Sunday, October 2, 2011

Deep In The Heart Of Texas with Dave Matthew's Best, Jeff Collins--Saxophone Extraordinaire!

The skies at night are big and bright at the Levitt Pavilion where Leslie recorded and more than listened--she experienced the experimental, rippin', sometimes 2 saxed, fun-k-ee stylin's of Jeff Coffin, guest artist and grammy award-winning saxophonist of the Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and a Dave Matthews Band.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gIlLOowyP0

Jeff Coffin on Tenor Saxophone, Tim Ishii conducting the UT, Arlington Jazz Orchestra.
Under the direction of Tim Ishii, Jeff's North Texas State University classmate and UT, Arlington's Jazz Studies Director, the UTA Jazz Orchestra played to a burnin' hot finish at this packed outdoor venue!

Tim solo'ed on the spot at Jeff's request and the two burned the floor!  Audiences were yelling, "We love you!"

That night, everything was bigger and better in Texas!! 

Check out Jeff Coffin & the MU'TET Live!  (A special edition 2 cd set.); www.jeffcoffin.com
Check out UT Arlington, Jazz Faculty Group album; Produced by Tim Ishii; www.uta.edu/musicjazz

Friday, July 1, 2011

From Iowa to Barcelona

Leslie's "Watashi Niwa Jishinga Aru: I Have A Spine" traveled to Iowa City and was performed at the Working Group Theatre in their Under Construction New Works Festival!

This infant of a new work found it's first steps with wonderful and diverse audiences. It was paired during it's theatrical run with Sean Christopher Lewis' humorous and touching solo work, "Just Kids." A big thank you and shout out to the Iowa community angels, Working Group Theatre and crew, Sean Christopher Lewis, Jennifer Fawcett, and Martin Andrews and his family.

Lovely Iowa in the Spring was where May Day baskets were mysteriously left at doorsteps, daffodils and tulips were in full bloom, and new works were also blossoming.

Then, spring gave way to summer and Leslie is continuing the development of "Watashi!" She is officially invited to perform the next incarnation of this solo work at The Freedom and Focus Fitzmaurice Voicework Conference in Barcelona, Spain!

Leslie is a co-organizer of this conference and is a presenter as well. The workshop she will present is "Finding Your Voice; Finding Your Story." In this workshop she shares her method of creating devised work born out of the Fitzmaurice Voicework approach.

Stay tuned for more because with Leslie, there is always more!!

"Doing what I love and loving what I do!"

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!!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

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
Or Call: 213-625-7000
Enter the code: CRIMES45 on the website or call and mention it and get a discount!

Monday, November 8, 2010

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

Sunday, September 12, 2010

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