[AMA-e-News] Asian Media Access, E-Newsletter, 12/28

[Johnny Chio]

Hi Everyone:

For information on community events, please also visit Asian Media Accessš
(AMA) Website at www.amamedia.org and click the link ŗCommunity Events
Calendar˛ (http://www2.amamedia.org/calendar/month.php).

In this edition of Asian Media Access (AMA) e-newsletter:

Asian Media Access (AMA) Events or Sponsored Event:

1. Musical Performance ­ A Dragon Odyssey

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Local Community Events:

2. Performances by Mu Performing Arts
3. History Theatrešs Production of 100 Menšs Wife by Jenny Park
4. Asian New Year Celebration Events
5. Minnesota Chinese Cultural Services Center ­ Chinese New Year Celebration

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1. Musical Performance ­ A Dragon Odyssey

ŗA Dragon Odyssey˛ was part of the 2006 Fringe Festival this past summer.
It is a collaboration between Asian Media Access, Twin Cities Chinese Dance
Center and other artists.  The musical is directed by Qiang Yang and Phil
Bologna and created by Ange Hwang.

Centered in and around ancient China, both Chinese and English songs/
various style of dances weave this classic tragedy together. In the ancient
time, the four holy spirits, Green Dragon, White Tiger, Crimson Sparrow,
Black Turtle were mandated by the God of Heaven (Tien Dei) to be in charge
of the Rain, Wind, Sun and Moon.   Until the day, when the Green Dragon fell
in love with one of the Crimson Sparrow's lady fairies - Sky Blue, who
steers the Sun Chariot.  Everything has changed.......

Date & Time: Sunday, January 7, 2007, 1 pm to 3 pm
Location: St. Louis Park High School Auditorium, 6425 W 33rd Street, St.
Louis Park, MN 55426
Admission: Free

Schedule:
1 pm to 2 pm: Showtime
2 pm to 2:30 pm: Q & A Session
2:30 pm to 3 pm: Reception & Photo Opportunities

This performance is brought to you by Asian Media Access and Twin Cities
Chinese Dance Center.  It is made possible in part by a grant from the City
of St. Louis Park and in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State
Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature.

For more information, contact Asian Media Access:
T: 612-376-7715, Ange Hwang <amamedia@amamedia.org>, www.amamedia.org
____________________________________________________________________________

2. Performances by Mu Performing Arts

Title: The New Performance program: A new works initiative by Mu Performing
Arts
Website: www.muperformingarts.org
Email: kang@muperfomringarts.org

PHASE 1 PERFORMANCES: Open to the public
Sun. January 20 at 2-6pm
Sun. January 27 at 2-6pm

LOCATION:
Mu Performing Arts Studio Space
2700 NE Winter St.
Minneapolis, MN 55413

COST: Free

Mu Performing Arts has recently received a two-year grant of $35,000 from
the Jerome Foundation to create a new program, The New Performance Program,
which aims to cultivate the work of Asian artists in order to bring it to
the main stage.  Recognizing that the field of theater and performance is
evolving, Mu wishes to focus attention on supporting more experimental and
interdisciplinary theatrical performance to the main stage.  And because
many of the most exciting Asian American voices are being heard in spoken
word and other non-traditional performance circles, the new program will
focus on merging these forms with traditional theater in the hopes of
bringing this work to the main stage.  Since the work these artists create
is more edgy and does not readily fit into the current programming, Mu has
created a process where work can be assessed in phases, moving forward
projects that fit both the creative vision of the individual artists and the
overall mandate and aesthetic vision of Mu Performing Arts.  Main stage
productions have allowed Mu to work with many talented emerging artists.
Yet over the past fourteen years, there have also been many artists whose
work Mu has admired and recognized, but has not had the opportunity or
support to produce. Some of these artists have achieved a certain level of
success in their various fields which The New Performance Program has
allowed these collaborations to occur. Artists involved in this new program
include spoken word artists Ed Bok Lee and Juliana Pegues, performance
artist Marcus Young, new music theater specialist Tim Huang, New York sketch
comedian Paul Juhn, talented actress and writer Sun Mee Chomet, and May Lee,
an exciting emerging voice from the Hmong American community.

The program will occur in phases and seven artists will participate in phase
one.  Each artist will work on developing their artistic concept with a
professional theater director for several weeks, crafting the script into a
workable form and participating with actors/performers in a workshop setting
to further develop their work. In the second phase, four of the seven
projects will be selected for further development and be included in Mušs
New Eyes Festival in April 2007.  In the third phase of the program, two
projects will be selected for final development and as potential works for
Mušs 2007-2008 main stage season. Works from the programšs first phase will
be presented on
January 20th and January 27th from 2-6pm at the Mu studio space.

Mu Performing Arts continues to expand its range of programming, to meet
artist and community needs.  Over the past decade, Mu has produced over
twenty new plays, with about half featuring traditional western plays with
Asian American content.  Many of the other plays Mu produces bring together
Asian performance forms and western dramatic structure known as Mušs
signature style. While Mu has always been dedicated to producing new work
and developing emerging artists, Mu wants to make that goal explicit through
The New Performance Program. Mušs programming has primarily focused on
theater and taiko; but has recently begun to develop musical theater pieces
like The Walleye Kid, the Musical in 2005 and Filipino Hearts in 2006. Now
Mu aims to expand the boundaries of performance through The New Performance
Program by developing more experimental and edgy work. Mu Performing Arts is
truly growing into its name, and with the support from the Jerome
Foundation, Mu will continue to grow artistically and provide new
opportunities for Asian artists through The New Performance Program.

