Philip Kan Gotanda
floating weeds

Sunday, September 22, 2002

[View this release and download "Wind" publicity photos here: http://briefcase.yahoo.com/jeff_weiser]

San Jose Repertory Theatre
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ERIC SIMONSON TO DIRECT WORLD PREMIERE OF PHILIP KAN GOTANDA'S "THE WIND CRIES MARY"

Cast and Creative Team Announced

SAN JOSE, Calif. (September 23, 2002)--Acclaimed director Eric Simonson will helm San Jose Repertory Theatre's World Premiere production of Philip Kan Gotanda's The Wind Cries Mary. Equally at home on both stage and screen, the multitalented Simonson received a Tony Award nomination for his direction of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of The Song of Jacob Zulu, and Academy Award and Emmy Award nominations for the HBO film, On Tiptoe. After recently directing the World Premiere of his adaptation of Herman Melville's Moby Dick at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Simonson arrives in San Jose ready to tackle Gotanda's take on Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. The Wind Cries Mary begins performances on October 19 and continues through November 17. Press Night is October 25.

"The Wind Cries Mary is a tangible representation of our commitment to the creation, development and production of new work, specifically through our Silicon Valley New Works Initiative," said Associate Artistic Director John McCluggage. "We look forward to this World Premiere production and the continuation of our longstanding relationship with Philip Kan Gotanda, one of America's most important playwrights."

The Wind Cries Mary explores Ibsen's timeless themes of power and gender politics set against the backdrop of rock 'n' roll and the Civil Rights Movement. Set in San Francisco, Philip Kan Gotanda has transformed Ibsen's "Hedda" into "Eiko," a Japanese American woman of vast gifts and intelligence hamstrung by the double burdens of gender and tradition in 1968. The Wind Cries Mary was commissioned by San Jose Repertory Theatre, written with the additional support of the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program and developed with help from Contemporary Asian Theater Scene and The Fleishhacker Foundation.

Eric Simonson's directing credits include Anna Christie, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Work Song (co-author) at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Hamlet at the Huntington Theatre Company, A Doll's House at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Othello at Court Theatre in Chicago. The Song of Jacob Zulu, produced originally at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, traveled to The Perth Festival in Australia prior to its Broadway engagement, where it received six Tony Award nominations including Best Director. Simonson is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble and is the author of several adaptations and writing collaborations including Nomathemba (with Ntozake Shange and Joseph Shabalala) at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Crossroads Theatre in New Jersey, and Huntington Theatre Company in Boston; Bokchoy Variations (with Fifi Servoss and Even Chen) at Minnesota Opera; The Last Hurrah at Huntington Theatre; and Slaughterhouse-Five at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. His adaptation of Bang the Drum Slowly has been produced at theaters across the country. As an actor, Simonson has appeared in the television shows Seinfeld, The Ben Stiller Show and The Untouchables, and onstage in the Chicago, London and New York versions of Steppenwolf's The Grapes of Wrath. Simonson has directed the films Ladies Room L.A. (Golden Award at Houston's Worldfest), On Tiptoe (Academy Award nomination; Emmy nomination, 2001 IDA Distinguished Achievement Award), Hamlet (co-directed with Campbell Scott) for Hallmark Entertainment and an independent feature entitled Topa Topa Bluffs. He is currently developing a television series for HBO entitled Five Points.

Over the last two decades, Philip Kan Gotanda's works have graced the stages of the country's most important theaters while also reaching an international audience. Last year, his play Ballad of Yachiyo opened at London's Gate Theatre in co-production with the Royal National Theatre, and a new Japanese language translation of A Song for a Nisei Fisherman will open at the Maple Leaf Theatre in Tokyo next season. In 1999, San Jose Rep presented the World Premiere of Sisters Matsumoto which was subsequently produced on stages across the country. Over his career, Gotanda has created one of the largest and most varied bodies of Asian American-themed work with such plays as Fish Head Soup, Yankee Dawg You Die, The Wash, floating weeds and Yohen. He is currently working with the American Repertory Theatre on a new work, Under The Rainbow. Gotanda has also established a parallel career as an independent filmmaker with his work presented at film festivals around the world. Outrider Pictures will distribute his most recent feature, Life Tastes Good. A resident of San Francisco, he holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law and studied pottery with the late Hiroshi Seto.

New York-based actress Tess Lina will create the role of "Eiko Hanabi," Gotanda's 1968 incarnation of "Hedda Gabler." Lina most recently worked with Mark Lamos in the Guthrie Theater's production of Antony and Cleopatra. Prior to the Guthrie, she toured England in the Denver Center Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company's internationally acclaimed production of Tantalus directed by Sir Peter Hall. Her other theater credits include Dogeaters at La Jolla Playhouse, Much Ado About Nothing at Indiana Repertory Theatre and Mother Courage at Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York City. She is a founding member of The Mud/Bone Collective, Inc. and a graduate of Juilliard.

