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East West Players Inc
Rating Details »
Category: Performing Arts [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown120 Judge John Aiso St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 625-7000
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
17 reviews for East West Players Inc
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
6/28/2007
8/22/2009
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9/24/2009
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11/19/2006
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One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
go watch anything and everything that EWP produces. you'll never be disappointed. get on their mailing list!
I drove to Vegas last week and it only took me 15 minutes to get there.
Yep, you read that properly.
Don't believe me? Think I must live 15 minutes away or something? Nope.
I just took a trip down to the David Henry Hwang Theater to watch a one-night only production put on by the fantastic East West Players. Their plan was clear. They were to bring the thrills of Vegas to you and I gotta say they pulled it off admirably. They're good, scratch that, great entertainers and you can tell they put a lot of love into their performances. The other week I created an event page here on Yelp to get the word out because I was coming to the "That's Sooo Vegas!" show with the pretense of wanting to see world-renowned dance troupe NSU Modern of UCLA perform. What I got was so much more.
Buffet Reception:
Let's talk about the buffet banquet proceeding the show. I don't know who catered it but it was delicious. Chicken skewers, beef skewers, tempura, California rolls, sashimi, spring rolls, shrimp ceviche....the list goes on! The food was excellent and that had tons of it which was even better. But since I wasn't hungry but thirsty I decided to check out their open bar. I think going to Yelp Elite Events has conditioned me to take full advantage of open bars. I will say that these theater types sure know how to mix a drink. I'm talking Pomegranate Martinis and their specialty the "Tim Dangbanger," which was like a Long Island Ice Tea with a bang. Plus, they even had a local sake company pouring sake shots to taste. Great food and great drinks were just the beginning.
The Show:
As a one-night only show, you're going to have your bumps in the road during the performance. The David Henry Hwang Theater is a small and seemingly historic type venue so technical difficulties were bound to happen. However, the performers pressed on and really their ad-libbing just added to the production. I liked their take on Vegas staples like the Blue Man Group with the EWP's very own "Brown Man Group." EWP even had a lounge singer who was hilarious and talented in improvising on the fly with some entertaining songs. Then you had some talented singers singing the classics by Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Very cool. EWP really pulled out all the stops by having one of their performers don an Elton John costume and working the audience into a frenzy with his rendition of "Crocodile Rock." I loved it, and this wasn't just the sake. Of course, NSU Modern closed the show out with a performance that you'll want to experience one day to make your life complete. "No way that's true," you might be thinking, and to that I say "COME EXPERIENCE NSU MODERN." Sorry, I got carried away.
Dessert Reception & Raffle:
Wow. Dessert too? EWP was able to have Fugetsu-Do come and provide the theater-goers with some delicious mochi. Yelpers know what I'm talking about. And, as if that wasn't enough, they even had Dots cupcakes provide red velvet, mint chocolate chip, and other wonderful flavors of cupcakes. So while you're savoring these desserts, people are winning great prizes. I didn't win but I saw a guy walk off with a new flat screen HD TV. Snap! Plus, if you've seen the movie Sixteen Candles, we got to schmooze with Gedde Watanabe who plays Long Duk Dong! Double Snap!
Before this, I'd never heard of the East West Players but after this I can't possibly forget them. I mean I got all the greatness of Vegas without the trafficky drive on over there. All I know is, if their shows are this entertaining and fun, I'll be back for sure.
I saw The Last 5 Years and it was an amazing experience. First the musical was phenomenal. The acting was great. The art direction & the script was absolutely superb. The great thing about this place is that it is very small and intimate. Any seat is a great seat. I wish more people knew about this place. It has a beautiful architecture. The staff are highly friendly & hilarious.
I love theater and falling into greg w's category of "theater goers who lament that they never see Asian Americans on stage", I'm predisposed to liking this place...but, I'm not THAT easily sold. The productions here are actually quite good...went here to see, Imelda: A New Musical and enjoyed it very much...am looking forward to the next production I see here.
I'd give the actual theater a 3.5 but the show was great so it gets 4 stars. I'm a fan of this Japanese-American theater...dedicating its shows to the cultural enrichment of japanese americans in LA.
