By Mabel Pais

(The performance is) “an exercise in noir styling and political intrigue, identities can be fluid and motivations suspect.” – The New York Times

 “Pan Asian Rep enters a brave new world to re-imagine theater with the audio version of ‘Film Chinois’ as radio play about a time of cat and mouse global tensions where the individual is but a pawn.”- Tisa Chang, founding Artistic Director, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.

PAN ASIAN REPERTORY THEATRELAUNCHES

44TH MILESTONE SEASON

 

‘FILM CHINOS’

RE-ENVISIONED RADIO PLAY ADAPTATION

WRITTEN BY DAMON CHUA

DIRECTED BY KAIPO SCHWAB

 

FEATURING MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL 2015 PAN ASIAN CAST

A TWO-PART SERIES

AVAILABLE ONLINE UNTIL FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre (Tisa Chang, Founding Artistic Producing Director) launches its 44th Milestone Season with the virtual revival presentation of the film noir infused thriller ‘Film Chinois’, a re-envisioned radio play adaptation written by Damon Chua (‘The Emperor’s Nightingale’).

Director Kaipo Schwabreunites the five-member 2015 Pan Asian cast that will feature Rosanne Ma as China Doll with Jean Brassard as The Ambassador, Dinh James Doan as The Man, Katie Lee Hill as Simone, Benjamin Jones as Randolph.

‘Film Chinois’ which premiered on Monday, January 25, 2021 in two-parts will be available to view through Sunday, February 7, 2021. For Tickets and to make reservations, visit panasian-filmchinois.eventbrite.com

‘Film Chinois’ is a film noir infused thriller of spy-versus-spy intrigue and dangerous romantic liaisons in the vein of Hollywood‘s classic films such as “The Maltese Falcon.” Re-envisioned as a radio play, the thriller takes us back to 1947 Peking, an uneasy time between WWII and the imminent Communist takeover two years later. The story centers around China Doll, a Maoist femme fatale, and Randolph, a fresh-faced American operative on a secret mission, and a mysterious man. Further complicating matters is the Ambassador who seems to know Peking all too well and his current flame, Simone, a songstress with something up her sleeve. As Randolph plunges deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness, he finds his life imperiled, as he begins to unravel the mystery of a piece of old homemade film. ‘Film Chinois’ made its East Coast Premiere with Pan Asian Rep in January 2015 at The Beckett Theater at Theater Row.

The creative team includes Sound Design by Ian Wehrle, Voiceovers by Kaipo Schwab, and Stage Manager Kristine Schlachter. For additional information, visit panasianrep.org

About Pan Asian Repertory Theatre

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, celebrating its 44th Milestone Season, is the most veteran Asian American theatre company on the East Coast founded by Tisa Chang in 1977 with the vision to promote equity and access that Asian Americans artists can equally follow, focusing on stories of probing social justice issues with distinctive Off-Broadway Productions, Tours, National Outreach, and Community Service.

The company has nurtured thousands of artists and is a “who-is-who” of Asian American theatre history, with notable alumni/ae: Ako, Ernest Abuba, Tina Chen, Philip Gotanda, Wai Ching Ho, David Henry Hwang, Daniel Dae Kim, Lucy Liu, Ron Nakahara, R.A. Shiomi, Lauren Yee, and Henry Yuk. To learn more, visit panasianrep.org

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AMAS MUSICAL THEATRE – ‘BLACK BUTTERFLY’

AMAS MUSICAL THEATRE

PRESENTS VIRTUAL READING OF ‘BLACK BUTTERFLY’

A SURREAL DRAMEDY TV SERIES WITH MUSIC

WRITTEN BY MARY MCCALLUM AND N’KENGE

CREATED BY N’KENGE

FEATURING: N’KENGE, TERENCE ARCHIE AND TAMARA TUNIE

 

STREAM LAUNCH BEGINS FEBRUARY 3, 2021

 

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) will present a virtual benefit reading of ‘Black Butterfly’ a surreal dramedy TV series with music, written by Mary McCallum & N’Kenge. This virtual experience will launch online beginning Wednesday, February 3 at 7pm (followed by a Q&A with the company) and will be available on demand through February 6, 2021. Tickets are free, but reservations are required at www.amasmusical.org. All proceeds will benefit Amas Musical Theatre’s education programs.

The performance is directed by Jerry Foley (“The Late Show with David Lettermen”, “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come”), the cast features N’Kenge (“Caroline, or Change”, “Motown: The Musical”), Terence Archie (“Rocky:The Musical”, “Company”) and Tamara Tunie (“Law & Order, SVU,” “As The World Turns”) with Benjamin Eakley (“Orange is the New Black,” “The Blacklist,” Robert’ De Niro’s “The Good Shepherd”), Joy Hermalyn (“Caroline, or Change”), Tess Keisz, Kevin Kilner (“Bonding,” “House of Cards”), Tamika Lawrence (“Caroline, or Change”, “Come From Away”, “The Book of Mormon”), Jahzara Martina, and John Preator (“American Idol”). The stage manager is Benjamin A. Vigil.

Tahja, a beautiful and multi-dimensional aspiring Black opera singer, leaves behind the comforts of family life in Florida, the opportunity to work the family business and her engagement to the perfect “southern gentleman” to pursue her dreams as a graduate student at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City.

“Black Butterfly” incorporates a mixture of pre-existing and brand new Broadway, jazz, hip-hop, opera, blues and soul music into Tahja’s journey, set in the bustling and exciting world of the New York City music scene. From the rigid walls of Juilliard filled with strict professors and young hungry talent, to the cutthroat competition of the Broadway stage and audition scene, with the raw eclectic energy of NYC heightened by surreal experiences, Tahja learns that her journey of self-discovery is tied to empowering herself and her passion for her music, and that her dreams “do not have deadlines.”

About Amas Musical Theatre

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) is a non-profit, multi-ethnic theatrical organization founded in 1968 by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire. Amas (“you love” in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals, the celebration of cultural equity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people. Amas celebrates its impact in pioneering multi-ethnic casting in the American Theatre and reiterates its commitment to this reflection of our diverse society. For more information, visit amasmusical.org

For more details on N’Kenge’s 2021 tour schedule and recordings, visit nkengemusic.com

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SHEEN CENTER – EPIPHANIES OF BEAUTY

“I insist on believing that beauty elevates human beings.”- Aleksandr Solzhenitsy

As we step into the new year with hope in our hearts, The Sheen Center is committed to continuing its mission of elevating culture in 2021 by highlighting “the true, the good and the beautiful.” Building on this past summer’s “Faith, Hope & Love” series and the “Season of Light” Christmas content, the Center is excited to share its plan of a calendar of new virtual programs — music, theater, films and talk — under the banner of “Epiphanies of Beauty,” a phrase taken from Pope Saint John Paul II’s Letter to Artists.

Scheduled offerings will include events celebrating January’s ‘Respect Life’ Month and February’s ‘Black History’ Month, beginning with a conversation about what it means to be human with O. Carter Snead, Director of the University of Notre Dame’s de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture on January 26th. For more information, visit sheencenter.org

Black History Month begins on Friday, February 5 with a virtual panel discussion titled “The Church and Racial Justice: A Conversation in Truth and Hope” co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York’s Office of Black Ministry and moderated by Emmy-nominated journalist and author Liz Faublas.

For updates and a full schedule of events, visit sheencenter.org

As we continue to navigate these challenging times, the Sheen Center strives to always lead with light and the sacred dignity of each person, believing with Solzhenitsyn that beauty has the power to uplift us – as individuals and a society.

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)