News Flash Galore:

There comes a time...

UPDATES:

East West Players Asian American Theatre (EWP)

• Classes at EWP are underway: 
• The Fundamentals of Acting Series has begun.  Join the series and become eligible to be cast in our annual EWP Studio Lab Project.  Apply your skills to the rehearsal and public performance process at the end of the series. 
• We have grown to have a two-tiered Voice and Speech course.  There is a beginning Fitzmaurice Voicework course and I teach the Intermediate/Advanced course for those with experience in voice and speech work and/or who are working professionals.  This work will jump start your acting and/or creative careers!  Plan to join us!
• www.eastwestplayers.org  click on education and conservatory
•  I am slated to direct the next EWP School Tour Show.  The tour usually rehearses late January, early February.  I am very excited!  The play is currently in development.  Stay tuned for updates!

Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF)

• It is official that I'll be heading to OSF in April to fulfill an assistant directing position under director, Christopher Liam Moore.  The show is "The Very Merry Wives of Windsor, Iowa."  The adaptation is by Alison Carey and the show will perform on the Elizabethean outdoor stage.  I am so excited I'll be working with top-notch artists to gain experience and expertise as a director!  http://www.osfashland.org/index.aspx

Fitzmaurice Voicework 

• Fitzmaurice Voicework goes to Vancouver BC for it's second annual International Freedom and Focus Conference.
• I am co-director of the conference with Noah Drew.  Both native Northwesterners, we are eager to show-off our beautiful environment and pristine air.  What better place to free up the breath and the voice?
• Look for more details soon and plan to join us in late July or early August!http://freedomandfocusconference.org/Freedom_and_Focus/Welcome.html

Theatre Communications Group (TCG)

• A core group of artists of color continue to meet to strategize and plan for the next TCG Conference next summer.  
• Strategies for increased visibility and diversity throughout the theatre industry are currently underway.
• October 21st is the launch date for an industry-wide survey to garner information for further advocacy and strategizing.  Leave a comment and way to reach you if you are a POC in the theatre industry and would like to receive a survey to support POC development and visibility.
• Exciting new plans for are forming.  Check back for updates! 

She's Everywhere At Once!

Busy is inadequate to describe Leslie's life--
Fully engaged at full tilt is more like it!

Leslie has been seen in Douglas, Alaska, hiking and teaching at Perseverance Theatre's artist training intensive, ASTI (Alaska State Training Institute). Many thanks to all at Perseverance Theatre, Art Roch, Shona Strausser, Leon Ingulsrud, and Dan LeFranc. (What happens in Douglas stays in Douglas.:)))

In the lower 48 she was also seen at the 50th birthday/conference celebration of Theatre Communication Group (TCG)! Yes, they are the organization that publishes "American Theatre Magazine." TCG break out sessions, plenaries, meals, taking in Radar LA Theatre festival, and East West Players Asian American Theatre's awesome "KRUNK FU BATTLE BATTLE" with theatre colleagues from Alaska and all over the world was a practice in being everywhere at once.

Directly following the TCG 50th Conference, the National Asian American Theatre Conference and Festival, hosted by East West Players Asian American Theatre, topped off the month of June and energized and built a new direction for the Asian American theatre movement! Talented AsAm artists from all over the world performed and worked tirelessly to make this conference the best one yet!

Proud to be AsAm!!

Rave Reviews for "Crimes Of The Heart!"

"Three solid sisterly performances...Fresh and vibrant as ever." LA Downtown News

"The cast makes Henley's script shine." Rafu Shimpo

"An absolutely splendid staging." StageSceneLA.com

"Crimes Of The Heart" is a smash-hit...Leslie Ishii's direction is spot-on!"

StageSceneLA.com

Where: East West Players Asian American Theatre

120 Judge John Aiso Street

Los Angeles, 90012

When: Now through December 5th

Wednesday - Saturdays, 8pm

Sunday Matinees, 2pm

How: www.eastwestplayers.org

Or Call: 213-625-7000

Enter the code: CRIMES45 on the website or call and mention it and get a discount!

CRIMES OF THE HEART!

CRIMES OF THE HEART

OPENS!

This talented cast and highly acclaimed design team bring "Crimes" to life in a new way! Come on down; we're going to the deep South!

Did you know that Asians have been in the South for centuries! See this mixed heritage Southern Asian family confess their crimes!

I had a blast directing this show and it is a wonderful evening or afternoon in the theatre! Commit to "Crimes Of The Heart!'

When: Wednesday, November 10th - December 5th, 2010
Where: East West Players Asian American Theatre
120 Judge John Aiso Street (between Temple and 1st)
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Call: 213-625-7000 for tickets
Or order at: eastwestplayers.org

CRIMES OF THE HEART @ EWP!

With the first official production meeting under our belts, we are off to a great start with "CRIMES OF THE HEART!

Creative Team:

Shigeru Yaji, Set Design

Lonnie Alcaraz, Lighting Design

Garry Lennon, Costume Design

Peter Erskine, Composer/Sound Design

Ken Takemoto, Properties Master

We're moving into the casting process this coming week!
It's a really exciting time!

Visting this blog and eastwestplayers.org for updates on productions and programs and tickets!
Or call: 213-625-7000 for information and tickets!

Blessings!

"MYSTERIOUS SKIN!" A Must-SEE at EWP!

"Mysterious Skin"

by

Prince Gomolvilas

directed by

Tim Dang

I just saw the preview last night and wow! It will only get more brilliant and finely tuned by opening next Wednesday, September 15, 2010!

You must see this show. With Prince's new play and Tim's leadership and directing, they have just ushered in a new era at East West Players! This show transcends edgy and moves into the arena of IMPORTANT WORK with sensitivity, depth, and truth regarding a very complex subject. Please don't miss this show. In this case, theater is bringing about powerful change; it's creating awareness and healing!

Mysterious Skin

When: September 9th - October 10, 2010

Where: East West Players Asian American Theatre

120 Judge John Aiso Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

For more ticket information go to: eastwestplayers.org

Or call: 213-625-7000

News Flash!

"CRIMES OF THE HEART"

Leslie was offered to direct the Pulitzer Prize Winner, "Crimes Of The Heart" by Beth Henley, at East West Players Asian American Theater's main stage in Los Angeles.

She accepted the job and will begin auditions in September of this year.

"Crimes" will open in early November.

Look for more exciting updates as the design team and cast are assembled!

PBN Watch!

Painting By Numbers is Outward Bound!

Karen Samski and I finished our 6th draft of "Painting By Numbers" and we are starting the submission process!!

We are researching and selecting playwriting festivals and theaters to which we will query and submit our play.

Please send us good juju as we begin the next phase of our journey with our passion for playwriting included on this path!

Thank you to Prince Gomalvilas, Jeff Liu, The David Henry Hwang Writers Institute at East West Players, and our classmates for the support and push to keep our process moving forward!

Blessings All!

JUNE 30th, Tuesday--Save The Date!

"Painting By Numbers"

by

Leslie Ishii and Karen Samski

Playwriting is the new cool!

If you can write it, then say it and play it!

Join me and my writing partner for a reading of "Painting By Numbers," a play inspired by Jane Austen's novel "Persuasion."

Presented by: David Henry Hwang Writers Institute at East West Players Theater

When: June 30th, Tuesday evening, @ 7:30 pm
Where: East West Players Theater (EWP)120 Judge John Aiso Street
(+ 2nd, in Little Tokyo)
Los Angeles, 90012
No reservations required.
EWP: 213-625-7000
eastwestplayers.org