Category Archives: Upcoming Events

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival: a new event for March about friendship

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Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival: a new event for March about friendship



Vancouver has a new festival centred on friendship.  The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is
the brain child of Linda Poole who was originally struck by how
beautiful the cherry blossoms in Vancouver are, and wondered why they
weren't celebrated the way they are in Japan…. (go see the movie
Memoirs of a Geisha for an example).

I first met Linda, when a new cherry tree was being planted on
Novemeber 1st, at Vancouver City Hall.  It was “Obasan Cherry Tree
Day” in recognition of the achievements of Joy Kogawa, and the efforts
to save and preserve “Kogawa House” and to plant a tree for continuing
friendship and harmony for future generations of Vancouver to
share.  Joy even wrote a poem for the festival:

A window opens

Cherry Blossom Festival

Look! Friendship growing
             –  Joy Kogawa

Some of the planned events are:


Blossom Picnic

Origami Workshop
March 16th, Thursday at Vancouver Public Library


NHK Japan Screening
March 12th

Haiku poetry contest

Kogawa House: The Case to create a literary and historical landmark for Vancouver

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Kogawa House: The Case to create a literary and historical landmark for Vancouver

Recently I was asked to state a case for preserving Kogawa House.  You can visit the discussion here on www.darrenbarefoot.com

The best answer is to experience these upcoming events, Vancouver Opera's Naomi's Road

  • Saturday, March 4, 2006 7:00 pm at West Vancouver Memorial Library 
  • March 11, 2006, 7:30pm at Vancouver Japanese Language School Hall

Monday, Feb 27th. Emily Kato book launch – Vancouver Public Library,

I will
MC a special “Emily Kato” book launch for Joy Kogawa.  There will be
special guests and presentations.  This will be the penultimate One Book One Vancouver follow up program as “Emily
Kato” is the reworked (Itsuka) sequel that highlights the JC Redress
movement of the 1980's.

The Case for Preserving Kogawa House…

1 – It is a historical and literary landmark: 
Joy is one of Canada's most influential and honoured authors. 
Vancouver has only two literary landmarks and both are in Stanley Park
– Robbie Burns statue and Pauline Johnson memorial.  Name another
Canadian author listed in BC Almanac's Greatest British Columbians,
Literary Review of Canada, and Quill and Quire's top 100 books? 
Has recieved Order of Canada?
Has had an opera made from their works?

Here's a link for
15 literary and cultural associations across canada that support preservation of kogawa house

Here's a link for
20 Reasons to save Kogawa House

Quote from Margaret Atwood

2 – The house will become a writing centre, and
be restored to it's 1937 to 1942 era while Joy lived in the house as a
young child.  There will be a writers-in-residence program working in
conjunction with writing associations across Canada.  Special
consideration will be considered for “Writers of Conscience”, who write
topic of human rights and racial/cultural harmony/issues.  We will
create programs for author readings and tie in with city cultural
festivals.

See link for The Land Conservancy


3 – The history of the house itself provides a landmark to the Japanese Canadian internment
– one of Canada's darkest historical periods.  There is no
acknowledgement or memorial in Vancouver for this incident.  Kogawa House
is one of the few houses identified as having been confiscated by the
govt. and the only house identified with a cultural and literary
significance.  This was the house that was taken away.  This was the
house that was yearned for and represented a time before Hate and
Negative-Identity virtually destroyed the JC social structure.  This
was the house that inspired the writing of both Obasan and Naomi's Road.

Here are recent news links  generated after having Joy Kogawa as
keynote speaker at the “Order of Canada” luncheon organized by the Canadian Club, to honour BC's 2005 appointees to the Order of Canada.

Tribute like coming home, Kogawa says
Vancouver Sun (subscription), Canada – 16 Feb 2006

Campaign aims to save BC writer's former home as piece of Canadian …
Canada.com, Canada – 19 Feb 2006


CBC Nova Scotia		 $1 million needed to save Kogawa House
CBC Nova Scotia, Canada – 8 Feb 2006
Saving the House of Joy
TheTyee.ca, Canada – 13 Feb 2006
Deadline to save Kogawa's old home draws near
Globe and Mail, Canada – 16 Feb 2006


Through the power of Blogging and google searches, www.kogawahouse.com and www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com
have been able to help provide information on the continuing saga of
the “Save Kogawa House” campaign.  Media stories have been collected,
and Media reporters have referenced the websites.  Special thanks to Roland Tanglao of www.bryght.com for setting up our blogs.

