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Our Mission: To create theatrical productions that celebrate the Asian American experience, to present fresh perspectives on traditional works, and to further develop and educate adult and youth Asian American artists in their craft.

Our Values and Vision: By preserving traditions that emphasize education, balanced family values, and the respect of history and senior generations, SDAART strives to foster community, peace, and awareness among different cultures and generations, while introducing new artistic voices that help to incorporate changes of the present with learnings from the past.

Our Goals: SDAART hopes to give flesh and voice to under-recognized Asian American plays and stage works by new and established artists to help bridge cross-generational and cross-cultural gaps and transcend stereotypes. Our work pushes participants to re-think their image and pre-judgments of Asian Americans, increasing knowledge and awareness of the diverse experiences in the United States. SDAART strives to develop an Endowment which would help make the dramatic process and production a continuing reality, thus enhancing the San Diego arts community and literary landscape in general

Flower Drum Song:
A Musical Revival in Concert

Presented by SDAART

May 12 - June 12, 2011
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
Previews May 6 and 7 at 7:30pm

La Jolla Playhouse
Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre
2910 La Jolla Village Drive (UCSD)
Corner of Revelle College Drive and Scholars Drive South

Reserve tickets by email: sdaarttix@gmail.com or call 619–940-5891

San Diego Asian American Repertory Theater (SDAART), in residence at La Jolla Playhouse, presents Flower Drum Song: A Musical Revival in Concert (2010). Based on the legendary Broadway musical (1958), popular movie (1961), and modern revival (2002), Flower Drum Song follows Mei-Li, who flees Mao’s Communist China and immigrates to San Francisco in the 1950s. She struggles to balance tradition and assimilation while looking for love. It also explores intergenerational conflict as Wang, the owner of an old-fashioned opera house, resists his son who wants to turn it into a nightclub in pursuit of the American dream.
“Flower Drum Song has a rich and controversial history and deserves the highest honor in the canon of Asian American theater. We are thrilled to bring the West Coast premiere of the revival in concert to San Diego, especially during May, Asian Heritage month,” says Elise Kim Prosser, Ph.D., President of SDAART. It was the first musical to feature Asian Americans on Broadway and in a popular movie. The modernized revival (2002) written by Tony-Award winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly), was well-received in New York and Los Angeles. Variety described it as “a bold theatrical operation, an artistic success.” The beloved music is by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The original book was by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joseph Fields and was inspired by the novel by C.Y. Lee. “This universal romantic story has stood the test of time. Presenting the revival in concert is a streamlined way to introduce the musical to the next generation while bringing back fond memories for the older generations,”
states director Peter James Cirino. He may be contacted at (619) 729-5549 or cirpopino@sbcglobal.net

The cast includes: David Armstrong, Rosalie Celestial, Mindy Chu, Rossana De Leon, Michael Demoret, Angela Evers, Ana Jacala, Kezia Liu, Tiffany Loui, Dante Macatantan, Patrick Mayuyu, Albert Park, Elise Kim Prosser, Melissa Rodriguez, Trini Tran, Ritchie Valenzuela, and Rickey Calixto. Theatre Design - Costume Design: Caroline Rousset-Johnson MFA Graduate Student. The creative team includes: Peter James Cirino, Director; Thomas Hodges, Musical Director; Chris Wollman, Assistant Director, Gina Ma, Choreographer; Tom Kaye, Stage Manager, Dom Abbenante, Scenic Designer; Kevin Anthenill, Sound Designer; Lila Lace Flores, Lighting Designer; and Andy Lowe, La Jolla Playhouse Theatre-in-Residence Program Coordinator.

Spearheaded by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, the Resident Theatre Program aims to encourage the artistic development of up-and-coming performing arts organizations, while advancing and contributing to the San Diego theatre scene as a whole. The program is also designed to address San Diego’s lack of available, affordable performance spaces by providing a temporary home each year to one of the many local troupes without a permanent venue. Now entering its fourth year, the Resident Theatre Program is an annual appointment at La Jolla Playhouse. In addition to performance space, the Playhouse provides lighting and sound support and is available to offer marketing and development advice.

SDAART

- San Diego Asian American Repertory Theater is a professional, non-profit performing arts Organization

- We are San Diego’s premier contemporary Asian American theater company with over 3,000 subscribers.

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LAST PLAY

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