They Call Us Bruce 2013: They Call Us Here Lies Love

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. (Almost) 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.

In this episode, we welcome Arielle Jacobs and Jose Llana, the stars of the revolutionary new Broadway musical Here Lies Love, an immersive roof-raising disco musical that tells the story of Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos. They discuss the unique thrill of performing in this groundbreaking, form-busting theatre experience, their immense pride in being a part of Broadway's first ever all-Filipino cast, and the complicated responsibility of narrativizing this very real history of the Philippines -- The Good, The Bad, and The WTF.

Marc delaCruz is Broadway's first Alexander Hamilton

Filipino-Japanese American actor makes his debut in the Broadway musical's title role.



There have been Asian Americans in the cast of Hamilton since the hit Broadway musical's inception. But over the weekend, for the first time on ever on Broadway, an Asian American actor stepped into the title role.

Marc delaCruz, who is Filipino and Japanese American, made his debut Saturday in the role of Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway production of the acclaimed, award-winning musical.

How to audition for Jon M. Chu's adaptation of 'In the Heights'

Open casting call seeks talent for upcoming film version of the beloved Tony Award-winning musical.



In the Heights is looking for some fresh talent. Director Jon M. Chu's upcoming adaptation of the beloved Tony Award-winning musical has put out an open digital casting call for auditions.

In the Heights, with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, follows the residents of largely Latino Upper Manhattan neighborhood Washington Heights -- a bodega owner, a college student, a taxi driver, a beauty salon worker, and an old woman -- aspire to better lives as gentrification begins to take hold, and a sweltering summer power blackout brings their personal life crises to a head.

This is your chance to be considered for a role in the film. Here are more details about the casting call:

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 40: They Call Us David Henry Hwang

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 episode, we welcome celebrated playwright David Henry Hwang to talk about his wildly original, form-busting new "play with a musical" Soft Power. We discuss political fantasies and realities, Hillary Clinton as a romantic lead, and that time David got stabbed (but lived to tell the tale).

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.

How A Christmas Story Live! Made Its Chinese Restaurant Scene Less Racist

Live musical enlists the help of Ken Jeong and The Filharmonic.



From Vulture... When families and "You'll shoot your eye out!" obsessives gather 'round the old flat-screen to watch Fox's ambitious musical event, A Christmas Story Live!, they may notice a few adjustments to the beloved 1983 film that inspired the special.

...Fans of the movie will notice that the production deviates from an almost entirely white cast to include a more diverse group of performers, including Maya Rudolph as Ralphie's mother, David Alan Grier as the surly department-store Santa Claus, Fred Armisen as a store elf, Ken Jeong as a Christmas-tree salesman and Chinese-restaurant owner, and scores of other actors of color who appear as townspeople, Ralphie's classmates, and in a myriad song-and-dance numbers.

But the most noticeable update comes toward the end of the production, during the Chinese-restaurant scene when a group of Asian waiters sing "Deck the Halls" for Ralphie and his family on Christmas day. The original film depicted the waiters as performing the song with stereotypical mispronunciation, singing the song's refrain as "Fa ra ra ra ra" instead of "Fa la la la la." But in this version, the quintet -- in real life, the a cappella group Filharmonic -- performs the classic carol flawlessly.

More here: How A Christmas Story Live! Made Its Chinese-Restaurant Scene Less Racist

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.

This is not leaked footage from the Mulan remake. It's better.

Chinese kids perform a pretty faithful re-creation of "Honor To Us All."



Leaked! Here is footage from the upcoming live action remake of Mulan. Just kidding. I'm not exactly sure what this is, but it features a bunch of Chinese kids performing a pretty faithful re-creation of the "Honor to Us All" number from Disney's 1998 animated feature Mulan. According to a Facebook comment, it's from a show called Little Actors and Actresses, in which kids perform their own takes on classic movies and TV shows.

Check it out:

Phillipa Soo to star in 'Amelie, A New Musical' on Broadway

Breakout Broadway star to leave 'Hamilton' on July 9.



Breakout Broadway star Phillipa Soo, who is leaving her Tony-nominated role as Eliza Schuyler in the blockbuster musical Hamilton next month, will star in the stage musical adaptation of Amelie.

Phillipa Soo to Leave 'Hamilton'; Eliza Will Become Amélie

Soo will play the title role. Based on the hit French romantic comedy, Amélie, A New Musical tells the story of Amelie Poulain, an inquisitive and charmingly shy young woman who turns the streets of Montmartre into a world of her own imagining, while secretly orchestrating moments of joy for those around her.

"Damn, Daniel (Dae Kim)."

"Back at it again with the red robe."



It was only a matter of time before actor Daniel Dae Kim got the proper "Damn, Daniel" treatment.

The Hawaii Five-0 star is currently taking the stage as the King of Siam in the Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. Co-star Ashley Park, who appears in the show as Tuptim, recently blessed the internet with her own hilarious backstage version of the "Damn, Daniel" meme.

Casting Call: Seeking Asian American Transgender performers for 'Interstate'

Staged reading for a new pop-rock poetry musical by Kit Yan and Melissa Li


Putting the call out for Asian American transgender and gender nonconforming actors.... Interstate, a new musical by Melissa Li and Kit Yan, is currently seeking Equity or non-Equity Asian American transgender or gender nonconforming performers for a 29 hour staged reading happening next month.