Naomi's Road and The World of Opera – this weekend Feb 19th at Vancouver Academy of Music

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Naomi's Road and The World of Opera – this weekend Feb 19th at Vancouver Academy of Music 

Here are performances of Naomi's Road and The World of Opera (in 45 Minutes) that are coming soon to your community.

Okay… I love Naomi's Road opera…. here is your latest chance to see it!

Please contact local presenters for tickets.

Sunday, February 19, 2006 2:00 pm
Vancouver Opera Guild presents Naomi's Road
Vancouver Academy of Music
1270 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, BC
Admission: $20 adults, $10 children 12 and under
Tickets and Information: 604-874-4042 or 604-682-2871 ext. 5001 (Pat)

Naomi's Road / Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble – getting ready again

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Naomi's Road / Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble – getting ready again


Jessica, Angus,
Gina, Gene and Sam – the singers and pianist from Naomi's Road
production of the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble – photo Deb Martin

Gina Oh and Jessica Cheung were enthusiastic in their
greetings as I visited their last rehearsal before the Spring touring
session of Naomi's Road – the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble
production that is visiting BC Schools. 

“We're going to Seattle, and Lethbridge!” they exclaimed, clearly
excited at the upcoming destinations after having such wonderful
memories of their tour on Vancouver Island where they had visited such
small communities such as Uculet/Tofino and Denman Island.

I will post the interview soon…. in the next day or so.

Check out the Vancouver Opera site for upcoming performances of Naomi's Road.
http://www.vancouveropera.ca/touring/touring-whatson.html

Sunday, February 19, 2006 2:00 pm
Vancouver Opera Guild presents Naomi's Road
Vancouver Academy of Music
1270 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, BC
Admission: $20 adults, $10 children 12 and under
Tickets and Information: 604-874-4042 or 604-682-2871 ext. 5001 (Pat)

Saturday, March 4, 2006 7:00 pm
West Vancouver Memorial Library
1950 Marine Drive
West Vancouver, BC
Admission: Free
Information: website http://www.westvanlib.org/

Saturday, March 11, 2006, 7:30pm
Powell Street Festival Society presents Naomi's Road
Vancouver Japanese Language School Hall
487 Alexander Street
Vancouver, BC
Admission: $10 (general) / $8 (students, seniors) / $5 (children 12 and under)
Tickets and Information: (604) 683 8240 / www.powellstreetfestival.com

CBC Radio: Janice Wong & CHOW on “Freestyle” Radio 1 – 1:30pm

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CBC Radio:  Janice Wong & CHOW on “Freestyle” Radio 1 –
 
2:30pm EST Toronto – Friday February 10th
 

in BC – listen on the web at 3:30pm PST on the web

For Vancouverites who don't get the second half of the program via  
radio, The CBC people tell me that it is possible to listen online.

If you go to this link and then choose "Victoria", at 2.30 you can  
catch the interview.

http://www.cbc.ca/listen/index.html#


Janice Wong is hitting the CBC radio national airwaves again. 
Jance has just returned from Toronto for promotions for CHOW where I
set up a dinner for her to meet her father's cousins's family and
descendants.
She writes:


I'll
be dishing from my book “Chow” again, this time on CBC's afternoon show
called “Freestyle”, CBC Radio 1 at around 1.30 Toronto time….a
10-minute interview.

Also
coming up is a 1/2-hour interview on “Fine Print” on Rogers TV in
Toronto…I'll let you know the date and time when I receive the
schedule.

Thanks for tuning in.

Best wishes, Janice

Click here to see other articles on Janice Wong and her book CHOW
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog?cmd=search&keywords=janice+wong+chow

Myths & Legends: New Tang Dynasty TV's Chinese New Year Global Gala lands in Vancouver

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Myths & Legends: New Tang Dynasty TV's Chinese New Year Global Gala lands in Vancouver


The New Tang Dynasty TV Gala
touring ensemble landed in Vancouver today and put on a media
conference at the Vancouver Art Gallery with a mini-show.  This is
the first time that NTDTV has brought its Gala show to Vancouver. 
There will be 11 shows in North America plus Sydney, Taiwan, Seoul and
Paris.
http://gala.ntdtv.com/2006/en/cities/van/
The Vanouver show is Tuesday, February 7th, 7:30pm, at Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Hamilton and Georgia St.

