Theatre, movies, music, reading, writing, talking, doing art with friends, hanging out with friends, loving my family, and occasionally doing something I've never done before...
Music
Tom Waits' INNOCENT WHEN YOU DREAM. Here's what we used for the preshow: BLUE SKIES (Judy Garland), MYSTIC DANCE (Keiko Matsui), COME SOFTLY TO ME (the Roches' version), DREAM (Frank Sinatra), WHERE TO BEGIN (My Morning Jacket), GLOW WORM (Johnny Mercer), NICE DREAM (Radiohead), FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS (King Cole Trio), HEADLOCK (Imogen Heap).
Otherwise: Well, I've got all the boomer music in my iPod, like Springsteen, the Beatles, Dylan, Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Paul Simon, the Isley Brothers (have you heard their HARVEST FOR THE WORLD or FIGHT THE POWER? Sounds like Obama's going with BEAUTIFUL DAY, but if he wants to change things up for different events...) Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, U2, REM, Talking Heads, Tom Petty, the Who, the Stones, Nirvana, and the Clash, as well as some really uncool progressive rock, like Yes, Jethro Tull, and Genesis. But I've also tried to keep my brain from totally calcifying by keeping up with the newer music, so I've got a lot of alternative stuff, like Keane, Death Cab for Cutie, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Shins, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Imogen Heap and a little Radiohead, etc. I've got just a little bit of hip hop, like the Blackeyed Peas, Eminem and Linkin Park new artists like Rachael Yamagata, and guys who defy category, like Tom Waits.
Movies
Ordinary Miracles Supporting Hogsmeade LTD/Hallmark Michael Switzer
Only the Brave Supporting Mission from Buddha Prod. Lane Nishikawa
Untitled Onion Movie Co-Star New Line/Onion Productions Kuntz/Maguire
Hard Supporting MPH Productions John Huckert
Deep Family Secrets Co-Star Dick Clark Film Group Arthur Seidelman
Terminal USA Lead ITVS/PBS/Killing Kulture Jon Moritsugu
Broken Words Lead Harmoni Filmworks Paul Yi
Back to the Streets of San Francisco Kerew/Goldsmith/Hanna-Barbera Mel Damski
Hot Summer Winds Co-Star American Playhouse EmikoOmori
Out of the Ashes Co-Star Robert Greenwald/NBC Peter Werner
The Wash Co-Star PBS/The Wash Company Michael Uno
Unfinished Business** Co-Star Mouchette Films Steven Okazaki
Television
Zwei Profis Series Regular ZDF/Network Movie (Germany) Heidi Krantz
Passions Guest Star NBC Studios Karen Wilkens
Judging Amy Guest Star CBS Worldwide/Barbara Hall Donna Deitch
Young and Restless Recurred Bell/CBS-TV Sally McDonald
The District Co-Star CBS Worldwide Terry George
Viva Vegas! Guest Star Telemundo/Llamame Miguel Higuera
Party of Five Co-Star High Prod./Columbia Pictures Arvin Brown
Bold and Beautiful Co-Star Bell-Phillip/CBS-TV Michael Stich
The Jamie Foxx Show Recurred Warner Bros. Television Shelley Jensen
Chicago Hope Recurred David Kelley Bill D'Elia, Jim Hart
USA High Co-Star Peter Engel Prod/NBC Gary Shimokawa
Weekly World News Lead New World Television Hannah Hempstead
Santa Barbara Guest Star New World Television Jan Powell
Books
(Actually, STAGE - representative list of over 50 productions):
A Winter People Han Boston Court Theatre Chay Yew
Theory of Everything Hiro East West Players/Singapore Rep Tim Dang
Sansho, the Bailiff Father Brooklyn Academy of Music Andrzej Wajda
Fish Head Soup Matt Mark Taper Forum (Taper Too) Peter Brosius
Midsummer Night's Dream Snout San Franciso Shakespeare Albert Takazaukas
As You Like It Silvius "" Richard Seyd
Fish Head Soup Matt Sundance Institute (Utah) Peter Brosius
The Revenger Nencio Berkeley Repertory Theatre Sharon Ott
Execution of Justice Milk's Friend "" Oskar Eustis/Tony Taccone
Lion, Witch, Wardrobe Aslan "" Charles Dean
Gila River Katsuro Japan America Theatre Lane Nishikawa
Fentor Joseph HereandNow John Miyasaki
Man Friday Crusoe Sacramento Theatre Co. Phyllis Look
Waiting for Godot Lucky San Francisco Rep Dan Quinn
Electra Chrysothemis Thick Description Tony Kelly
Day Standing on Its Head Harry Asian American Theater M.Mazor/P.Gotanda
Yankee Dog You Die* Vincent (20 productions at AATC) Lane Nishikawa
Webster Street Blues* Chuck Susan Marsden
The Avocado Kid Avocado Kid Dee Karmack
Heroes
I have three sisters and I love them all. Some of my most recent play is inspired by our own collective experience with my father on his death bed in the hospital, but for dramaturgical reasons, I had to collapse them all into one character. This character bears no actual resemblance to any of my actual sisters, just as the brother bears no actual resemblance to me, but of course, I stole liberally from our collective experiences. Since the sister is a civil rights advocate based in Washington, my sister Karen especially dreads this play. Can I make it up here? My sisters are all heroic and all of them made (and probably continue to make) my father proud. Hell, they make ME proud.
