Our Captain! Part ONE

Greetings everyone! Thanks again for "tuning" in to our blog post here today :) First off, some terrific news!

We have reached our Kickstarter goal!!! Hooray!!!

We'd like to thank everyone who has donated to our production thus far, and want you to know how grateful we are for all your support! We truly couldn't do a production like this without the help of all our friends and theater aficionados, and for that, we are super thankful :) We can now breathe a little sigh of relief, that is, until we get closer and closer to opening night! But that's another story ;p

However, if you would still like to donate and continue helping towards our cause, we still have 7 days to go (as of 4/5/12). You can click on this link for more info. We may have reached our goal, but any additional help would totally move the production further along, so thanks in advance :)

Now, last post, we introduced to you our supremely talented cast of performers, and today's post will introduce to you our director, heir direktor, our captain - Peter Kuo.

We first worked with Peter on our production of "Songs for A New World" in 2009, and since then, he's always been on the top of our list to work with again. Thank goodness he was available! He's one of the best, and most talented directors out there, and a super sweet guy to boot. And now, with much fanfare and hoopla, here he is, Mr. Peter Kuo!!

PETER J. KUO has been producing, directing and writing theatre in Los Angeles since 2005. Currently the Communications Associate for South Coast Repertory, Orange County’s Tony Award-winning theatre company, he was previously the PR and Marketing Manager for East West Players, the nation’s preeminent Asian American theatre company. In 2005 he was the Membership Coordinator of LA Stage Alliance working with over 200 theatre companies in Los Angeles. He has worked as a producer and/or administrator with several LA based theatre companies, including Cornerstone Theater Company, Sacred Fools Theatre Company and Metamorphosis Theatre Company. He is a Founding Member of the new L.A. based theatre collective Artists at Play, where he recently directed the Los Angeles Premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman, a Back Stage Critic’s Pick.

As an artist he has directed several plays and readings in Los Angeles for East West Players, USC Master in Writing Program, Yes and ... Productions, Chinatown 90210, AddWord Productions, Metamorphosis Theatre Company and Resident Theatre Company. His most well-known production of Letters to a Student Revolutionary, about the Tienanmen Square Massacre, was awarded Best of Fest at the Fullerton College Directors Festival, and moved on to two revivals in downtown Los Angeles where he was awarded letter of commendation from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The performance included a panel attended by survivors of the Tienanmen Square Massacre, a college tour and a commemorative performance on the 20th anniversary.

He earned his A.A. in Theatre with high honors from Fullerton College where he received the Leadership Award and Anita & Everette Theatre Arts Scholarship. He earned his B.A. in Drama with a minor in Business Management at UC Irvine, where he was accepted into the Honors in Directing program and founded the theatre organization Diversity University Irvine which produce seven productions, three of which he directed. His work founding and leading Diversity University Irvine earned him multiple Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program grants as well as the Chancellor’s Award for Claire Trevor School of the Arts.

We're so lucky to have him :) Plus, his vision towards "Ordinary Days" is going to make it amazing!!! Definitely come out and see the show once it opens.

Okay, so that was part one of our "captains" post. Next post, we introduce to you our Musical Director, Lisa Joe, so stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by everyone :)

Meet the cast!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

First off, we'd like to once again thank everyone who have donated to our Kickstarter page towards the making of this production. We have so many new backers this week, and we just want to let you know how much your support is appreciated. We are so thankful to have such terrific friends like you! Thank you very much!

Next, it our distinct pleasure to introduce you to our amazing cast! Yup, the 4 actors who we dwindled down from the thousands who submitted and auditioned! (Okay, not thousands, but would you believe, a few?!) Nonetheless, we are so proud and fortunate to be working with such a talented group of actors. Now here they are!

Julia Cho, a Los Angeles native, made her professional acting debut in the Bay Area premiere of An Alphabet, presented by the John Cage Trust Fund. She later starred in the Word for Word production of Amy Tan’s Immortal Heart at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. After an extended and award-winning run, the show toured domestically and in France. Since then, Julia has performed/toured with East West Players, Will & Company, hereandnow theatre company, Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, and sketch comedy group OPM.

Julia embarked on her first major venture as a theatre producer in the summer of 2009, leading the ensemble-based Beware of Cupid, an original Valentine’s Day show. Beware of Cupid had a successful run in February 2010 and was featured on Angry Asian Man as well as the Hyphen Magazine blog. Julia is one of the founding members and producing partners of Artists at Play, a new theatre collective. Last November marked their debut with the Los Angeles premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman. The production, along with Julia’s performance (described as “hilarious” and “wonderfully offbeat”), was met with much success and acclaim.