Over
the past two years I have been attending more of these Chinese event
shows.  Growing up “North American”, I generally stayed away from
things that were “Chinesey” – except for Bruce Lee movies and other
kung fu movies in Chinatown.  That was then, this is now. 
Chinese productions used to be marked by tackiness, and low production
values.  But an opening up of China in addition to event producers
taking on a willingness to push the envelope of both traditional
Chinese and mainstream cultural shows, has resulted in a number of
Chinese cultural shows being marketed into the mainstream.
Check my reviews for Terracotta Warriors, Senses and Chung Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu.

Today I talked with one of the volunteer organizers, and she was very pleased to learn that the Gung Haggis Fat Choy
is very much about building cultural understanding between East and
West, which is also the mandate of New Tang Dynasty TV.  While
GHFC has taken a decidely fusionistic take on inter-culturalism,
leaving behind the multi-cultural folk fest pastiche, it is interesting
to see how new Overseas Chinese create their perception of
“multi-culturalism.”  Last year, I attended Lily King's Spring
Concert, and was amazed by the efforts of local immigrant Chinese,
wanting to embrace and learn about North American and European
culture.  European opera arias, may be old hat to North American
audiences, but it is new to many Chinese and Asian audiences.

I
am very truthfully learning more about Chinese culture, as well as a
Chinese-Canadian identity  untainted by 62 years of legislated
racism due to the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act.  While these
shows may be unaware of the more than 150 year of Chinese Canadian
history, the shows draw on 5000 years of continuous Chinese
culture.  New Tang Dyasty TV is named after the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) considered the peak of Chinese cultural and artistic achievements.

Below are links and information to :

Please visit http://qz1.sytes.net/art/gala.htm
to view the 5-
minute intro video online. New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) is the world
largest independent, non-profit
Chinese-language television network.

Headquartered in New York City,
NTDTV currently has reporters and
correspondents in over fifty cities around the
world. The worldwide viewship covers North America, Australia, Europe and
Asia
via satellite, cable television and the Internet. Please visit http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/eng/aAboutXTR_e.htm for more information
on NTDTV.
On November 24th, 2005, NTDTV Canada was approved by Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunication Commission ( CRTC ) to be on the lists of eligible
satellite services for distribution on a
digital basis. NTDTV's aim with the Gala is to celebrate
China¡¯s magnificent heritage and foster cross-cultural understanding between the
East and West.

For
more info on the global gala. NTDTV's 2006 Chinese New Gala :
http://gala.ntdtv.com/2006/en/

See highlights from the show:
http://gala.ntdtv.com/2006/en/hi/

Review of the Boston show by OperaOnLine
 http://www.operaonline.us/mythslegends_001.htm.

Sex in Vancouver – the Final Episode: Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre does it again

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image
Sex in Vancouver – the Final Episode:
 
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre does it again


Asian actors playing ordinary people and not stereotyped
as kung fu experts, dragon ladies, Chinese gang members, China dolls,
new immigrants?  What gives?

Oh, it's just Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
creating new works to showcase the talents and abilities of Vancouver's
Asian Canadian actors.  Sex in Vancouver has been an interesting
journey.  I think it is Vancouver's first long running theatrical
soap opera, spanning 5 episodes over 3 years.  During this time I
have met many members of the cast, attending their after show cast
parties, seen the actor who plays “Jorge” wearing a kilt, invited VACT
to do the play by play commentating for the inaugural Taiwanese Dragon
Boat races, and even volunteered to help the reception staff lead a
singles night ice-breaker exercise.

I have seen all the episodes except the last one (and not because I
didn't want to!).  The acting and production have increasingly
gotten better with each episode, and so has the media response.  I
am definitely getting ready to book my time to see this final episode.
 


FINAL
EPISODE!
Destiny is Revealed!

image

Tickets are
now on sale for Sex In
Vancouver’s
finale episode: Doin’ It
Again, premiering
at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island, February 23rd to March 5th.Tell
all your friends and mark your calendars!
 
The alluring
female foursome of Elizabeth,
Shari,
Jenna and Tess are back – hotter, funnier, and more conflicted than
ever.
 