On a whim I yelped for a play in the downtown area. In the 22 years I've lived in Los Angeles, I've never really explored the downtown area...could be that skid row and all the bums scared me away...
The set design was modest. The interior of the playhouse isn't very fancy so you don't really expect much but I was really surprised that the cast did such a good job!
Remember Hook? Yeah...the peter pan movie... well Rufio (yes, "RU-FI-OOOOOO") well Dante aka rufio played a large role in the play tonight and did a phenomenal job for such a low budget piece.
The show itself was very entertaining. A shamelessly and politically incorrect play that focusses on all the stereotypes of Asians in America.
Granny Grace: "Come here and let me smack the yellow fever out of you silly white child" ---- possibly the funniest line...I guess you had to be there.
Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and quality performance that came from within this meager looking, churchy building.
In the past five months I've seen three different productions here and I was not disappointed by any one of them. The first production "Be Like Water" was my favorite, it was about a teenage Chinese/Japanese girl growing up in the 70's and the ghost of Bruce Lee appears to her and teaches her about life and what it really means to have strength like water. The second production was "Joy Luck Club" and the third one is called "Ixnay." Ixnay is their current production and will be there until March 15th. My old middle school crush, Dante Basco, who played Rufio in the movie "Hook" is in it. *sigh*
It's a small theater so there are no bad seats in the house. Parking right next to the theater is $7 but you can always try to find street parking around Little Tokyo for free. There are also cheaper lots around there too, if you prefer that. I love going here because it's a chance to dine at my fave places: Daikokuya, Sushi Gen, or Komasa, before or after a show.
It's so great to have East West Players in Los Angeles. For regional theater goers who lament that they never see Asian Americans on stage, let alone in Asian American plays, East West Players is a great destination.
With a long history of development of Asian American theater artists, they continue to develop new plays and train young actors, but they also utilize outstanding established API actors, who, having found success in movies and television, continue to return to EWP.
Beyond being good theater, it's location in Little Tokyo makes it a great place to go have dinner before the show and a drink afterward. Being in Little Tokyo always makes me feel as if I'm a part of the community.
The building, formerly the Union Church, adds a nice touch of grandeur to the evening.
I hope everyone goes to a show at East West at least once in their life; it's such an important organization, not only for Asian Americans, but for anyone who wants insight into our community.
I agree with Jin Y: "go watch anything and everything that EWP produces. you'll never be disappointed. get on their mailing list!"
They're FABULOUS!
Only FYI: The parking lot next to the theater is not connected to EWP. So none of those dollars for parking helps the theater.
I was totally lost when my cousin's partner said her uncle's in this play...
Me: Isn't Uncle Will a math teacher?
T: Yeah but he retired 2 years ago and started taking an acting class with East West Players' actors program
Me: So who's these people? A community theatre group?
T: Not exactly... they're not professional. I mean, not Broadway but they're not amateur. Somewhere in-between
Since I love theatre... so I went to see EWP's production of Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club (aka Uncle Will's stage debut!). I have seen a production before and I would say the East West Players' version was more to my liking.
Anyhow... great night out. I love it. Wish I lived closer!!
Professional theater with Asian American actors, writers, and themes. The performances don't disappoint. Love the small stage atmosphere. We've been season subscription members since 1999. John Cho, George Takei, and Gedde Watanabe were among the most notable performers we've seen here. All the acting is fantastic!
Many of us look forward to what new movie is coming out on a Friday night. It's always good to see a new movie, but it's also good to see and support our local shows. A friend invited me to East West Players, Inc. to see 2 one-act musicals, Marry Me A Little and The Last Five Years, this past Friday night. This theatre is notorious for having predominantly Asian Americans perform. I don't care what the race or background is, as you know a good show when you see it, and I definitely witnessed some good performances here. Being an actor myself, and being accustomed to the stage, I know what it's like to have the desire to master your craft and deliver a good performance. These actors truly delivered magnificent performances. The singing was unbelievably dynamic, as I wasn't expecting singing of this caliber. As my friend and I discussed the show at intermission, it's as if Broadway came to Los Angeles. In the show, there were moments of seductive portrayal and singing and then there were moments of listening to hysterical lyrics complemented with dancing. The diversified vocal placements of these singers really grasp your attention and helps you appreciate the arts. So, I certainly tip my hat to all the performers: Mike Dalager, Jennifer Hubilla, Michael K. Lee, and Jennifer Paz. An extra star to Michael K. Lee for such a dynamic performance, as he infused current dance moves into his performance and had some of the funniest lyrics, yet he remained professional while delivering his heartfelt performance. I've been talking about this show all weekend and will try my best to support East West Players, Inc., as it appears they're trying to uphold a good reputation by delivering good shows.
