing, NY 11365 For tickets: http://larutaqueens.bpt.me
Wednesday, May 8 thru Sunday, May 12 Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301 For tickets: http://larutastatenisland.bpt.me

Articles on La Ruta:
Villagevoice.com: La Ruta: Rough Crossing
Nydailynews.com: ‘Semi’ tough drama: Immigration play staged inside a truck
Nbclatino.com: La Ruta
This Week in NY: la Ruta
Huffington Post: ‘La Ruta’ From Working Theater Immerses Audiences In The Border Crossing Experience

Other articles on Working Theater:
Working Theater in Collaboration with Magnum Foundation Present World Premiere of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s La Ruta, April 10 – May 12, 2013
Working Theater presents The Best of TheaterWorks!: Stories from the 99%, at The Dorothy Strelsin Theatre at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex
Working Theater presents The Poetry of Philip Levine with Jeffrey Eugenides, André De Shields, Gene Gillette and Lisa Ramirez on May 7
Photos: Working Theater’s Production of Rob Ackerman’s CALL ME WALDO at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex
Papermag.com: An Emerson-Loving Electrician Takes the Stage in Call Me Waldo
1199SEIU President George Gresham to receive Labor Leadership Award at 2011 Working Theater Annual Awards Ceremony
André De Shields & Alison Fraser Star in Reading of Michael Aman’s The Unbleached American at Theater Row on 5/9
Working Theater Presents Staged Reading of Chay Yew’s Visible Cities at The Studio Theatre on Theatre Row
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Lia Chang Photo Slideshows of Productions in the Working Theater’s 25th Anniversary Season
Multimedia: Photos of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s American Jornalero at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre
Photos of André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance
Achieving the American Dream, Professional Charmer Andre De Shields Sees Theater is a Way to Life
André De Shields Celebrates Black History Month Starring in The Working Theater’s Production of Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory at The Abingdon in February 2010
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.

Working Theater in Collaboration with Magnum Foundation Present World Premiere of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s La Ruta, April 10 – May 12, 2013

Working Theater, the 28-year-old Off-Broadway company, in collaboration with Magnum Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving the Magnum Photos legacy and supporting photography around social justice issues, have joined forces to present Ed Cardona, Jr.’s LA RUTA, a world premiere immigration-themed play that will be staged inside the trailer and cab of an actual 48’ truck. An accompanying photographic installation about the immigrant experience will also be presented. This unique collaboration will shed a deeper light on one of today’s hot-button issues – immigration reform. Previews begin April 10, 2013 with an official press opening on April 18th. Tamilla Woodard, known for her innovative site-specific work (HOTEL PROJECT), will direct the production. The play will be performed in various communities throughout New York City in order to directly realize Working Theater’s mission to bring theater to working people.

LA RUTA, an immersive theatrical experience, follows the crossing of several undocumented immigrants into the U.S. to make a better life for themselves and their family. Audiences experience the journey alongside the characters, surrounded by the harsh reality of their environment and the poignant narrative unfolding within.

Magnum Foundation is organizing a photo-based installation–featuring both award-winning Magnum photographers and emerging documentary photographers–outside of the truck that will focus audiences on the experiences of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Images from the renowned Magnum Photos archive will also be projected within the performance to illuminate the interior worlds of the characters.

“Through LA RUTA, we, at Working Theater, in partnership with Magnum Foundation, hope to raise awareness about the plight of undocumented immigrants,” said Working Theater’s Producing Artistic Director Mark Plesent. “Our goal is to challenge our diverse communities to consider the experience of this large, yet too often misrepresented immigrant constituency.” The cast includes Brian D. Coats (MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, Public Theater), Zoë Sophia Garcia (THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, Actors Theatre of Louisville), Annie Henk (THE PLAY ABOUT DAD, 59E59), Sheila Tapia (CQ/CX, Atlantic Theater Company), Bobby Plasencia (VESUVIUS, South Coast Repertory), Gerardo Rodriguez and Jacob Alden Roa.

The production team includes Raul Abrego (scenic design), Emily DeAngelis (costume design), Lucrecia Briceño (lighting design), Dave Tennent, IMA & Kate Freer, IMA (projection design), Sam Kusnetz (sound design), and Production Core (Production Supervision)The production stage manager is Michael Aaron Jones and the assistant stage manager is Sarah Levine.

Community partner venues include, the Bronx United Federation of Teachers (Bronx), St. John the Divine (Manhattan), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Queens) and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (Staten Island).

The performance schedule is April 10th through May 12th, Wednesday through Saturday at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Additional performances in Manhattan on Tuesdays at 6:30 and 8:30.

Tickets are $25 (General Admission) and $23 (Students/Seniors/Union Members) and may be purchased in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. For group rates, contact info@theworkingtheater.org. Due to mature content, patrons under the age of 13 will not be admitted. Latecomers will not be admitted. The running time is 70 minutes without intermission.

WORKING THEATER (Producer). Now in its 28th season, Working Theater is New York’s only professional Off-Broadway theatre company dedicated to producing plays for and about the working men and women of New York. Past productions include Lisa Ramirez’s play about nannies, EXIT CUCKOO directed by Colman Domingo; Roberto Aguirre Sacasa’s KING OF SHADOWS; PORT AUTHORITY THROW DOWN; HOLD PLEASE; ABUNDANCE; RECONSTRUCTION; Israel Horovitz’s HENRY LUMPER, Rob Ackerman’s TABLE TOP; Stefanie Zadravec’s HONEY BROWN EYES and many others. For more information, visit www.theworkingtheater.org.

MAGNUM FOUNDATION (Collaborator) The Magnum Foundation champions in-depth, independent documentary photography that fosters empathy, engagement, and positive social change. The Magnum Foundation supports, trains, and mentors the next generation of photographers and seeks to increase the exposure of both historical and contemporary documentary photography in the digital age. An independent public charity, the Magnum Foundation carries forward the core values held dear by Magnum photographers and sustains the practice of high-quality documentary photography. For more information, visit http://magnumfoundation.org/.

Ed Cardona, Jr. Photo by Lia Chang

ED CARDONA, JR. (Playwright). Ed’s play AMERICAN JORNALERO received its world premiere at INTAR Theatre in the spring of 2012; the play was also selected as a finalist by the 2011 Metlife Nuestras Voces National Playwriting Competition. Ed is also currently a member of Theater 167’s theatrical ensemble which is developing its next project JH3am, a collaborative work based on Jackson Heights, Queens, N.Y.C. after 3:00 am. An Artistic Associate for the Working Theater’s 25th Anniversary Season, he adapted PABLO’S CHRISTMAS (commissioned and published by Dramatic Publishing, 2009) from the children’s book by Hugo C. Martin. Ed has also been a resident playwright with the Hispanic Playwrights-in-Residence Lab at INTAR Theatre, The Professional Playwrights Unit at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and the Hall Farm Center for the Arts & Education in Townsend, VT. He is a founding member of NY Madness. Ed received his M.F.A. in playwriting from Columbia University where he received the John Golden Award for his thesis play, PICK UP POTS! Multimedia: Photos of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s American Jornalero at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre

TAMILLA WOODARD (Director) is a director, actor and adapter residing in New York City. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, an alumnus of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and a founding member of The Internationalists, a collective of directors from around the world creating an interactive global theatrical community. Most recent work includes co-creator of the site specific performance HOTEL PROJECT, that had its American premiere at Washington Jefferson Hotel and the Summit Grand Hotel in January 2012; VALIANT by Lanna Joffrey (InterAct Theatre); NIGHTLANDS by Sylvan Oswald (New Georges) and the development and direction of Saviana Stanescu’s POLANSKI POLANSKI (starring Grant Neale and produced by Nomad Theatricals at PS122/ SoloNOVA festival in New York City, Teatrul Odeon in Bucharest, The Sibiu International Theatre Festival, TIFF International Festival in Cluj and HERE in NYC). New Dramatists honored her with The Charles Bowden Award and the League of Professional Theatre Women with the Josephine Abady Award. She serves as an adjunct professor teaching solo performance at City College’s Center for Worker Education. More about Tamilla at www.Tamilla.com

DATES & LOCATIONS FOR LA RUTA
Wednesday, April 10 thru Sunday, April 14 UFT Bronx Borough Office 2500 Halsey Street, Bronx, NY 10461 For tickets: http://larutabronx.bpt.me
Tuesday, April 16 thru Sunday, April 28 The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025 For tickets: http://larutamanhattan.bpt.me
Wednesday, May 1 thru Sunday, May 5 IBEW Local 3 Headquarters 158-11 Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Avenue, Flushing, NY 11365 For tickets: http://larutaqueens.bpt.me
Wednesday, May 8 thru Sunday, May 12 Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301 For tickets: http://larutastatenisland.bpt.me

