"Be Like Water" - Casting the World Premiere at EWP

East West Players (EWP), the Los Angeles-based Asian American theatre company, recently announced their 43rd Season, which will open this fall with a show I am directing, "Be Like Water," written by my good friend, award-winning performance artist, Dan Kwong.

This announcement comes after over a year of developement of this piece, through my theatre company, Cedar Grove OnStage (CGO), which will be working in association with EWP on the production.

CGO originally planned on producing the play at THE LATC in downtown Los Angeles, where we are in residence. But, when 2008 funding didn't quite come through there, we brought the piece to EWP. Many who know me know that EWP is where I got my start as an actor back in the mid 80s. It's also where I met my producing partner, Tim Toyama, and our production manager, Irma Escamilla. So, the three of us were extremely pleased when EWP decided to go with us this fall.

Dan has written a touching, revealing, very funny play, which will allow us to showcase some Asian American talent onstage in an original and entertaining way. I am so looking forward to getting to work!

I am about to get heavy into prepping for this play production, beginning with some very challenging casting. This family drama – with a twist – features a cast of 7, 4 of whom will be 13 or 14-year-olds. In addition to the dramatic and comedic demands of these young actors, one needs to be proficient at gung-fu, and another a great disco dancer. Then there's casting the major adult role in the play, which will be no small feat: finding an actor able to bring legendary Martial Arts icon Bruce Lee to life onstage.

Auditions will be later this month. Actor submissions are due July 14. All casting info follows below.

And if this has peaked your interest and you think you'd like to see the show, tickets and EWP season subscrīptions are now on sale online.

Check it out!

Thanks for reading,

—CT

CASTING NOTICE

"BE LIKE WATER" East West Players in association with Cedar Grove On Stage Theatre Production – AEA

WRITER: Dan Kwong

DIRECTOR: Chris Tashima

CASTING DIRECTOR: Meg Imamoto

AUDITION DATES: TBD – Approx mid to late July

START DATE: Rehearsals begin mid-August, performance begins Sep 11, runs thru Oct 12

PAY RATE: AEA LOA to BAT or non-Union

LOCATION: David Henry Hwang Theater, Los Angeles, CA

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY:

email to casting@eastwestplayers.org or submit via www.actorsaccess.com

SUBMIT HARDCOPY:

EAST WEST PLAYERS CASTING

120 JUDGE JOHN AISO ST.

LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

SUBMISSIONS DUE BY MONDAY JULY 14

NOTE: Auditioners for roles of and please be prepared to demonstrate gung-fu ability. For role of (teenage nerd) please be prepared to dance disco routine, to "Disco Inferno," by The Trammps (playback will be provided).

Sides will be made available for all roles.

SEEKING BOTH UNION AND NON-UNION PERFORMERS FOR THE FOLLOWING:

[ TRACY FONG ]

Female, early teens, Asian American. Tomboy, quick-tempered, defiant. .

BRUCE LEE

Male, early teens, Asian American. Nerd, loves disco. Tracy's best friend. .

[ JEREMY MORTON ]

Male, mid-teens, Caucasian. Bully, street tough. .

[ TINA KAWAI MACDONALD ]

Female, early teens, Hapa (bi-racial Asian) or Asian American. Popular cheerleader type. Aloof and superficial.

[ GHOST OF BRUCE LEE ]

Male, early 30s, Asian/Asian American. Excellent physique. Charismatic, philosophical with sense of humor. .

[ KIMIKO FONG ]

Female, Late 30s, Asian American. Uptight, overbearing. Tracy's mother.

[ FRANK FONG ]

Male, Mid-30s, Asian American. Easy going with dry sense of humor. Tracy's father.

STORY LINE: Set in 1978 Chicago, themes of racism, identity and oppression are explored as 13-year-old Tracy Fong navigates her world of gung-fu, a neighborhood bully, disco and an overbearing mother, with some guidance offered from the Ghost of Bruce Lee.