Stan Egi returns to San Jose Rep as "Miles Katayama." Rep audiences will remember Egi in last season's A Flea in Her Ear and in the 1998 World Premiere production of Gotanda's Sisters Matsumoto. He appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of Anything Goes directed by Jerry Zaks, and off-Broadway in Golden Child at the The Public Theater, Gotanda's Yankee Dawg You Die at Playwrights Horizons and Day Standing on its Head at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Egi has worked extensively at regional theaters across the country. His television and film credits include JAG, Law and Order, Rising Sun, Paradise Road and Boys on the Side.

The versatile Sab Shimono, a familiar face from stage, film and television, takes on the role of "Dr. Nakade." Shimono starred on Broadway with Angela Lansbury in both the original and revival productions of Mame directed by Gene Saks. He also appeared in Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures directed by Harold Prince, Ride the Winds and Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen and received a Drama Desk nomination for his work in the New York production of Gotanda's The Wash. In addition to his numerous regional theater credits, Shimono has appeared in hundreds of television projects including Murder Between Friends, Hot Summer Wind and the critically acclaimed Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes. He currently stars as the voice of "Uncle" in Columbia TriStar's The Jackie Chan Show. Film credits include Paradise Road, The Big Hit, The Shadow, Presumed Innocent, Come See the Paradise and Waterworld. Shimono recently starred in Life Tastes Good, written and directed by Philip Kan Gotanda, which premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.

Thomas Vincent Kelly joins the cast as "Raymond Pemberthy" after completing a five month run as "Happy" in the InterAct Theatre Company's production of Death of a Salesman in Los Angeles. A native of Chicago, Kelly has appeared in Zoot Suit and A Touch of the Poet with Brian Dennehy at The Goodman Theatre, Romeo and Juliet at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Henry IV Part 1 & 2 and Henry V at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Coriolanus directed by Eric Simonson at Next Theatre. Film and television credits include Leave No Trace, Bruised Orange, The Ride, The Practice, The Bernie Mac Show and Chicago Hope.

"Rachel Auwinger" will be played by Allison Sie, who has appeared in Emma's Child and Soundings at L.A.'s Odyssey Theatre, Lynn Manning's World Premiere of The Last Outpost at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Much Ado About Nothing and Volpone at A Noise Within, The Seagull at the Hollywood Court Theatre and Woman from the Other Side of the World at East West Players. She has appeared in film and television in Anywhere But Here, Enemy of the State, Route 9, Breakfast with Einstein, Providence, Vanishing Son and Bodies of Evidence.

A familiar face to Bay Area audiences, Joy Carlin completes the cast as "Auntie Gladys." Carlin most recently produced and directed Joe Landon's musical Fanny at Chez Panisse, played Mrs. Tarleton in Shaw's Misalliance at Marin Theatre Company and directed Michael Frayn's Benefactors at Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company. At San Jose Repertory Theatre, she has directed The Country Girl, Passion Play, The Sisters Rosensweig and Death of a Salesman in which she also played the role of "Linda Loman." Carlin served as the Associate Artistic Director of American Conservatory Theater from 1987-1992, was an actor and resident director at Berkeley Repertory Theatre from 1981-1984 and served as its Interim Artistic Director from 1983-1984. She is the recipient of the Barbara Bladen Porter Award for continued excellence in acting and directing.

Kent Dorsey provides both Set and Lighting Design for this World Premiere production. Dorsey's previous work at San Jose Rep includes the scenic design of Enter the Guardsman, The Master Builder, Cole! and The Innocents, and lighting design for Enter the Guardsman and Closer Than Ever. He contributed over 85 designs for San Diego's Old Globe Theatre as well as designs for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, La Jolla Playhouse, the Ahmanson Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Chicago Opera Theater, Virginia Opera, Opera San Jose and many more. New York productions include About Time, Alligator Tales, Another Antigone, The Cocktail Hour, Silence, Suds and Gotanda's Yankee Dawg You Die.

Costume Design is by Lydia Tanji. San Jose Rep audiences have previously enjoyed her creations for Cyrano, La Posada Magica and Gotanda's Sisters Matsumoto. Tanji's work as been seen at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, American Conservatory Theater, Asian American Theater Company, The Public Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Huntington Theatre Company, the Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, East West Players, Indiana Repertory Theatre and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Her film credits include The Joy Luck Club, Hot Summer Winds, Thousand Pieces of Gold, The Wash, Dim Sum and Gotanda's Life Tastes Good.

Resident Sound Designer Jeff Mockus completes the production with the revolutionary sounds of the '60s. Now beginning his ninth season with San Jose Rep, Mockus' previous designs include By the Bog of Cats., Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Las Meninas, Enter the Guardsman, Nixon's Nixon, Thunder Knocking on the Door, Over the Tavern and Old Wicked Songs . Before joining the Rep, Mockus designed over 40 productions at such regional theaters as PCPA Theaterfest, American Conservatory Theater, Sacramento Theatre Company, A Contemporary Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Missouri Repertory Theatre and Shakespeare Santa Cruz.

