Catch it if you can.
On Saturday, August 14th, East West Players (EWP) will kick off its 45th season with One Night Only: Hip Hop and Hot. Directed by Marilyn Tokuda with musical direction by Nathan Wang, this one night only benefit performance offers the fun and excitement of a night of watching some of southern California’s best dance crews and performers live and in person!
“Over the years, East West Players has showcased some of the best Asian American acting and musical theatre talent. Our One Night Only fundraiser gives us the opportunity to highlight Asian American talent ranging from hip hop dance crews to breakdancers,” says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang. “We want to show that Asian Americans can dance and breakdown the stereotypes. These performances will match the level of entertainment that EWP is known for and will leave you wanting more.”
Performances by dance crew Velvet Nation, soulful singer Sue Jin, and beatbox crew Fresh Beats Inc!.
Velvet Nation, a Los Angeles born one-of-a-kind-Janet Jackson Impersonator show, hails from Hollywood and was created by dance industry professionals: Ryyn Chua and Raymond Stover. Led by Stover (as Janet Jackson) followed by his “nation”, featuring prominent dancers in the entertainment industry, Velvet Nation performs with unparalleled energy and authenticity. Chua and Stover are meticulous in reconstructing the original choreography to create an atmosphere that is nearly identical to Miss Jackson's very best moments.
Sue Jin is an inspirational figure in the world of Asian American Artists. After graduating in 2005 with a BA degree in Anthropology from UCLA, she decided to pursue her passion for music. Since then, she has performed throughout Los Angeles and Hollywood, been a featured artist for numerous university events, appeared on MTV's My Own, and was a top 10 finalist for Asian American Popstar. Drawing elements from Alicia Keys, India Arie, Joss Stone, Jill Scott, Ella Fitzgerald, Evanescence, and the legendary Stevie Wonder, she has developed her raw talent and made it acoustic soul. For more information, check out her website: www.myspace.com/suejinmusic.
Fresh Beats Inc! is a beatbox crew that was formed in January 2009. The crew members consist of Beat Rhino, KayG, Q-Flush and Airickq. The crew performs as individual artists as well as a group. They have performed in Kiwins Club Distric Convention Talent Show (won 1st place), Miles of Styles Bboy Jams, and an OCC club fundraiser. They’ve also co-hosted and organized Orange County’s first official beatbox competition with Irvine’s Youth Action Team. Besides beatboxing, KayG raps and is planning to produce a mixtape. Airickq and Beat Rhino are working towards becoming a DJ and beat producer, respectively. For the future, Fresh Beats Inc! aims to perform more frequently and promote beatboxing as a legitimate type of music.
Additional talent to be confirmed.
One Night Only: Hip Hop and Hot will be held on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts located at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. The event starts at 6:00pm with a hosted bar and reception, continues with the performance at 7:30pm, and concludes with a raffle drawing and dessert reception. One Night Only: Hip Hop and Hot is a benefit performance, and all proceeds will go toward East West Players’ arts and education programs. Various levels of sponsorships are available ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Single tickets are $250 for VIP, $100 in the orchestra and $60 in the balcony. For more information on sponsorship and tickets, visit www.eastwestplayers.org, contact the Development Manager Lisa Tang at ltang@eastwestplayers.org or call (213) 625-7000 x17.