Interstate is described as an Asian American pop-rock poetry musical about two transgender people at different stages of their journey and their parallel experiences with love, family, and finding a community.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, April 2 in Midtown Manhattan. Here's the breakdown:

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.

'Allegiance' Original Broadway Cast Recording

Starring Lea Salonga, George Takei and Telly Leung



The original cast recording of the Broadway musical Allegiance, starring George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leung, with lyrics and music by Jay Kuo, is now available digitally and in stores.

Allegiance (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Inspired by true events, 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. 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.

Allegiance is the story of one family's resilience in the face seemingly insurmountable odds, following the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves.

Here's a preview of the album:

Daniel Dae Kim to make Broadway debut in 'The King and I'

'Hawaii Five-0' star will join the revival cast for a limited eight-week engagement.



Lost and Hawaii Five-0 star Daniel Dae Kim will make his Broadway debut this summer in the Lincoln Center Theater's Tony-winning revival of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The King and I.

Daniel Dae Kim to Make Broadway Debut in 'The King and I'

Kim will join the cast of The King and I for a limited eight-week engagement, beginning May 3.

While the role marks his first time performing on Broadway, this won't be DDK's first time playing the King of Siam. He previously appeared in a concert production of The King and I at London's royal Albert Hall in 2009.

Lea Salonga to guest star on 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'

CW's musical comedy is officially the Filipino-est show on television.



Whaaaaaat. Broadway star Lea Salonga will guest star in the season finale of the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This is, hands down, the most perfect casting of a singing Filipino in the history of television.

Tony Award-Winner Lea Salonga to Sing in CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND Finale

The Tony Award-winning actress, who currently stars in Broadway's Allegiance, broke the news on Twitter that she'll be appearing in the acclaimed musical-themed comedy -- and singing too. (Of course she'll be singing.)

'Allegiance' announces Broadway closing date

George Takei's musical about the internment of Japanese Americans will close on February 14.



Bummer. Allegiance is closing its run on Broadway. The musical, inspired by George Takei's experience in an internment camp during World War II, will play its final performance on February 14.

But it's not all bad news. This isn't the last you'll see of Allegiance. While the show's lights are darkening on Broadway, producers announced a national tour and international production of the musical are in the works.

ALLEGIANCE to Close on Broadway in February; Tour & International Productions in the Works

Allegiance is a multigenerational tale of love, loss and heroism, following one Japanese American family's extraordinary journey through wrongful imprisonment during World War II.

The musical marks Tony and Olivier award-winner Lea Salonga's long-awaited return to Broadway, alongside George Takei in his Broadway debut at age 78 and Glee star Telly Leung. The cast also includes Katie Rose Clarke, Michael K. Lee, Christopheren Nomura and Greg Watanabe.

Philadelphia school cancels play after complaints of racism

Students accuse 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' of stereotypes against Asians.


A 2013 production of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'
Props to these students for speaking out. A Philadelphia high school has dropped plans to stage the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie after students complained about the play's racist depiction of Asians.

CAPA Drops Musical After Complaints of Racism

Earlier this month, Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) canceled its staging of Thoroughly Modern Millie after a group of students protested against the production and its "disturbing stereotypes against Asians," including white actors appearing in yellowface.

'Allegiance' has been saving a seat for Donald Trump

George Takei calls on Trump to denounce racial/religious profiling and invites him to his Broadway musical.



Donald Trump has a standing open invitation to attend a performance of the Broadway musical Allegiance, issued by star George Takei himself. They've even been saving a seat for him at every performance.

Last week, Takei issued a video response to Trump's recent comments regarding both the Muslim community and Japanese American internment camps. The Republican presidential candidate called for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. and could not definitively say whether or not he would have supported the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. His supporters seem to think it was a good idea.

First look video highlights from Broadway's 'Allegiance'

Watch Episode 7 of the behind-the-scenes documentary webseries 'Trek to Broadway.'



The new Broadway musical Allegiance, currently in previews at The Longacre Theatre, opens on November 8. Inspired by George Takei's true-life experience in an internment camp, Allegiance follows one Japanese American family's extraordinary journey through wrongful imprisonment during World War II.

Allegiance stars George Takei as Sam Kimura/Ojii San, Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura and Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura; with book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione and music and lyrics by Jay Kuo.

Here's a new first look video with musical highlights from Allegiance:

Backstreet Boys ain't got nuthin' on Vincent Rodriguez III

Josh Chan is Rachel's hilarious boy band fantasy on 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'



Have you been watching been Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? The CW musical comedy stars Rachel Bloom as Rebecca Bunch, who impulsively gives up her successful life and law career in New York City to relocate to West Covina, California in a quest for love, adventure and true happiness. Um, why West Covina? Her former flame Josh Chan, played by by the studly Vincent Rodriguez II, just happens to live there too.

On last night's episode, we got to see Josh Chan singing and dancing in an amaaaaaaazing boy band number, as fantasized by Rachel. And of course, Josh played all four different members of Rachel's dream group, from the sensitive crooner to the bad boy. It's pretty incredible, from the moment he says "Hey, girl."

Take a look: