The 1st Annual Independent Asian Pacific Islander Performing Artists and Writers Festival will be held October 22-25 at the Miles Memorial Playhouse at 1130 Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica. Highlighting the festival is Aargh!!, a showcase of Asian Pacific performing artists.
“It’s a battle cry,” says Ken Choy, Aargh!!‘s host and producer. Choy calls the performances an Asian Pacific Islander cabaret. “It’s both within ourselves and to the outside world that we are present, significant, vociferous, and steadfast opposers of negative, damaging stereotypes and images that are still today disseminated in all forms of media. We say ‘AARGH!!’ We say, ‘No.’”
Headlining the show is pioneering theater artist Jude Narita, best known for her award-winning one-woman play Comming into Passion/Song for a Sansei. Narita is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award; three Drama-Logue Awards; and a James Wong Howe “Jimmie” from the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists (AAPAA).
Composer and Cal Arts student C. Kenneth Lee from Hong Kong will bring his stirring compositions and Josh Groban-esque voice while Mikey de Lara lends his soulful songwriting and deeply-felt, powerful vocals.
Tamil Sri-Lankan performance artist D’Lo will provide a “jolt of creative and comedic energy” with his uniquely hilarious portraits.
Ken Choy will co-host with Rodney Kageyama, a respected actor, community leader, and the honorary mayor of Little Tokyo. The relentless repartee between the two should keep audiences on the edges of their seats — what will transpire between the two on stage is completely unpredictable.
The show will also include other comics and musicians.
The Breaking the Bow festival is a co-presentation of Pacific Asian American Women Writers West (PAAWWW), Mavericks of Asian Pacific Islander Descent (MAPID) and Ken Choy.
Aargh!! the API cabaret will be held Friday and Saturday, October 23-24 at 8 PM. Admission: $15. Check details at www.mapid.us. For more information and reservations, contact Ken Choy at ken@mapid.us.