In previous
episodes, you’ve seen them
struggle with fidelity, betrayal, catfights, pregnancy woes, disapproving
in-laws and bi-curious affairs. What if they traveled back in time to re-live
their lives? Knowing everything they know now, would they do anything
differently?
 
Don’t
miss this final episode that reveals their destiny. Purchase your tickets now
online to avoid disappointment.
 
For more information, visit: www.vact.ca
 
Place:
The
Waterfront Theatre on Granville
Island
1412
Cartwright Street,
Vancouver
 
Dates:
February 23
–
March 5,
2006

(no show on February 27)
 
Show Times:
Nightly: 8 pm
Matinees: 2 pm
 
Tickets:

 

 

Showtime

Advance

At
Door

Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday,
 

8
pm
 

$21
 

$25

Friday,
Saturday

8
pm

$23
 

$28

Sunday
Matinee

2
pm

$21

$25
 
SPECIAL SNEAK PEEK on Thursday, Feb 23,
2006, 8pm – tickets $12 in advance/ $15 cash at
door
 
All prices include service charge fees
 
Tickets online at www.vact.ca

 
Group tickets available
For more info, call:
778.885.1973



Check out these past reviews!

 
Sex Exploits A Success In Vancouver (The Source Review)

Sex in Vancouver Ends on August 20! (ricepaper Review)

 

Sex in the City, Asian style
(Metro article) [PDF 102kb]

Joann Liu plays an outspoken young woman in the urban soap opera Sex in Vancouver (Vancouver Sun article)


[PDF 184kb]


“Eve and the Fire Horse” wins Special Jury Prize at Sundance – very auspicous Chinese New Year's Eve

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“Eve and the Fire Horse” wins Special Jury Prize
 
at Sundance Film Festival
 
– very auspicious Chinese New Year's Eve

“About 45 minutes ago, we recieved a phone call from Sundance,” said Yves Ma, one of the producers of the independent film Eve and the Fire Horse. “You are the first people to hear this news, outside of us…  We've won the Special Jury Prize.”

Phoebe Kut, who plays “Eve” in the film stood at the front of the theatre with produces Shan Tam, Erik Paulsson and Ma.  They were taking part in a Q&A organized by Anita Adams for First Weekend Club at Fifth Avenue Cinemas in Vancouver.  The 7:25 pm show had ended to audience applause, and all three people were very happy to share their news and stories from Sundance.

“There was lots of free stuff,” said 11 year old Phoebe answering the question “What was Sundance like?” 

“We were the only Canadian film at Sundance, the Canadian Consulate hosted our opening night party and sent two mounties to help us make a splash. We got these nifty jackets sponsored from Telefilm Canada… we got on a bus and people would say “It's the Canadians and start singing O Canada,” shared Paulsson.  All four of them turned around showing off their beautiful jackets and vests – black with a red chinese paper cut design of a horse as the logo.

“We were very fortunate, the buzz started early.  People were lining up to see the show and talking about it.  Roger Ebert's review was great!” said Ma.

I asked them what attracted them each to the film project.  Ma was the first to respond.

“It was such an honest story,  I could relate to it as an immigrant,” said Ma who is Taiwanese-Chinese on his father's side and Parisian French on his mother's side, “It is partly autobiographical for Julia, but the characters are very strong.  Some parts are dramaticized.  I just knew I wanted to be part of it.”

“I knew Julia from film school,” piped in Paulsson.

Sham Tan explained that both of the young actors that played the young girls who are the central characters of the movie, had never acted before.  In each case, another sister or friend had seen the ads calling for actors, and both Phobe Kut and Hollie Lo were “tag-a-longs” who were eventually cast.

Tomorrow the cast and crew will be parade entry #46 in the Vancouver Chinatown Parade.  They will be giving out special custom made fortune cookies.  Look for the group wearing black and red, with big big smiles.

Below are some links to stories about  Eve and the Fire Horse. including a picture of Julia Kwan recieving the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Festival in Park City Utah, earlier this evening.


Especially check out: Julia Kwan blogs her “Sundance experience” for CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/sundancediaryday7.html

7:39 2 World Cinema Special Jury Prizes, to two first time filmmakers: Eve and the
Firehorse

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/01/28/sundance-2006-awards/

Julia Kwan at Sundance accepting Special Jury Prize Award for Eve and the Fire Horse

Standing behind her is actor Shirley,  Eunhee Cha – associate producer and Tom Brown – executive producer.   Eunhee directed the award winning documentary “Tribe of One” about my cousin Rhonda Larrabee.