Then, there are people like Mako and Frank Chin, who really created the whole basis for Asian American theatre, and really...not to kiss ass, or anything, but Tim Dang has continued to build EWP and keep it growing, even after all the money dried up after 9/11, and it has become the oldest minority theatre in the country - can you dig that? - and all the crazy, touched-by-the-muse people who have built it into an actual genre of theatre and performance. It seems crazy, in this day and age, where globalization is everything, but theatre...theatre is local, communal, and one of the things that can change people. Writers like Wakako Yamauchi, David Hwang, Philip Gotanda, Rick Shiomi, Alice Tuan, Chay Yew, Prince Gomolvilas (who really is a genius, and a really sweet guy to boot), and countless others. Film directors like Justin Lin, Chris Chan Lee, Eric Byler, Lane Nishikawa - that job looks HARD!- and these guys keep doing it. I have to mention a short story about Academy Award winning director Chris Tashima (forgive me, Chris, I hope you don't mind): I happened to be at his place shortly after VISAS AND VIRTUES won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, and I admired all the congratulatory faxes, letters, and telegrams he had displayed on the wall. "You want to see what I'm really proud of?" he asked me. In his bathroom were a bunch of rejection letters. "And those are just the best ones," he said. THAT'S what makes a hero!
I also have to mention George Takei. Lots of people know him only as Sulu, some have been introduced to him via the unlikely channel of talk radio, but if you've ever spent time with him, you'd see that he's one of the smartest men you'll ever meet. He's also incredibly generous and politically involved and is constantly giving back to the community whenever he can. He gave me the best quote I could possibly hope for, and he wrote me the nicest email I've ever received after one of our readings of the play. He's as unlikely a Nisei as you'll ever meet, but he also embodies the Nisei: He gets it done, tirelessly, quietly, and with great nobility.
And now, back to the list: Stage directors like Alberto Isaac, whose love and knowledge of theater is astounding - and Lane Nishikawa again, whose work as a theatre director is seriously overlooked. And Marc Hayashi, who got out of the business as an actor (why, Marc, why?), but whose work in the 80s on stage remains among the best I've ever seen. I don't want to be a name dropper, but most of my heroes...are people I know, and, of course, I never tell them so...I mean, what the hell would they say if I told them?
About me: www.timescapearts.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=548134797
www.myspace.com/innocentatelectric
www.myspace.com/themikadoproject
www.apuykat.com/theemilyproject
Who I'd like to meet: Asian American artists, writers, musicians, performers, activists...
Scratch that: ANYONE who's putting themselves, their beliefs, and their hearts out there...
Hello Ken, how are you? The summer has come and gone so quickly...hard to believe that it is the middle of September?! Hope you and yours are well and life is good!
Hi Ken! So nice to see you here! I spoke with Michael Meyer last night at my concert taping and asked about you. It's good to see you doing well and enjoying life. You were always very talented and I have often wondered where are now and what you're doing. I would love to catch up one day soon! David Longoria
Hallo mein guter Freud! Es scheint ich habe deinen Geburtstag uebersehen...hmmm...das tut mir leid... Alles, alles Gute zum Geburtstag und nur das Beste fuer dich! Viele Gruesse, Antje
Hallo mein Guter, wie geht es Dir? Muss ich ja nicht fragen, du bist "blissful".Das ist sehr gut! Ein guter Weg das neue Jahr anzufangen...eine tolle Woche wuensche ich Dir!
Give this teddy bear ♥ to every person u care about including me if u care. if i dont get it back i understand. Try to collect 20 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒███▒▒▒▒██ ▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓█▒██▓▓▓██▒█▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒█▓▒▒▓█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█▓▒▒▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒█▓▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓█▓▓▓▓▓▓█▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓██▓▓▓▓▓██▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▒▒█▓█▒▒▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▒▒▓▒▒███▒▒▓▒▒▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▒▒▓▒▒▒█▒▒▒▓▒▒▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓▓███▓▓▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓█▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓█▓▓▓█ ▒▒██▓▓▓█▓▒▒▒██▒██▒▒▒▓█▓▓▓██ ▒█▓▓▓▓█▓▓▒▒█▓▓█▓▓█▒▒▓▓█▓▓▓▓█ █▓██▓▓█▓▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓█▒▒▒▓█▓▓██▓█ █▓▓▓▓█▓▓▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓█▒▒▒▒▓▓█▓▓▓▓█ ▒█▓▓▓█▓▓▒▒▒▒▒█▓█▒▒▒▒▒▓▓█▓▓▓█ ▒▒████▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒█▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓████ ▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓█▓█▓▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓█▓▓▓▓▓█ ▒▒▒▒▒████▓▓▓▓▓█▓▓▓▓▓████ ▒▒▒▒█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓"
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