East West Players presents its 41st Anniversary Season

East West Players (EWP) proudly announces its 43^rd Anniversary Season - Beyond Presence - during 2008-2009. East West Players looks forward to bringing these five productions revolving around the human spirit and our need to conjure our past to keep dreams and hopes alive,” says Producing Artistic Director Tim Dang, “Each of the characters in these works are struggling to keep their dreams alive, through many a convention – the martial arts, a game of Mahjong, a reincarnation station or through a romantic relationship.”

The 43^4d Season begins in fall of 2008 with the world premiere of BE LIKE WATER by Dan Kwong produced in association with Cedar Grove OnStage. Following will be the Los Angeles Premiere of THE JOY LUCK CLUB by Susan Kim based on the best selling novel by Amy Tan. by Jeanne Sakata. The winter production will be the world premiere IXNAY by Paul Kikuchi, a new work developed in the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute. The closing production with be two one-act musicals performed in one evening, MARRY ME A LITTLE Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and THE LAST FIVE YEARS Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown.

SUBSCRIPTION PLAY 1 – WORLD PREMIERE

BE LIKE WATER
By Dan Kwong
Directed by Chris Tashima

In association Cedar Grove OnStage

Chicago, 1978. Disco rules. Fiver years since the tragic death of legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. Tracy Fong is a 13-year old ass-kicking, gung-fu fanatic tomboy, challenged by school bullies, airhead rivals, and a mother who just wants her to be a "normal" girl. When bad goes to worse, the Ghost of Bruce Lee appears to teach her the true meaning of strength and the true power of water.

September 11 – October 12, 2008

SUBSCRIPTION PLAY 2 – LOS ANGELES PREMIERE

THE JOY LUCK CLUB
By Susan Kim
Sponsored by the S. Mark Taper Foundation

Based on the best-selling novel by Amy Tan, also a major motion picture

Family bonds transcend history as four young Chinese American women and their Chinese-born mothers struggle to understand each other. When the children's present lives begin to mirror their parent's past accomplishments and failures, a seemingly uncrossable divide grows into a bridge as generation unite to form THE JOY LUCK CLUB.

November 6 - December 7, 2008

SUBSCRIPTION PLAY 3 – WORLD PREMIERE

IXNAY
By Paul Kikuchi
Directed by Jeff Liu
Sponsored by the S. Mark Taper Foundation

Raymond Kobayashi is in the prime of his sansei life when he is pulled up to the Reincarnation Station. But when he finds out he's being sent back as a Japanese American he refuses, which rudely prevents anyone else from return to earth as scheduled. A comedy about a usually polite Asian causing major havoc when he ixnays his next life.

February 12 - March 15, 2009

SUBSCRIPTION PLAY 4 – TWO ONE-ACT MUSICALS

MARRY ME A LITTLE
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Jules Aaron

Songs that didn't quite fit into some Stephen Sondheim's best-known musicals are woven into a simple tale of two lonely people during one evening in their small, one-bedroom apartment. Featuring songs that were cut from A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, COMPANY, FOLLIES, and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

There are two sides to every story...Jamie and Cathy's 5-year old relationship is coming to an end, and through the funny, sweet and heart-breaking songs, you hear both versions of what happened - from beginning to end, and from the end to beginning. Composer of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD and PARADE.

May 7 – June 7, 2009

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