JULIA KWAN’S “EVE AND THE FIREHORSE”
gathering major buzz
Featured on the current cover of
Vancouver
’s Georgia Straight is a great way to start off Chinese New Year festivities this week for film maker Julia Kwan.  The timing is perfect for Kwan, since the film opened in Canadian theatres on Friday January 27. Check out the Straight story at http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=15554

Roger Ebert's review “One of the most beloved films at Sundance.”

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060123/

FILMFESTIVALS05/601230302


Globe & Mail review

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060127.wxeve27/BNStory/

Entertainment/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20060127.wxeve27

The Park Record

http://www.parkrecord.com/todaysheadlines/ci_3433757

Fred Wah reading at Capliano College Feb 6th

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Fred Wah reading at Capliano College Feb 6th

Fred Wah, poet, winner of Governor General's Award for Poetry,
acclaimed author of Waiting for Saskatchewan and Rattlesnake Grill….
is reading at Capilano College on February 6th. Monday. 12:30pm
12:30-2:30 in LB 321.  Last year Fred Wah was our featured poet
for both Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night at the Vancouver
Public Library, as well as Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's
Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner on January 30th, 2005


“Pop Goes the Hood: Writing and Reading the Neighborhood.”

Respondents will include Stan Persky, Ryan Knighton, and Aurelea Mahood.
Fred Wah is an acclaimed writer of poetry, fiction, and criticism. Fred was one of the founding editors of the poetry newsletter TISH. His book of prose-poems, Waiting for Saskatchewan won the Governor General's Award in 1986. With Frank Davey, he edited the first ever online literary magazine, SwiftCurrent. Recent publications include Diamond Grill, a biofiction about growing up in a small-town Chinese-Canadian café; Faking It: Poetics and Hybridity, a collection of critical writing that won the Gabrielle Roy Prize for writing on Canadian literature; and a chapbook called Isadora Blue. Until recently he taught poetry and poetics at the University of Calgary. He lives in Vancouve

Push Festival: Sexual Practices of the Japanese – created by Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Hiro Kanagawa, James Long and Manami Hara

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Push Festival: Sexual Practices of the Japanese – created by
Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Hiro Kanagawa, James Long and Manami Hara

Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Hiro Kanagawa, James Long and Manami
Hara have been creating interesting theatre productions in Vancouver
for the past few years.  Hiro's well-received Tiger of Malaysia
was presented at Richmond's Gateway Theatre last May during Asian
Heritage Month.  I have seen Maiko in numerous productions such as
The Concunbine's Children and she has also read some of her works at
readings organized by Asian Canadian Writers's Workshop.  This one
looks very cool.

THEATRE REPLACEMENT (Vancouver)

Sexual Practices of the Japanese
Written
by Maiko Bae Yamamoto, James Long, Manami Hara and Hiro Kanagawa
Vancouver East Cultural Centre / PuSh co-presentation

Jan 24-28 8pm
Vancouver East Cultural Centre

Post-Show Talkback Wednesday January 25
Directed by James Long & Maiko Bae Yamamoto

Sound Design Veda Hille & Lee Hutzulak

Costume Design Barbara Clayden

Lighting Design Jonathan Ryder

Stage Manager Kelly Barker

Technical Direction Colin Cooper

Performers Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Manami Hara, Hiro Kanagawa

A
scintillating peek into the world of common stereotypes surrounding
Japanese culture. This sometimes-irreverent trilogy of interweaving
one-acts takes us from a crowded commuter train to one of Tokyo's
infamous love hotels and touches on office politics, work parties and
Seattle Mariners star fielder (and Japanese icon) Ichiro Suzuki. Each
of the plays in this trilogy takes a specific stereotype and examines
it, then stretches it further in an attempt to explode the
preconception and discover the universal truth behind it.
“James Long and Maiko Bae Yamamoto are two of the most talented young theatre artists in the city.”
—Jerry Wasserman
Considered
one of the most exciting theatre companies in Vancouver, Theatre
Replacement's productions and presentations focus on developing and
maintaining a national and international network of venues, creators
and performers. They aim to redefine the performance experience with
their own work and the work of visionaries from around the world.