About Mu Performing Arts: Founded in 1992 as Theater Mu, Mu Performing Arts
is the foremost Asian American theater and taiko company in the Midwest.
Recently, Theater Mu changed its name to Mu Performing Arts. This change
reflects the artistic growth of the company, encompasses Theater Mu and Mu
Daiko, and remains true to Mušs core value of giving voice to the Asian
American experience.  Through the transformational power of their works, Mu
Performing Arts successfully merges Eastern and Western, traditional and
contemporary theatrical forms.

Mu Performing Artsš mainstage season includes three Theater Mu theatrical
productions, one Mu Daiko concert, and several festivals highlighting new
works, emerging directors and taiko artists. Outreach programs to schools,
community organizations and corporations reach over 40,000 people annually
and Mu Performing Arts offers residencies and classes to develop theater and
taiko skills for adults and children in the Twin Cities.

The meaning of Mu: Our Mu (pronounced â mooâ) is the Korean pronunciation of
the Chinese ideogram for the shaman/artist/warrior who connects the heavens
and earth through the tree of life.

For more information about Mu Performing Arts call 612-824-4804 or visit
www.muperformingarts.org.
____________________________________________________________________________

3. History Theatrešs Production of 100 Menšs Wife by Jenny Park

The Asian Pacific Cultural Center is working with the Chinese Heritage
Foundation and twenty plus other organizations to co-sponsor the History
Theatrešs production of 100 Menšs Wife by Jenny Park.  This is the story of
the first Asian-American woman to live in Minnesota.  Visit
http://www.historytheatre.com/100_mens_wife.asp for more information.

It is a heartwarming story of Liang May Seen, the first Chinese woman
immigrant to Minnesota.  Rescued from a San Francisco brothel, she became
the wife of a successful Chinese American businessman from Minneapolis.
This beautiful love story follows her triumphs and struggles as she tries to
escape the horrors of her past, and adjusts to married life in the 1920šs in
Minneapolis.

They would like to invite you to attend a special performance.

Date & Time: Sunday, January 21, 2 pm
Location: History Theatre, 30 E. Tenth Street, Saint Paul

There will be a gala reception following which will be attended by Liang May
Seenšs granddaughter and family.

Please join them by making your reservations today and no later than
December 29th.  Email your reservations to Naomi Chu, Executive Director,
Asian Pacific Cultural Center at nchu@apccmn.org.  Then make a check payable
to CHFF (tickets are $25 for adults and $13 for students) and mail it to
Asian Pacific Cultural Center, P.O. Box 4097, Saint Paul, MN 55104.

Each of the sponsoring organizations will collect reservations and your
tickets will be held in your name at the WILL CALL table at the History
Theatre lobby on January 21st.
____________________________________________________________________________

4. Asian New Year Celebration Events

I. A lion dance kicks off the Year of the Pig new year celebration.  Other
fun activities include traditional folk dances, stories, art and the
distribution of lucky money!  Sponsored by the Friends of the Oxboro Library
in collaboration with the Hoang Anh Dance Group and the 2006 Richfield
Ambassadors.

Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m.
Location: Oxboro Library, 8801 Portland Ave., Bloomington; 952-847-5775

II. A lion dance kicks off the Year of the Pig new year celebration.  Other
fun activities include traditional folk dances, stories, art and the
distribution of lucky money!  Sponsored by the Friends of the Augsburg Park
Library in collaboration with the Hoang Anh dance group, Richfield Public
Schools and the 2006 Richfield Ambassadors.

Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 10, 1 p.m.
Location: Augsburg Park Library, 7100 Nicollet Ave., Richfield; 952-847-5300

III. Chinese New Year: A Family Festival: Learn how the annual 15-day
Chinese New Year festival is celebrated in China and the U.S.  Includes
activities and display honoring the Year of the Pig!  For all ages; bring
your entire family!  Sponsored by the Friends of the Plymouth Library.

Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 24, 1:30 p.m.
Location: Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Ave. N, Plymouth; 952-847-5825
____________________________________________________________________________

5. Minnesota Chinese Cultural Services Center ­ Chinese New Year Celebration

Minnesota Chinese Cultural Services Center would like to invite you for the
celebration of the 2007 Chinese New Year!  Their program includes lion
dance, Chinese music, Chinese dance, Chinese song, martial art, talent show,
lucky money for children, lots of door prizes, delicious food from food
bazaar, and more!

Date & Time: Feb. 10, 2006, 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center, U of M, 2017 Buford
Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108

Advanced Tickets:
- Adult - $12 ($15 at door)
- Senior/Student - $10 ($12 at door)
- Child (5-12) - $8 ($10 at door)
(Free admission for children under 5 years old.  All ticket include food
coupons equivalent to $5 in value.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, send email to
ChineseCulture@netscape.net.
____________________________________________________________________________


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