Film credits include Wedding Palace and the Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts film Larry Crowne. TV credits include I’m In the Band (Disney XD), Fresh Beat Band (Nick Jr.), the series finale of Hannah Montana (Disney Channel), and the pilot episodes of Whitney (NBC) and Work It (ABC). Julia also starred in the web series Jeff and Ravi Fail History, which screened at SXSW 2011, and is currently filming The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a YouTube adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Check out IMDb for a full list of TV/film credits and Facebook for news and updates. You can also follow @thatjuliacho on Twitter.

Helen H. Ota is the co-founder of Yes, and … Productions which, produced Songs for a New World at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum in 2009. She is also the Artistic Director of COLD TOFU, the nation’s premier Asian American comedy improvisation group. A member since 1993, she has performed in and produced numerous COLD TOFU improv and sketch shows.

Helen is also a performing member of the Grateful Crane Ensemble, whose mission is to present educational and theatrical programs in appreciation for the unique hardships and inspiring contributions of Japanese Americans in our country’s history.

Some of her recent stage and film credits include Ching Chong Chinaman, Songs for a New World, The Betrayed, Manzanar: Story of an American Family, Nihonmachi: The Place To Be, Project Momotaro, Natsukashi Kouhaku Utagassen, Twelfth Night, The Golden Hour, Back in the Day, A Jive Bomber’s Christmas, Umamiya, Hands On, Carpool and BuddhaHeads.

Helen enjoys supporting and being active in the Japanese American community by serving on the Board of Directors for the Nisei Week Foundation and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. She also works in Development for Center Theatre Group, a nonprofit arts organization in Downtown Los Angeles.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Michael C. Palma has always been around the entertainment industry. But what got him started with performing was when he was “forced” to take piano lessons with a local Filipino teacher, who also taught traditional Pilipino cultural dances and songs. Not only was he learning how to play piano, but his affiliation with the cultural group enabled him to perform at various festivals, recitals, parades, etc., all of which developed his love of performing.

Mike’s break came when he was 8 years old and cast in a Philippine national touring group’s production of Walang Sugat (roughly translated as having “no scars”). He played the lead boy who gets caught in the Philippine/Spanish war, and sadly dies ever so dramatically during a fight scene. The production toured the United States and Canada. It was his first real taste of life as a performer, but all he remembers from it was the cool Darth Vader action figure he got while in Toronto … and the great friends he made in the cast, all of whom were household names in the Philippines.

Since then, Mike has been in film, television and stage productions. He once played Pat Morita’s henchman in an independent film, as well as a photographer in a commercial starring Nicholas Cage. Other highlights include Imelda: A New Musical (East West Players), A Jive Bomber’s Christmas, and as core performing member of Cold Tofu, the nation’s oldest Asian American comedy improv group.

Mike has always had an affinity towards musicals and theater as the immediate response and energy from the audience is what captivates him to perform. There’s nothing better than a darkened theater, stage lights, and hearing the musical director give you the downbeat to start.

When not performing, Mike’s is a professional wedding and portrait photographer. Retaining the creativity garnered from performing, Mike loves creating modern, fun, and energetic photographs with his clients. The most rewarding part of the “job” is getting to know his clients while creating awesome photos. You can see his work at M. Palma Photography.

Scott Keiji Takeda began doing musical theatre at the age of nine in his school district’s annual musical production. He continued in this program through high school, participating in nine spring productions and five summer productions. In middle school, Scott won his first leading role as “Tevye” in a junior summer production of Fiddler on the Roof. It was at Temple City High School that he had the opportunity to play such roles as “J. Pierrepont Finch” in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and “Lumiere” in Beauty and the Beast. Scott went on to graduate from Pepperdine University with a BA in Theatre Arts. While at Pepperdine he continued in musical theatre, playing “Ching Ho” in Thoroughly Modern Millie and having ensemble parts in three other productions. After Pepperdine, Scott made his professional debut at East West Players in September 2010, starring as “Brian Lackey” in Mysterious Skin. Most recently, Scott played the part of “Upton” in Artists at Play’s inaugural production of Ching Chong Chinaman. Ordinary Days marks Scott return to musical theatre and his first professional musical theatre production.

There you have it! Our four "Ordinary" talents for our big production!!! Please do check them out at their respective web links to learn more about them and their terrific endeavors.

Till next time, thanks again for stopping by, and if you haven't done so already, please stop by our Kickstarter page for more info and further updates on the show!

EXTRA "Ordinary Days"

Happy Tuesday to everyone! First off, we here at Yes, And... Productions would like to thank everyone who have donated to our production so far! Your generosity is so overwhelming, and we'd just like to say how much we appreciate you for being our donors! We can't wait for you to see the production once it opens in May!

With that said, you may be wondering what exactly is the story behind "Ordinary Days"?

The musical "Ordinary Days" is written by relative new comer to the musical theater world, Adam Gwon, who in 2006, was "discovered" in a musical theater master class in New York. After being invited to take part in the prestigious Dramatists Guild Of America's Fellows Program, the instructors knew that they had someone special in their midst. And over the course of the year that followed Adam's enrollment into the program, the show "Ordinary Days" was born.

With Adam's participation in the Fellows Program, "Ordinary Days" world premiered at the Pennsylvania Centre Stage in 2008, and made its New York debut in 2009 at the Roundabout Theater. Since then, it has made its way throughout the eastern US, and the U.K., making its west coast premiere in January 2010 at South Coast Repertory.

Adam Gwon (image courtesy of Univ. of Oklahoma, Musical Theater Dept.)

(image link)

The story of "Ordinary Days" follows the lives of four New Yorkers trying to find their own paths and "life stories". The stories of each of the characters and their relationships are done without any real spoken dialogue, but sung throughout the show, in a musical style known as a song cycle. As in most musicals, characters begin to sing their inner most thoughts or have their most important conversations sung vs. spoken, especially when just mere "talking" won't work anymore!

Over the course of the next few weeks, we'll be introducing the cast and crew of our production of "Ordinary Days", and previewing some other cool stuff from the show. But today, we'd like to leave you with a little preview link to one of the songs from the show, sung by actors Jared Gertner and Kate Wetherhead from the New York production. One of MY favorite songs from the show, "Beautiful".

"Beautiful" - Ordinary Days

By Adam Gwon

Sung by Jared Gertner and Kate Wetherhead

Thanks again for stopping by. And if you haven't already done so, please check out our Kickstarter page (http://kck.st/zxKkH8) more info on how you can be a part of our production!

Happy Spring Equinox everyone! Check back soon for more updates!

Mike (& Helen)

Back to ONE!

Hi everyone! Long time no "logging" in!

Ever since our last production, nearly 3 years ago, we've been going about our lives, taking part in other productions and gigs, always with the intention of getting back to producing another extraordinary show. Now, after a few months of getting the pieces together, including the cast, designers, etc., we are excited to introduce to you our latest endeavor -

Ordinary Days

by Adam Gwon

As you may have read at our kickstarter page, this musical is a relatively new one in the world of musicals, only having been first produced back in 2008. The story revolves around four New Yorkers trying to find their "life stories". Written by Adam Gwon, "Ordinary Days" is a production that Helen and I were drawn to the first time we saw it back in 2010. We were so compelled by the music and story that once the last note was sung, we knew that THIS was going to be our next production. And, here we are, two years later, and ready to go!!!

The other reason why we wanted to come back to producing is to once again work with our amazing and talented friends! 2009's "Songs for a New World" was such a labor of love, that we knew we wanted to experience that "magic" again with our "band" of creatives! So we got the "band" back together again. This time through, we've added a few new faces to the mix, all of whom we know will make this yet another FUN experience.

This first installation to this blog for this project is to welcome everyone back, and to thank you for supporting our endeavors. We so appreciate the generosity and kindness of everyone, that we can't say "thank you" enough! So we'll say it again, THANK YOU!

As for the title of this post, the term "back to one" is used on film and TV sets letting everyone know to return to the beginning, to the start of the scene, etc. Since this our latest NEW show, I figured we had to start somewhere, and this post is our "ONE". We just can't wait to share Ordinary Days with everyone and show you where it'll end.

If you're coming across this page for the first time, and are interested in supporting our cause, please don't hesitate to go to our Kickstarter page, to learn more, and perhaps even help us make this production a reality. We'll be updating regularly on the the progress of our show, so please check back often.

Thanks again everyone! On with the show!!!

Mike (& Helen) :)

Souvenirs

Now that the show is over, Claire (the Intern) needs something to do.

And so the curtain falls on our beloved production of "Songs", and I have to say that it was quite a journey. What started off as a simple song that we were learning in our vocal lessons, became a true highlight in my life and also helped me honor my late grandmother. As equally important is the fact that we were able to work with some of our most talented friends. Anytime anyone ever asked me about what made this production the success that it was (even before we ever got to the theater) I would always reiterate the fact that we had such a wonderful team of people working along side us, and that they should receive all the credit. I definitely tip my hat to all of them for putting in all their time, talents and efforts in making a dream come true. You probably get less than a handful of awesome teams in your life, and this one definitely is on that mantle of one of the best. For those of you who were fortunate to come out and see our work, you saw the splendor, emotion, and talents of those that you DIDN'T see on stage, those who really helped make we four "actors" shine out there under the lights. And for that, I give them all my utmost gratitude, love, and respect for being a part of this journey. Thanks team, for making this souvenir one of the best I'll ever have of my life - without you guys, it would've all still just been a dream. Thanks for helping me fulfill my own personal tribute to my grandmother. I know that somewhere, she was watching, and was so very happy that we did such a fantastic job.

Okay, so now that the formalities are done, on with more stuff! First off, thanks to everyone who have been following this blog, for all your support and best wishes! I know that we were able to practically fill all the seats to all our performances because of the great feedback we were getting from all of you, especially after our opening weekend. Also, thank you to those who did come out and watch us do our thing! It was so much fun performing in front of everyone, and hopefully, you all got to see that in our work! We have so many stories to take away from this production, you wouldn't believe it! Here are some super short descriptions, sometimes cryptic, and even more so, some "insider" production stuff:

- Peter always turns his head to the side when he's listening intently.
- Randy needs to always check that his drawstrings are tied up tight enough.
- JRB is very popular amongst our musicians. Hugely.
- I need to learn my blocking. No, seriously. I do.
- Get an intern for any production you may be a part of. And then call them "Intern".
- Just to make things fun, have a Hollywood production come in in the middle of your production just so you can re-adjust your lights between shows.
- Hope that your theater is near a Starbucks.
- Set up, strike. Set-up again, Strike again, and then Set-up again. Then, strike for good.
- For added kicks, fund the entire thing yourself.
- Pray that people will come out and watch (thank god!)
- Wear striped underwear for good measure. I'm not saying who.
- Push around a 700lb lighting rig for an entire day and NOT be tired doing it.
- Practically put your entire life on hold for the entire production.

Most importantly, sit back, enjoy the process and the company you keep, and relish in your accomplishment :)

Great times everyone. Thanks for being a part of it. This is not to say that "Yes, and... Productions" is finished, but this particular chapter is done for now.

Enjoy the photos :)

For those of you who attended our shows, this is what we were doing while you were filling up the seats - WATCHING YOU via our stage/house feed in the green room. Look how focused everyone is.

Monsieur David Levray, one the best musicians and coolest guys you'll ever get to know!
Bravo mon amie!

Throughout the entire run, I always wanted to take this photo of the band, and I was finally able to on closing day. These guys really rocked it! Thanks everyone!


Our production crew (L to R) - Keiko, June, and Justin, up in the box making sure everything was perfect, and it was! Thanks you guys!

Here's Nathan with the only surviving page turner that made it through the run. The other three (which included our intern Claire) dropped out cause he was such a page-turning brute. This guy is tougher than he looks.


Claire and Mr. "T", our prop master.


If John Goodman had a brother who played wicked percussion, then it would be this guy, Glenn O., who is now pursuing a career in Japanese alcohol endorsements. (The bottle needs to be a bit more vertical Glenn. He'll get it.)

Helen, Peter, and Lisa.


We never have enough photos of Stefanie (Left) so I was finally able to grab one at our post show party, alongside Mike V. (middle), and Randy (right).
Thanks Stef, for all the hard work. You too Mike V.!


Directors want to direct, or is it that they want to sing? I'm not sure, cause Peter was singing up a storm at Oiwake's after our closing show.


What's a blog without Myra. Here she is with the Maracine brood (L - R), Sophia, Zachary, and the man who made it all happen, Dep. Sheriff, Peter Maracine! (Uh, Pete, me kissing Myra was all an act, and I'd still like to be able to drive in the O.C. without being stopped unexpectedly for nothing at all, okay? Thanks.)

Here we are (minus Stef, and Ivy - darn it!) The amazing cast and crew of "Songs For A New World" 2009. Thank you so much everyone :)
One of the best "moments" of our lives :)

We'll be back everyone... TRUST ME... Muwaaahhhh!!!!!

It IS all fun and games!

Ahoy everyone!

Yup, we've been kinda AWOL updating lately as rehearsals have been super brutal! Okay, not brutal, but definitely in full swing, especially since we are now just 2 weeks away from opening night! I do have to say that the production is looking great, and we'll definitely have an exciting show to present to everyone come October 16-25!

What's equally cool is that we got our band leader back! Nathan Wang, straight from his recent musical directoring (I know, it's not a word, but it works) in New York for East West Player's second production of "Imelda: A New Musical". Now that Nathan is back, our musical director Lisa, can breathe a sigh of relief, that is, until we open. This music is hard!!!

We're finally moving into the Democracy Center space this week, and we'll get a chance to really work out our blocking, etc. We're so excited!

So far, rehearsals have been more fun and games, but we have been getting the work done. I'm sure that now that we're within two weeks of opening, we'll get even more serious, but until then, enjoy this photo taken last night of our musical masterminds, Lisa and Nathan:

Lisa is all business as Mr. Wang hams it up for the camera!
Like I said, it's all fun and games!!!

PART of Our Uber-Terrific Creative Team!

As the saying goes, "Behind every great man, there's a great woman" (or two, or three) supporting them, and this goes without saying with our production. Of course, our creative team doesn't only consist of women, but I thought it would be a great opener since without these people, we wouldn't be having a show! (At least not a great one!)

With this said, up first at bat is our esteemed Musical Director and Vocal Coach, Ms. Lisa Joe!


If it weren't for Lisa, we would never have been exposed to "Songs" and definitely would NOT be doing this. I've been taking voice lessons with her for about 5 years now, and I have to attribute all that I "know" to her expertise. She's terrific! In her "off" time (that is, outside of our production) she's a Table Tennis pro. Oh, and she recently bit the bullet and finally got an iPhone. Mucho kudos to Lisa, our Musi-kal dee-rektor! We love her!

I should have posted this next person's photo a while ago, cause without him, we wouldn't know where to go (staging wise) nor envision what the show would look like! And after a long intensive search for capable directors, with names such as Spielberg, and Baz Luhrmann in the mix (and rejected) we decided on Peter J. Kuo to lead the helm and bring us into the "New World".

Peter stretching out for real talent. Ha.

I had never worked with Peter before, but with past projects such as "Letters from a Student Revolutionary" which he also directed, Peter came with some strong recommendations from many of our friends who know and have worked with him. I have to say that I agree with all of them, as he's very focused, creative and easy to work with, plus, he always uses the same hand gestures over and over again (see the first posting on this blog, as we're all doing it with our hands!). That mere fact alone sold us on Peter, and the rest was just a bonus. Thanks Peter for your guiding "hands"! We love you too!

Would anyone like to see a show without ANY movement or choreography? Anyone? Bueler? BUELER? Of course not! Although "Songs" isn't a dance musical by any means, we definitely wanted to have one or two of the numbers choreographed to some extent to add some dazzle to the show. For this, we asked a good friend, and renowned teacher and creator of the Movement for Actors class at the Edge Performing Arts center in Hollywood, Cindera Che to share with us her fantastic choreography and dance skills!

Cindera showing us how to look and move like true "Ballers". Yo, speak up, SON!

I've been training/studying with Cindera for years now, and as with Lisa, I have to attribute all of my dance ability to Cindera. She has taken this double left-footed dancer and made me into the movement animal I am today! (okay, not really double left-footed, but I have my moments - who doesn't?!). It has been such a pleasure to have her on our team, and we are most grateful to her for her talents and PATIENCE! We are UBER thankful to have her with us :)

As well all know, pianos don't play by themselves (or DO they?). In our case, our pianos don't play by themselves, so we needed a super (insert filipino accent here) tal-lehn-tehd (talented) musican/pianist to help bring our rehearsals to life, and we were so happy to get Marc Macalintal to lend his magic fingers to us! (Perhaps we should be thanking his wife MJ for lending Marc out to us. Either way, we're grateful). We've known Marc for a number of years now, and have worked with him on other projects, like 2005's production of "Imelda: A New Musical" or with his ultra funny band of improvisers - Room to Improv. Marc has also musical directed a number of shows throughout his illustrious career, and he's just plain awesome. Although he's not smiling in this photo below, he's happy. And funny. Oh, and an all around great dude! Thanks for helping us out Marc!

Marc "Fingers" Macalintal, on loan from MJD.

Oh, and just to show you what our rehearsals are like, here it is. Yes, it is all FUN AND LAUGHTER!

I love Randy's expression in this photo. Me, I'm just the king of pop is all.

This photo says it all. 

In addition to our Uber-Terrific Creative Team, we also have Ivy Chou, Ken "Mr. T" Takemoto", Glenn Suravech, Michael Villaneuva, Nathan Wang (and his band, of which I'll name later cause I don't have their names with me right now), and Stefanie Lau. I'll get some photos of everyone up later. Enjoy these for now! 

BTW, ticket sales are starting to happen so click on our ticket link and reserve your spot now! See you guys there!