Other articles on Working Theater:
Working Theater presents The Best of TheaterWorks!: Stories from the 99%, at The Dorothy Strelsin Theatre at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex
Working Theater presents The Poetry of Philip Levine with Jeffrey Eugenides, André De Shields, Gene Gillette and Lisa Ramirez on May 7
Photos: Working Theater’s Production of Rob Ackerman’s CALL ME WALDO at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex
Papermag.com: An Emerson-Loving Electrician Takes the Stage in Call Me Waldo
1199SEIU President George Gresham to receive Labor Leadership Award at 2011 Working Theater Annual Awards Ceremony
André De Shields & Alison Fraser Star in Reading of Michael Aman’s The Unbleached American at Theater Row on 5/9
Working Theater Presents Staged Reading of Chay Yew’s Visible Cities at The Studio Theatre on Theatre Row
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Lia Chang Photo Slideshows of Productions in the Working Theater’s 25th Anniversary Season
Multimedia: Photos of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s American Jornalero at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre
Photos of André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance
Achieving the American Dream, Professional Charmer Andre De Shields Sees Theater is a Way to Life
André De Shields Celebrates Black History Month Starring in The Working Theater’s Production of Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory at The Abingdon in February 2010
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.

Lia Chang: Two-Time Grammy Nominated Hiroshima Performs at Yoshi’s Oakland, August 17-19, 2012

HIROSHIMA (Jaimee Itagaki)

Two-time Grammy nominated American jazz fusion band Hiroshima returns to Yoshi’s Oakland, Friday, August 17-Sunday, August 19, 2012, with new music from their latest CD Departure. It is the follow-up to their 2010 Grammy-nominated Legacy CD. Departure is available on the Hiroshima website, iTunes, Amazon.com, facebook and CDbaby.

Yoshi’s Oakland is located at 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square in Oakland. Performances are Friday, August 17th at 8pm & 10pm, Saturday, August 18 at 8pm & 10pm, Sunday, August 19 at 6pm & 8pm. All sets are $28. Click here for tickets.

Dan Kuramoto co-founder and leader of the band stated, “After more than 30 years in the recording industry — and almost 4 million records sold we’ve decided to leave record companies behind and venture on our own. “It is a new beginning for us in many ways. Departure is a journey of nine songs — all originals with just one guest artist, the incredible harmonica player Tetsuya “Tex” Nakamura. The opening track “Have You Ever Wondered,” is a luscious, textured piece featuring Nakamura and June’s shimmering koto.

“Koto Cruise,” is the second song and features a funky groove and a burning koto solo, “Blues for Sendai,” a soulful jazz blues piece, is dedicated to the spirit of the Japanese people who are rebuilding after the tragedies of March, 2011. The rockin’ blues in “Smiling Jack,” recalls the music of the 80’s and features the roaring B3 organ playing of Kimo Cornwell The sensual soul of “See You Again,” is a tribute to our friend and mentor James Moody. If you listen closely you’ll hear “Moody’s Mood for Love.”

After many years of requests, we offer our first live taiko recording, “Yamasong Duet” – - capturing the voice and the thunder of Shoji’s taiko and Danny’s fierce percussion interplay. The power and spirit of “First Nation,” a composition by the Hawaiian Kimo Cornwell, is a song embracing many native cultures – - and some serious jazz.

Departure ends with two new visitations to our most popular songs, “Thousand Cranes,” and a soulful version of “One Wish,” done as an acoustic trio.”

Hiroshima at Yoshi’s Oakland
Aug 17-Aug 19, 2012
Friday, August 17 8pm & 10pm
Saturday, August 18 8pm & 10pm
Sunday, August 19 6pm & 8pm
all sets $28 each

Yoshi’s Oakland
510 Embarcadero West
Jack London Square
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510.238.9200