Join Associate Artistic Director John McCluggage, Philip Kan Gotanda and special guests for a panel discussion on the Asian American student movement and other timely issues raised in The Wind Cries Mary at the "Ghostlight Forum" on Monday, September 30 at 7pm in the Rep's Sobrato Auditorium. The Ghostlight Forum is one of a series of informal behind-the-scenes presentations about upcoming productions at San Jose Repertory Theatre. For reservations to this FREE event, call the Rep Box Office at 408-367-7255.

Gotanda will also be a guest panelist at the "Asian American Women in the Arts/Media" forum presented by the San Jose chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and Nihonmachi Outreach Committee. The forum will be held on Sunday, October 13 at 2pm at the Wesley Methodist Church fellowship hall in San Jose's Japantown. A screening of Deborah Gee's landmark film, Slaying the Dragon, will be followed by an expert panel discussion and a question and answer session. The documentary traces the portrayal of Asian women in film, theater and the news media from the 1920's through the mid-1980's. Admission is FREE. For more information call the San Jose JACL at 408-295-1250.

The San Jose-based non-profit Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS) is dedicated to the advancement of artists of Asian American heritage. CATS promotes the vitality and excellence of Asian American theater by presenting theatrical works dealing with contemporary Asian American issues and concerns. The Fleishhacker Foundation is a family foundation in San Francisco that makes grants to arts and culture and K-12 education in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) provides competitive grants for public educational activities and the development of educational materials to ensure that the events surrounding the exclusion, forced removal and incarceration of civilians and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry will be remembered and so that causes and circumstances of this and similar events may be illuminated and understood.

San Jose Repertory Theatre stimulates, celebrates and enhances understanding of ourselves and others through the shared experience of live theater by producing new plays and classics marked by innovative interpretations and a reflection and inclusion of our community and the world in which we live. Under the direction of Artistic Director Timothy Near and Managing Director Alexandra Urbanowski, the Rep presents six mainstage productions each year and offers extensive outreach programming that includes Red Ladder Theatre Company, student matinees and programs, senior discounts and community nights. The 2002-2003 season continues with the World Premiere of Philip Kan Gotanda's The Wind Cries Mary, (10/19-11/17), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (12/7-1/12/03), Culture Clash in AmeriCCa (1/31-3/2), the West Coast Premiere of Eric Bogosian's Humpty Dumpty (3/22-4/20), Mary McDonnell in Orpheus Descending (5/24-6/22) and the New America Playwrights Festival (6/28-29). Visit San Jose Rep on-line at www.sjrep.com.

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"THE WIND CRIES MARY" AT-A-GLANCE

Cast

"Eiko Hanabi" . . . . . Tess Lina
"Miles Katayama" . . . . . Stan Egi
"Dr. Nakade" . . . . . Sab Shimono
"Raymond Pemberthy" . . . . . Thomas Vincent Kelly
"Rachel Auwinger" . . . . . Allison Sie
"Auntie Gladys" . . . . . Joy Carlin

Creative Team

Playwright . . . . . Philip Kan Gotanda
Director . . . . . Eric Simonson
Set & Lighting . . . . . Kent Dorsey
Costumes . . . . . Lydia Tanji
Sound . . . . . Jeff Mockus
Dramaturg . . . . . Tom Bryant
Stage Manager . . . . . Bruce Elsperger
Casting . . . . . Bruce Elsperger
Casting (New York) . . . . . Rush and Super Casting
Casting (Los Angeles) . . . . . Julia Flores

PLAYS BY PHILIP KAN GOTANDA

The Avocado Kid or Zen In The Art of Guacamole (1980)
A Song For A Nisei Fisherman (1982)
Bullet Headed Birds (1983)
The Dream of Kitamura (1984)
American Tattoo (1985)
Jan Ken Po (with David Hwang & Rick Shiomi) (1986)
The Wash (1987)
Yankee Dawg You Die (1988)
Fish Head Soup (1990)
in the dominion of night (1993)
Day Standing on Its Head (1994)
Ballad of Yachiyo (1995)
Sisters Matsumoto (1999)
Yohen (2000)
floating weeds (2001)
The Wind Cries Mary (2002)
Under The Rainbow (2002)

CONTACT:
Jeffrey Weiser, Media Relations Manager
408. 367. 7282
408 .367. 7237 (fax)
jeffreyw@sjrep.com

San Jose Repertory Theatre
101 Paseo de San Antonio
San Jose, CA 95113-2603
www.sjrep.com

PHOTO EDITORS: Images are available at http://briefcase.yahoo.com/jeff_weiser

© 2002 Philip Kan Gotanda

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