GENseng Geneseo

While listening to NPR Classical Music this morning, GENseng is reminded it's now the holiday season, and with the winter holiday comes ... (drum roll) ... THE NUTCRACKER BALLET. This post is long past due from GENseng but it needs to be said: if you are planning to take your kiddies to see "The Nutcracker," or to see it yourself do some investigating about the company and the choreographer before you go. Sure, Tchaikovsky was writing from a 19th century colonialist unders...tanding of the "East," but can we at least avoid productions that perpetuate yellowface renderings of the so-called "Chinese Dance" (NOT a Chinese dance) or the sinuous, half-naked "Arabian" dancers with bellybutton jewels (NOT Arabic); maybe even write Artistic Directors to object! Most of you have had my Asian Dance History class so you know what I think of these already. GENseng says: take a listen to this informative podcast about the Nutcracker before you buy a ticket: https://the1a.org//2018-12-12-bringing-down-the-curtain-o/ See more

With a h/t to our friend Roger Tang, GENseng shares this post . We have not been privileged to produce a Vietnamese American play, but the Sông Collective is something to keep an eye on and has GENseng's support. Please share with anyone you know who would be eligible and available to apply.

We can now say that it is "GENseng FaceBook official": the May 2020 GENseng will be a concert reading of Jeanne Sakata's HOLD THESE TRUTHS, co-produced by our Chris LaBanca's (S.A.M. I AM, KWATZ!, KOREAN COMEDY OF ERRORS) Solid Lines Productions, directed by Randy Barbara Kaplan, and starring Russell James Allen as Gordon Hirabayashi with Benjamin Bernstein in the voiceover roles. Please take note of Jeanne's new show FOR US ALL, which is making its debut during the run of GENseng's HOLD THESE TRUTHS, and aren't we in distinguished company, GENsengers?!

h/t to our friend Roger Tang! CONGRATS TO ALL! ASIAN AMERICAN THEATRE PRIDE!