Tim Toyama

Infobox Writer
name = Tim Toyama


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birthdate = birth date and age|1952|04|28
birthplace = Chicago, Illinois, United States
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occupation = playwright
producer
nationality = American
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Tim Toyama (born in 1952 in Chicago, IL) is a playwright and producer. He is "Sansei" (third-generation Japanese American) presently living in Los Angeles, CA. He is Co-Artistic Director of the Asian American theatre company, Cedar Grove OnStage in Los Angeles. He attended C.S.U.N. as an English major.

Productions

His plays have been produced at The Complex, in Los Angeles, and The Road Theatre Company, [ [http://www.roadtheatre.org/mission.htm Brief History] on [http://www.roadtheatre.org Road Theatre site] ] at the Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood, California. Among them his best-known work is "Visas and Virtue", inspired by the heroic saga of Holocaust rescuer Chiune "Sempo" Sugihara - known as "The Japanese Schindler." Adapted to the big screen by actor/director Chris Tashima, the 26-minute cinematic tribute to the heroic diplomat received the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film in 1998. [http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_980323_OscarWins.html 70th Oscars winners] on IndieWire]

In addition to serving as the film's executive producer, to bring "Visas and Virtue" to the screen he co-founded Cedar Grove Productions, along with Tashima and producer Chris Donahue. By engaging audiences with high-quality dramatic films, intended not only as entertainment but also for educational use, Cedar Grove Productions has broadened audience perspectives to include Asian American stories, history and issues either glossed over in textbooks or omitted by the media. Cedar Grove Productions "remains dedicated to developing and producing projects that boldly defy mainstream Hollywood by giving Asian Americans the spotlight on stage, and the close-up on screen." [http://www.cedargroveproductions.com/daycreative_main.html company website]

His more recent play, "Independence Day", was also brought to the screen by Cedar Grove Productions, this time as a half-our television special for PBS. Inspired by his own father "Zip" Toyama's World War II experience in a U.S. internment camp for Japanese Americans, "Day of Independence" received a Regional Emmy Nomination in 2006, from the NATAS Northern California Chapter, in the category of Historical/Cultural - Program/Special. [ [http://www.emmysf.tv/pdf/emmy06nom.pdf list of 35th NorCal Emmy noms; p. 9] (pdf)] He co-wrote the screenplay, and again served as executive producer on the program, which in addition to its PBS broadcast, has been shown at over sixty international film and video festivals, and has garnered twenty-five awards.

Presently he is working on several new plays, including "Memorial Day", about the 100th/442nd, the segregated Japanese American fighting unit of World War II, and "Yuri and Malcolm X", about the life of Nisei civil rights activist, Yuri Kochiyama, and her friendship with Malcolm X. For the Robey Theatre Company he has partnered with Aaron Woolfolk to write the play, "Bronzeville", about Little Tokyo during World War II, when African Americans became primary residents after Japanese Americans were relocated to internment camps.

Achievements

He has served on the Artistic Board at The Road Theatre Company as well as the Literary Committee at East West Players theatre. He has been honored with awards from various community organizations, including the "Japanese American of the Biennium," awarded by the National JACL, [ [http://www.watsonvillesantacruzjacl.org/includes/7-2006news.pdf Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL newsletter, 7/06; Nat'l Convention report; p. 3] ] a Community Award from the Japanese American Service Committee, of Chicago, Special Recognition from the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, of Los Angeles, a Visionary Award from East West Players, [ [http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4365140-1.html repost from Back Stage West, 6/18/98; EWP 32nd Anniversary Awards] ] and a Humanitarian Award from The "1939" Club, a Holocaust Survivors' organization. [ [http://www.1939club.com/1939%20Visas%20and%20Virtue.htm The "1939" Club history] ] Toyama received the Ruby Yoshino Schaar Playwright Award – presented by the New York/National JACL, in July 2008, for his play, "Yuri and Malcolm X".

Trivia

* He has made cameo appearances in several independent films including "Day of Independence", "Stand Up for Justice", "The First Battle", "Americanese", "American Zombie" and "Mamo's Weeds".

References

External links

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* [http://www.pacificcitizen.org/content/2006/entertainment/may19-lin-independence.htm Interview with Toyama and Tashima by Lynda Lin, Pacific Citizen - 5/19/06]
* [http://starbulletin.com/2005/05/10/features/story1.html "Day of Independence" PBS broadcast coverage] in Honolulu Star-Bulletin