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LOS ANGELES TROUPE TO PRESENT A SLICE OF RICE, FRIJOLES AND GREENS MARCH 16 AT OBERLIN COLLEGE
FEBRUARY 28, 2002-- A Slice of Rice, Frijoles and Greens -- a poignant and fun-filled mix of stories that give vivid insights into the Asian, Latino, African and deaf American experience -- will be presented at Oberlin College Saturday, March, 16 at 7:30 P.M.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Finney Chapel under the auspices of the Oberlin Korean Students Association (OKSA) and the College's Multicultural Resource Center. Finney Chapel is located at the intersection of West Lorain (Route 511) and North Professor streets.
"A Slice of Rice, Frijoles and Greens is the creation of Great Leap, a Los Angeles community-based, non-profit performing arts organization," says OKSA Co-chair Julie Kim. "Using theater and music, four performers -- an Asian American, Latino-American, African-American, and a deaf American. -- present a two-hour show that addresses the "isms" of race, class and cultural identity by opening windows into their own personal stories.
"Though each slice may be different, rice, frijoles and greens helps audiences of diverse backgrounds to cross cultural boundaries and find mutual understanding. Their goal is to leap any sort of cultural boundaries by telling stories through a performing arts form. Plans also are being made to provide a sign language interpreter for the performance."
The L.A.-based performers include Great Leap founder Nobuko Miyamoto, actress Paulina Sahagun, storyteller Arlene Malinowski, and musician Chic Street Man, who also co-authored and performed in the Cleveland Playhouse 2000 world premiere of Touch The Names: Letters and Stories to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.
"This past summer, as an intern for Los Angeles County Arts Commission, I worked with Great Leap and was able to witness the important role that the arts played in serving the community as well as in building one," adds Kim. "I also was fortunate to see the show, and it was an incredibly empowering event. I learned that every individual has many stories in their lives that make them the person they are today."
"Sharing them is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding and respect for each other. It doesn't matter who we are, what race we belong to, what culture we live in. We all have stories to share and we should not be ashamed of them. I would like to share this enlightenment with the entire Oberlin campus."
PERFORMERS and
PROGRAM
NOBUKO MIYAMOTO, originally a dancer in films and Broadway, found
her own voice in the wake of the Asian American Movement, creating with
Chris Iijima and Charlie Chin, the seminal album, A Grain of Sand.
Founder of Great Leap, her work often defies the boundaries between
music, theater and dance. Her latest musical offering is the CD, To
All Relations.
In To All Relations, from the family tales of "Bon Giri Blues" to her signature song, Nobuko explores her roots through song and story as an Asian American woman as well as the criss-cross of cultures that have become her life. To All Relations is inspired by the Native American sacred salutation "Mitakuye Oyasin."
PAULINA SAHAGUN has performed on both sides of the Mexico/U.S. Border. She began her theatrical career as a member of the Mexican Theater Company Los Mascarones and was a founding member of Grupo Cultural Zero. With these companies she toured extensively throughout Mexico and the U.S. performing original theatrical works. Her credits with El Teatro Campesino and Luis Valdez include the play La Pastorela and the PBS Special El Popol Vuh, Sahagun was a graduate of the Dell' Arte School of Physical Theater and the UCLA World Arts and Cultures Program.
Nahuatl-Now What? explores the question "Where do I belong?" as Sahagun straddles two worlds through the crossed wires of a high-tech Aztec in gringolandia.
ARLENE MALINOWSKI, educator, actor, storyteller, has most recently been seen in the LA premiere adaptation of Kafka's The Trial at the Company of Angels. She has appeared in numerous theatre productions in LA and is most proud of her work in Chapter Two, Broadway Bound and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest with Deaf West Theatre. Her TV Credits include LA Law, Doogie Howser, and Days of Our Lives. Malinowski has a B.A. degree in education, a masters degree in counseling and a doctorate in higher and adult education. As an educational consultant and a national motivational speaker, she has reached out to over 150,000 people with her work. She is also the founder of Training Power Associates, a training and development company.
What Does the Sun Sound Like?, a hilarious and heartwarming autobiographical story of a hearing daughter growing up with deaf parents. Arlene's new piece, The Bully tells her story about the Catholic school nun who bullied her and her brave deaf mother who saved the day.
CHIC STREET MAN is a superb solo "urban acoustic folk blues" singer, guitarist and songwriter. Chic's guitar is a natural extension of his body. He uses the guitar and his voice to create music that transcends barriers of culture and attitude. His songs explore a love for people, music and the planet, bringing home his message through acoustic, bluesy ballads and funky, jazzy upbeat originals. Chic travels extensively performing in clubs, concerts, high schools, middle schools, universities, benefit shows and festivals. His lyrics focus on the positive alternatives while entertaining in a spirited manner.
Chic Street Man uses the guitar and his voice to create music that explores his love for people, music and the planet, bringing home his message through acoustic, bluesy ballads and funky, jazzy upbeat originals.
GREAT LEAP Great Leap is dedicated to the principles of deepening race relations and promoting harmony between the diverse cultural groups of America. Founded in 1978 by artistic director, Nobuko Miyamoto, Great Leap's mission is to create, present and produce works that give expression to the multicultural experience through performances and workshops.
Rooted in the Asian American community, Great Leap has been a pioneering organization for 22 years, reaching nationwide audiences of 50,000 people each year. Committed to reaching youth, Great Leap has worked with Upward Bound for six years to develop an intensive "Arts and Yoga for Youth" residency program for at-risk youth and youth in Los Angeles County juvenile detention camps.
In 1998, Great Leap was named as a "Promising Practice" on the President's Initiative on Race as part of the One America campaign, and received the President's Award from the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission.
Media Contact: Betty Gabrielli
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