Cedar Grove OnStage

Infobox Theatre_Group
bgcolour =
name = Cedar Grove OnStage

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imagesize =233px
caption =
formed = 2006
location = THE "NEW" LATC
514 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
disbanded =
notable = Chris Tashima, co-Artistic Director
Tim Toyama, co-Artistic Director
homepage = [http://www.myspace.com/cedargroveonstage CGO on MySpace]
genre = Asian American theatre

Cedar Grove OnStage is an Asian Pacific American theatre arts organization established in 2006, based in Los Angeles. Playwright Tim Toyama and actor/director Chris Tashima serve as co-Artistic Directors. It is a division of the entertainment company, Cedar Grove Productions and their focus is to develop, produce and present new and original Asian American theatre works.

Background

Media company

In 1996 the independent media company Cedar Grove Productions was formed to produce the short film, "Visas and Virtue" (1997). Story focused on Holocaust rescuer Chiune “Sempo” Sugihara and film won the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film at the 70th Academy Awards. [ [http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_980323_OscarWins.html 70th Oscars winners] on IndieWire] Company takes its name from the literal translation of "Sugihara": "sugi" ( _ja. 杉) meaning cedar, and "hara" ( _ja. 原) meaning field or grove. [http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/dt/V131/N04/04-vision.04d.html]

Theatre

Cedar Grove OnStage formed in 2006 when Cedar Grove Productions was invited to join the "Cultural Roundtable" at THE "NEW" LATC, a multicultural theatre arts consortium led by the Latino Theatre Company operating out of the Los Angeles Theatre Center facilities in downtown Los Angeles. The Latino Theatre Company formed the Cultural Roundtable to create culturally diverse programming for the City of Los Angeles. Performance groups belonging to the Cultural Roundtable include Cedar Grove OnStage, Culture Clash, Latino Theater Company, Playwrights' Arena, Robey Theatre Company, and American Indian Dance Theatre/Project HOOP. [ [http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/cl-et-latc26feb26,0,5543757.story "THE NEW LATC cancels series" by Lynne Heffley - 2/26/08] on Los Angeles Times online]

Mission Statement

"To entertain, enrich and enlighten, through the sharing of Asian Pacific American art, culture and history, broadening perspectives of the American experience and empowering our community. By examining and preserving through theatre arts, the rich culture and history of Asian Pacific Americans, we can come to an understanding and appreciation of our past, which informs and shapes our present and future."

Production history

Mainstage production

* In September 2008, Cedar Grove OnStage worked in association with East West Players to produce the world premiere of Dan Kwong's "Be Like Water", directed by Tashima, presented at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, in downtown Los Angeles' Little Tokyo. [http://www.eastwestplayers.org/on_the_stage/water.htm "Be Like Water"] on EWP site]

Presentations

* April 2007 – 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors in "Threat Condition: YELLOW" at THE "NEW" LATC
* May 2008 – Cold Tofu in "Edamame Nights" at THE "NEW" LATC
* November 2008 – Dan Kwong in "Its Great 2B American" at THE "NEW" LATC

Development

Current plays in development include Toyama’s "Yuri & Malcolm X" and "Memorial Day", and "Bronzeville", written in collaboration with Aaron Woolfolk and the Robey Theatre Company.

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/cedargroveonstage Cedar Grove OnStage] on MySpace
* [http://www.thenewlatc.com THE "NEW" LATC website]