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In Memoriam: Roger Ebert 1942-2013 American journalist, Film critic and Asian American Cinema Champion
Arts & Entertainment
Ben Fong-Torres is in Dubai with music producer Quincy Jones to kick-off Dubai's inaugural mega music event
September 24, 2013
Dubai
As I post this, Ben just arrived to Dubai from California, and had dinner with music producer Quincy Jones.
Ben is in Dubai with Quincy to moderate two seminars at Dubai Music Week, presented by Quincy. It is a mega music event - the region's inaugural music industry trade show, conference and concert series September 24 - 29, 2013.
The seminar series called "Emirates World Exclusive Quincy Jones Seminars" begins September 24, with Ben moderating a discussion with Quincy Jones, and the multi Grammy award-winning production team behind Michael Jackson's...
Actress Michi Barall is in the ensemble cast of stop.reset. a new play by Regina Taylor
New York City
stop. reset., a new play written and directed by Regina Taylor which has performances in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York through September 29, 2013, tackles powerful questions of legacy, identity and survival in a world where the real and the virtual are more closely tied than we think.
Photo by Joan Marcus of Teagle F Bougere as Chris, LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Jan, Donald Sage Mackay as Tim and Michi Barall as Deb in Signature Theatre’s world premiere of Regina Taylor’s stop. reset.
Photo by Lia Chang of Ismael Cruz Cordova in stop. reset, written and directed by Regina Taylor.
In stop.reset., e-books are outselling printed books, and Alex Ames (Carl Lumbly), the owner of Chicago’s oldest African American book publishing company, is faced with the task of questioning each of his employees, Deb (Michi Barall), Chris (Teagle Bougere), Jan (LaTanya Richardson Jackson) and Tim (Donald Sage MacKay), to determine who is still relevant in a rapidly changing world. When he meets J (Ismael Cruz Cordova), a mysterious youth plugged into the future, Mr. Ames is forced to discover just how far he will go to survive.
Photo by Lia Chang of castmembers LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Michi Barall starring in Regina Taylor’s stop. reset. on September 21, 2013.
Racist Tweets after Miss America Nina Davuluri is crowned - first Indian-American to win title
September 15, 2013
Atlantic City, N.J.
Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri Photo credit: The Miss America Organization / ABC
CNN.com reported examples of racist tweets that were posted on Twitter by some users right after Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America tonight. The 24 year old Miss New York made history as the first Indian American to win the Miss America title. Miss Davuluri's talent routine was a Bollywood fusion dance.
In response to the racist tweets on Twitter, including some Twitter users accusing her of being Arab and a terrorist, Ms. Davuluri said at her first press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, "I have to rise above that." "I always viewed myself as first and foremost American."
Ms. Davuluri said "I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."
A native of Syracuse, New York, Davuluri is applying to medical school. As the 2014 Miss America, she will receive a $50,000 scholarship as part of her pageant title.
Ms. Davuluri's first runner-up is Miss California Crystal Lee. Lee performed a ballet dance, is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and obtained a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford in four years.
Davuluri is the second Asian American to win the title. The first Asian American to win the title of Miss America was Angela Perez-Baraquio who won in 2001 and is of Filipino descent.
For more on the story:
MissAmerica.org
ABCNews.go.com
CNN.com
USAToday.com
Jeff Yang, writer of Tao Jones column for Wall Street Journal Online
Related: RedAlertLive.com reports racist slurs for Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony by some Twitter users for Singing 'God Bless America' and the young Mexican-American boy Sebastien De La Cruz for singing the National Anthem During the NBA Finals.
Lia Chang Stars in "Power Play" by Lorey Hayes July 31-August 1, 2013
July 26, 2013
Actress Lia Chang stars in the award-winning play "Power Play" by playwright/actress Lorey Hayes in Winston-Salem, North Carolina July 31-August 1.
We are proud to take over Lia's "Backstage Pass" column this month to congratulate her on her upcoming performance in "Power Play."
Lia stars with Pauletta Pearson Washington, aka Mrs. Denzel Washington ("The Watsons Go to Birningham"), Lorey Hayes ("Dreamgirls)", Roscoe Orman ("Sesame Street"), Marcus Naylor ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)", and Phynjuar ("Meet the Browns").
Photo credit courtesy by Wiliam J. Chang (L to R) Pauletta Pearson Washington, Lia Chang, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes.
The actors will perform the play in a staged reading at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
“Power Play” by Lorey Hayes
8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 3 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1
Shirley Recital Hall, Salem College, 500 E. Salem Ave., Winston-Salem
Tickets: $25
Information: 723-7907, www.nbtf.org.
Tickets also are available from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday at the N.C. Black Repertory Company office,
610 Coliseum Drive, Winston-Salem.
Starting Tuesday, tickets may be purchased from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. daily at
Benton Convention Center, 301 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem.
About "Power Play":
Roscoe Orman's Franklin Wright has been propelled to political stardom by his Asian American campaign manager, played by Lia Chang.
Just three days before the election, hoping to become California’s first African American governor he finds himself in a scandal that threatens his career and marriage — a scandal based on a secret that his wife, played by Paulette Pearson Washington, has harbored for years.
Related:
National Black Theatre Festival:...
Update: Go see Linsanity! Jeremy Lin's "Linsanity" Documentary hit theaters Oct 11, 2013 but watch for earlier releases in your area!
October 6, 2013 Update: Linsanity is in selected theaters now! Buy tickets and go!
October 4, 2013 UPDATE: Go see Linsanity!
"Linsanity" the docoumentary begins screening in theaters in a limited release October 11, but keep an eye out for earlier screenings in your area!
Its a terrific documentary! Show support on the opening weekend by buying tickets!
July 24, 2013
Mark your calendars!
Variety Film Reporter Dave McNary reports exclusively that "Linsanity" the documentary about Jeremy Lin directed by Evan Jackson Leong, and produced by Christopher Chen, Allen Lu and Brian Yang will be released in theaters beginning October 4, 2013.
For the full story by Dave McNary at Variety click here.
I saw the documentary at a press screening earlier this year, and a second time at CAAMFest 2013's Opening Night in San Francisco, and look forward to its theatrical release.
If you would like to join the movie's "Street Team" to get the word out click here to fill out the Linsanity - Street Team form or go straight to the website and find the link at www.Linsanitythemovie.com.
If you would ike to host your own screening with your group you can fill out a form at the official website www.Linsanitythemovie.com/screening
"Linsanity" credits:
Executive Producer: Sam Kwok, James Stern, Patricia Sun
Producer: Christopher Chen, Allen Lu, Brian Yang
Cinematographer: Evan Leong
Editor: Greg Louie
Here's the description of "Linsanity" from CAAMFest 2013: