We are pleased to share that AADAP is teaming up with Theatre West for the first time for a joint fundraiser called "We're Not Your Cup of Tea" on May 11th.
This is a one-night-only exclusive performance featuring AAPI artists who bring their personal life stories to the stage. This is a great way to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month by supporting diverse talent and the culturally-relevant programming of two community-based non-profits. The hard-working Theatre West actors/production team have put together a fantastic show that celebrates AANHPI identity and culture, and will be well worth the value of the $40 ticket!
Show your support today and make a difference in creating culturally relevant performances, arts education and substance use resources. Sponsorship Opportunities are also available~ please contact Pam Najera (najera.k.pamela@gmail.com).
"We're Not Your Cup of Tea"
Theatre West x AADAP Fundraiser
Saturday May 11th, 2024, 8PM
Tickets: $40
Link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35048/production/1196346
3333 Cahuenga Blvd West, Los Angeles, CA 90068
We’re Not Your Cup of Tea takes its title from the fact that the evening’s performers are boundary-breakers who shatter expectations and stereotypes regarding AAPI performers.
Evie Abat (Filipina-American) will share her experience as director of Survivors by Wendy Kout. Survivors is an educational play with a diverse cast, about 10 Holocaust survivors, that is touring schools and organizations along the West Coast.
Cyndy Fujikawa (Japanese-American) will perform an excerpt from her solo show Old Man River, which had its West Coast debut at Theatre West in 1997. It relates the story of her father, actor Jerry Fujikawa, who was one of those forced into internment camps for Japanese Americans in 1942. Additionally, she will read publicly for the first time, his eyewitness statement of his experience at that time.
Marcel Licera (Filipino-Chinese-Spanish-American) will perform a solo piece about accepting and making peace for being conventionally different from his Asian culture and the standard of American society, by continually pursuing expressions that align with his good guy values.
Meg Lin (Taiwanese-American) breaks the tradition of “saving face” by sharing her darkest pain and deepest desires in an excerpt from her award-winning solo show What Am I, Chopped Suey? Meg was recently seen on Theatre West’s stage in Love Stinks; Moose on the Loose; and Aladdin, the Princess, and the Magic Lamp.
Pamela Najera (Filipina-American) performs an excerpt from her solo show Too Old, Too Asian, Too Short in which she demonstrates how she destroyed the skepticism of others by achieving success as a professional dancer, cruise ship entertainer, and magician’s assistant.
Apoorva Choudhary (Indian-American) will perform an Indian classical dance (Mohiniayattam) to the spiritual song Aigiri Nandini, which is about the strength of women.
Christina Villegas (Filipina-American) is a dancer, choreographer, and CEO of the company Flying Curves, with a commitment to “change lives one goddess at a time.”
The evening will also include these guest speakers:
L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman; Dean Nakanishi, CEO of AADAP, Inc., and Giovannie Espiritu, filmmaker and advocate for domestic violence awareness and prevention, and LGBTQ equality.
Throughout the program, there will be a raffle drawing of donated merchandise provided by AADAP, Inc and various sponsors. Following the program is a reception serving Asian Pacific treats from various sponsors.
Technical director/Lighting design: David P. Johnson. Stage manager: David Mingrino. Consulting director: Arden T. Lewis
Proceeds from this one-night-only event will support the ongoing work of Theatre West and AADAP, Inc.
This is the first event in a projected series of annual Asian Heritage Month celebrations at Theatre West.