HiroshimaMusic.com

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
H I R O S H I M A in Benefit Concert for Japan on September 21, 2011 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York
Faith Prince and Jason Graae: The Prince & the Showboy in Concert at 54 Below, August 21-25, 2012
Mino Cinelu Solo & Friends in “First Night Live Concerts” at Arlene’s Grocery in New York on August 19, 2012
Catch Grammy-winning Drummer Will Calhoun in August at The Iridium, Jazzmobile Summerfest 2012, The Blue Note, Hudson Valley Jazz Festival, and Wimbash
Multimedia: Living Colour NYC Highline Ballroom Concert Photos
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
Thom Sesma, Francis Jue, Robin de Jesus and John Tartaglia set for MUNY’s Aladdin, July 5-13
Catch Grammy-winning Drummer Will Calhoun in August at The Iridium, Jazzmobile Summerfest 2012, The Blue Note, Hudson Valley Jazz Festival, and WimBash
Multimedia: Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s Conversations with Derek Ting, Linus Roache and Michael Park of $upercapitalist
Lily Mariye’s Model Minority, Jayshree Janu Kharpade’s Fire in Our Hearts, Eliaichi Kimaro’s A Lot Like You, Vincent Sandoval’s Señorita, and Liang Cheng’s My Spiritual Medicine among AAIFF’12 Award Winners
West Coast Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish at Berkeley Rep stars Michelle Krusiec and Alex Moggridge, August 24-October 7, 2012
Tony Award – winning Playwright Terrence McNally to be Honored at Westport Country Playhouse Annual Gala, September 24, 2012
Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2012-2013 Season: Richard Thomas and Boyd Gaines to star in An Enemy of the People at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
George Takei, Lea Salonga, Telly Leung and Paolo Montalban star in the World Premiere of Allegiance – A New American Musical at The Old Globe, September 7 – October 21, 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
David Henry Hwang Set as Signature Theatre’s Residency One Playwright for the 2012-2013 Season
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”
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
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: H I R O S H I M A in Benefit Concert for Japan on September 21 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York

Dan Kuramoto and June Kuramoto Photo by Lia Chang

Dan Kuramoto, co-founder of the two-time Grammy nominated jazz fusion band HIROSHIMA, was in the middle of laying down tracks for their next CD, when I chatted on the phone with him recently. He asked me to hold a moment while he put down his saxophone, then shared that HIROSHIMA is performing a Benefit Concert for Japan at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York on September 21, 2011. Click here for photos from their soundcheck.

I am psyched as the unique concert will feature songs that have been the hallmark of HIROSHIMA’s 30 year career. Special guest stars on the bill include Machan on vocals, Kaoru Watanabe on Fue/percussion, David Henry Hwang on Electric violin and a surprise guest artist.

David Henry Hwang Photo by Lia Chang

Nominated for a 2010 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album, HIROSHIMA are the only Asian American Band to receive a coveted Grammy nomination and LEGACY marks their second.

Hiroshima embraces cultural diversity with innovative music that blends Jazz, Pop, R&B, and World music with Eastern and Western instruments. The group crossed over into Smooth Jazz stardom with the smash hit “One Wish” from the best-seller Gold album “Another Place.” Hiroshima’s “Go” topped Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart and won a Soul Train Award for “Best Jazz Album.”

HIROSHIMA performs in a special benefit concert for Japan at BB King Blues Club & Grill in New York on September 21, 2011.

Profits from this concert will go to the Japan Relief Fund to help recovery from the Tsunami and Earthquake disaster.
Artists subject to change.

September 21, 2011 8pm
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, New York
237 West 42nd St, Times Square, New York City

Online @ www.ticketmaster.com
By phone Ticket master 1-800-734-3000
Visit our website at: http://www.hiroshimamusic.com
http://www.listn.to/hiroshima
http://www.listn.to/junekuramoto

Taiko drummer Kaoru Watanabe Photo by Lia Chang

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Portraits of New York Chinatown After 9/11 Featured in “Post 9/11”: Commemorative Display at Library of Congress Asian Reading Room, 8/30-9/15
Goodman Theatre World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Broadway Bound “Chinglish” Scores 5 Jeff Award Nods
Mu Performing Arts 2011-2012 20th Anniversary Season: Four Destinies, Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them, Into the Woods, & Mu Daiko 15th Anniversary Concert
Dr. Bobby Fong, BD Wong & Tammy Duckworth to Receive Awards at National OCA Convention in NY on 8/6
Photos: On the town with Rick Shiomi, Co-Editor of “Asian American Plays for a New Generation”, in D.C. & NY
David Henry Hwang to Receive 2012 William Inge Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award
Rick Shiomi Checks out Performing Arts Playwrights Series in the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection of Library of Congress; Attends “Asian American Plays for a New Generation” Book Signing in NY on 7/29
Broadwayworld.com Photo Flash: Library of Congress’ IN REHEARSAL Exhibit
Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Features Photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas, Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Bakwas Bumbug! on View Through August 2
David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish is Broadway Bound this Fall; Goodman Theatre Photo Feature
broadwayworld.com: Chinglish in Rehearsal
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, 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 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.

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.