See George Takei in the Los Angeles premiere of Allegiance

February 21 - April 1 at JACCC's Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo.



Los Angeles! Don't miss your chance to see the Broadway musical Allegiance, now on stage in Little Tokyo.

Inspired by true events, and starring George Takei, Allegiance is the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. An uplifting testament to the human spirit, Allegiance follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves.

Presented by East West Players and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, the Los Angeles premiere of Allegiance is running now through April 1 at JACCC's Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo, with the Opening Night performance and reception on February 28.

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 33: They Call Us Third Waiter From The Left

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. Each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this very special episode, recorded live last month at the David Henry Hwang Theater, we join playwright Alice Tuan and actress Amy Hill for a panel discussion, "Asian American Representation: The Politics of Casting," presented by Center Theatre Group and East West Players.

Asian American Representation: The Politics of Casting

Panel Discussion on Thursday, January 18 at East West Players



If you're in Los Angeles, Center Theatre Group and East West Players invite you to attend a community conversation, Asian American Representation: The Politics of Casting. The panel discussion will feature myself, Jeff Yang, Amy Hill and Alice Tuan talking about what it means to cast and perform Asian American roles, against the backdrop of historical Hollywood racism, growing awareness of stereotypes, whitewashing and the demand for more nuanced and equitable representation.

It's happening Thursday, January 18 at East West Players in Little Tokyo. Here are more details:

George Takei's 'Allegiance' is headed to Los Angeles

East West Players and JACCC will present the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical in 2018.



Allegiance is coming to Los Angeles next year. East West Players and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will present the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance, with performances at JACCC's Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo. from February 21 to April 1, 2018. Previews will run from February 21-25, with the Opening Night performance and reception on February 28.

With music and lyrics by Jay Kuo and a book by Marc Acito, Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione, Allegiance is inspired by the true childhood experiences of actor, activist and social media icon George Takei. The original Broadway production played on Broadway from 2015-16 at the Longacre Theatre in New York City.

Allegiance tells the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. Sam Kimura seeks to prove his patriotism by fighting for his country in the war, but his sister, Kei, fiercely protests the government's treatment of her people. An uplifting testament to the power of the human spirit, Allegiance follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves.

East West Players presents 'Criers For Hire'

February 11 - March 13, 2016 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre.



Los Angeles theater fans! East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, invites you to the world premiere comedy Criers for Hire by Giovanni Ortega and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera.

In Criers For Hire, Aurora, Remedios, and Eugenia are three of the most sought-after professional funeral criers in Monterey Park. They are eager to welcome Aurora's 14-year-old daughter Ligaya (nicknamed Gaya) from the Philippines into their world and teach her their somber trade. However, they soon realize that Gaya has the opposite effect on people, making them laugh instead of cry.

Preview performances begin this week. Here are some more details:

Casting Call: East West Players presents 'La Cage Aux Folles'

Seeking Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian legit musical theater performers for upcoming production.



East West Players, the longest running theater of color in the United States, is seeking Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian musical theater performers for their upcoming Los Angeles production of La Cage Aux Folles.

This Tony Award winning musical, which inspired the film The Birdcage, is about a gay couple; Georges, a suave owner of a glitzy drag club, and Albin, his high-strung star performer, whose charmed lives turn upside down when George's son, Jean-Michel, turns up with his fiancée, Anne. Cultures collide as Georges and Albin are introduced to Anne and her parents, members of the conservative Traditional Family Values Coalition.

Les Cage Aux Folles is scheduled to begin previews on May 12, with rehearsals beginning in April.

East West Players presents 'Takarazuka!!!'

November 6 - December 7 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre



Los Angeles! East West Players presents Takarazuka!!!, a play about an all-female Japanese performance troupe. Facing retirement, Yuko, the star of the troupe, begins to be haunted by the ghost of a former troupe star. Directed Leslie Ishii, the show runs from November 6 until December 7 at the David Henry Hwang Theater.

Here's more info:

East West Players Presents 'Animals Out of Paper'

Opens September 4 - October 5 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre



East West Players, the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, celebrates its 50th anniversary season with Animals Out of Paper by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Jennifer Chang. The play centers around a world-renowned origami artist whose neatly-arranged life is disrupted by a teenage prodigy and his school teacher. If you're in L.A. from September 4 until October 5, you can catch a performance at the David Henry Hwang Theater. Here's more info:

East West Players presents 'Beijing Spring'

A musical commemorating the events of the Tiananmen Square Uprising



East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre company, presents Beijing Spring, a musical commemorating the events of the Tiananmen Square Uprising 25 years ago. Running now through June 15, you can catch a performance at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts in Los Angeles. Here's more info:

Staged Reading of Pretendo: A Musical, August 11

Video games. Musicals. Yes, Los Angeles. This Sunday, two worlds collide, and it sounds like it's gonna be pretty awesome. Pretendo is a musical about the rise of Nintendo and a kid who looks to video games for identity and belonging. Not sold yet? Two of our favorite musicians, Paul Dateh and Jane Lui, are lined up to perform this staged reading. Bam. Here's more info:

East West Players presents Chess, May 9 - June 9

Chess is a musical about a love triangle between two chess players, an American and a Russian, during the Cold War. Former ABBA bandmates wrote the music and Tim Rice wrote the lyrics. If you're in Los Angeles this month until June 9th, you can catch the East West Players production at the David Henry Hwang Theater. Here's some more info:

East West Players and Visual Communications present "Breaking Into Television," March 25

Hey, Los Angeles. Are you interested in making a career in TV?

On Monday, March 25, East West Players and Visual Communications have teamed up to host "Breaking Into Television" with Disney ABC Director of Talent Development and Diversity, Frank B. Gonzalez. Come to the David Henry Hwang Theatre and get some tips on writing and directing for network TV. The evening will also include a Q&A with current ABC program writers.

Here are some more details:

East West Players presents Evoke: A Festival of Diverse Voices, March 14-17

If you're in Los Angeles this weekend, catch EVOKE: A Festival of Diverse Voices at East West Players in Little Tokyo. This second installation, which runs March 14-17, focuses on new work from South Asian artists. Following each performance is a post-show discussion. Here's some more information, including the list of performers: