ewp and cast present staged reading of the girls from afar

If you're in Los Angeles this Thursday night, check out this staged reading of The Girl From Afar, presented by East West Players in collaboration with the Coalition to Abolist Slavery and Trafficking. It's happening January 21 at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Little Tokyo.

It's a special event to raise awareness about slavery and human trafficking issues in the Greater Los Angeles and Asian Pacific Islander American communities. Featuring a star-studded cast, the staged reading will be followed by a panel discussion on modern-day slavery. Here are the details:

EWP (East West Players) in collaboration with the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) is proud to present

Excerpts from: THE GIRLS FROM AFAR by Libby Emmons, a staged reading directed by Jeff Liu

Featuring:
Dante Basco (Hook, Take the Lead)
Fran de Leon (Dogeaters at the Kirk Douglas Theatre)
James Kyson Lee (NBC's Heroes)
Camille Mana (UPN's One on One)
Tamlyn Tomita (The Karate Kid II, The Joy Luck Club).

Thursday, January 21, 2010
7:30 PM - show
Panel Discussion & Reception to follow

Tateuchi Democracy Forum in the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
(Across the parking lot at East West Players next to the Japanese American National Museum)
111 N. Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
RSVP to (213) 625-7000 or on Facebook

Did you know that January is Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month? I didn't either. Every year, at least 15,000-17,000 people are trafficked into the U.S., with Los Angles serving as one of three main points of entry.

As part of an effort to utilize the arts to raise awareness about this issue in the Asian Pacific Islander American community, CAST and EWP are partnering to produce this event as a part of a monthlong "From Freedom to Slavery" campaign. Hopefully, you can make it out, take part, and most importantly, take action. For information, take a look at the Facebook event page here.