The granddaddy of all Asian American theatres in the United States. 41 years old, now they are the oldest continuing minority theatre in the U.S. Can you dig that? Amazing! They survived Reagan, Bush I, Bush II, 9/11, the Religious Right - all things that sucked money out of public funding for the Arts, so that now, we spend just pennies per person on the arts, while literally months of our paychecks go to funding war.
But I digress. Their longevity is amazing, and what's even more amazing is, they went from 99 seats to a beautiful 240 seat theatre in the historic Union Church (now the Union Center for the Arts) in Little Tokyo, adjacent to the Japanese American National Museum and the Geffen Contemporary (the street address throws a lot of people - they're between Temple and 1st on a block that used to be San Pedro, renamed for an Asian American judge).
Founded by recently passed Mako and six other Asian American actors and artists who had just had it UP TO HERE with the lack of opportunities for APA actors in Hollywood (41 years later, we're still fighting THAT battle), they were the flagship for many an Asian writer, actor, and director, and they continue to be that. They say that over 75% of all Asian SAG actors living in Los Angeleshave had passed through EWP at some point.
They typically have a five or six show season - usually a balance between new Asian American work, an American or European classic, and a musical. They've got various writing, acting, and movement classes ongoing, they've usually got a show touring in the schools, and they have the best fundraising event I've ever seen - the Artistic Director there runs a tight ship and their annual Awards dinner is a great show.
Full disclosure: I worked there for several years up until 2002 or so, so I'm anything but unbiased. Bias aside, though, this is an important institution that does consistently good work and deserves a big YELP!
I recently went to go see "the Joy Luck Club" here with very low expectations since the novel and the subsequent film were absolute favorites of mine. I was blown away! The play and the cast were absolutely amazing! If you ever get a chance to see a play here definitely do.
Just saw Voices from Okinawa. It doesn't really matter what you see here. Of course some things are better than others, buy everything is pretty good. The theatre itself is comfortable and you feel close up to the action. If you get the chance to see Niesi Widow's ________ (anything), go see it!
I've seen two plays here now.... "Dreams of Vishnu" was an adaptation of the Ramayana. And I saw "Equus", which had George Takei (Sulu on Star Trek) and some surprise nudity...
i could've sworn that i'd written EWP a review. anyway, here it goes...
the play house on Judge John Aiso is amazing. it's always s quaint, intimate theatre with very affordable admission prices. this company has managed to produce some of the most memorable theater productions i've ever experienced. and, i mean it when i say EXPERIENCED. shows here are always well done and are always ... so captivating. i've never seen a show here and not been happy. some of the shows i've seen are into the woods, sweeny todd (now a movie feat J. Depp), i land, surfing dna, pacific overtures, canton jazz club (the 1st show i'd ever been to), a few shows i've seen had such crazy names...ones that i can't even spell.
EWP wasn't always house in their present location. for a while, they were in an even tinier house over on sunset, near a small chinese-thair restaurant. i haven't been to either place in a very long time. canton jazz club was my 1st play, with my parents. it was amazing. because the theatre was so small, the cast actually went into the audience and performed. it was so much fun, so real, so up in your face close and ... AHHH! it was awesome.
i could go on and on rambling forever. i love everything that i've ever seen EWP produce!! awesome.
EAST WEST PLAYERS current production of Master Class is a play based on the life, triumphs, and tragedies of the divine opera legend, Maria Callas. This interpretation of the Tony award winning play is exceptional. Don't miss it!
