- The Beverly Arts
Updated: Jan 24
On November 15, the Elite Performing Arts Group held its second media conference on the large-scale stage play "Dance with New Year's Eve", which was mainly in English. The media conference officially announced that the English version of the stage play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on June 8th, 2024, and the Chinese version of the stage play will be performed at 2:00 p.m. on June 9th, 2024.
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva attended the press conference and said, "The community tragedy we are experiencing is not just for Asians, but across all ethnic groups in our entire social group. Each of us should have a high level of concern for the safety and mental health of our communities”. He praised the spirit and execution of the social responsibility of the Elite Performing Arts Group, and expressed his expectation for the performance of this play. California Treasurer Fiona Ma, representing Daniel Sieu, presented a certificate of congratulations to the Group. California State Assemblyman Mike Fong and South Pasadena City Councilor Michael A. Cacciotti praised the Group for helping and uniting the community in the form of an artistic performance.
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva
Angela Sheng, the President of Elite Performing Arts Group and the producer of this play, said, "Although we created this drama on the background of this year's Chinese new year tragedy, our performance does not only focus on this one tragedy, similar events continue to happen around us. This performance is of great significance, in addition to commemorating the innocent who lost their lives, we also want to use this play to call on our society to pay attention to the hidden dangers brought by mental health illness. Social Isolation and loneliness have become widespread problems in the United States, posing a serious threat to our mental and physical health. Let's care for each other and give them warmth. At the same time, I hope that our minorities in the United States can help each other and unite together. In the past two months, we have received many letters from actors who are willing to perform for free, and we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for that. Our casting phase will also come to an end, with the cast in place for all three segments , and we will be in full rehearsal in the next two months.
The press conference was hosted by Mr. Harry Sand, Ms. Vivian Chan, Board Director of Elite Performing Arts Group.
Yang Tuenping, the winning director of the Golden Horse Award, is the first director in history to shoot a Chinese-language film in the United States and one of the screenwriters of the play, and he has high hopes for the play, expecting that through this performance, all ethnic groups can experience the difficulties of immigration, the joy and hardship of living in the United States, and still have a good and positive attitude towards life. At the same time, he introduced the main creators and the members of the production team.
Sandra Tung, a veteran filmmaker and executive producer, said that the drama has received attention and support from people from all walks of life, and is very encouraged and gratified by this.
Director Sherry Lin introduced the main actors of the Chinese and English groups. Lee Chen, the leading actress of the English group, is a resident actress of many theaters, a member of the West and East Players, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, holds a master degree in theatre and dance, and has played major roles in many Hollywood films, such as Mrs. Chen in Disney's "American Born Chinese". Fan, Chairman Lu's Translator in HBO's “VEEP”, other credits include “Good Trouble”, “Bob Hearts Abishola”, “True Crime with Aphrodite Jones”, “Girl Meets World", etc. The leading actor, Kaidy Kuna, is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and graduated from the Film School with a degree in directing and production. He began his career as an actor in 2002 and his film and television credits include "Harry's Law", "Chuck", "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", "We are Men", "The Last of Us" and " Craig of the Creek”, etc. The actor Kevin Yang graduated from Stanford University, participated in many stage plays, was active in the community, was the master host of ceremonies and organizer of important events, and was the president of the Southern California Fangyuan Drama Society. Cathy Lee, the leading actress of the Chinese version play, won the 1999 Miss New York Chinatown champion title with the best talent award, and the Top 10 of 2003 New Silk Road Model Contest Beijing Division. A contracted host of Macau Five Star TV. She is an actor, singer, model, TV host. Producer of the film "Pali Road". The leading actor in the Chinese group, Jonathan Lim, graduated from the Beijing Film Academy and the New York Film Academy. In 2008, he directed the online film "SLAM" distributed by Sony and China Film Group, in 2010 he directed Sony's film "Sofia's Diary", produced the TV show "Made in NBA" and successfully launched it on more than 40 channels in China, and produced the first season of Sony's TV series "Dr. Oz". Cathy and Jonathan are also a real-life husband and wife, and this is their first stage collaboration in more than two decades. The co-director of the play, Paul Lo, will also play the second male lead in the play, he has 60 years of film experience, and was the principal of the Columbia Film School in the United States.
Major players also include Yvonne Wu, a singer and actress. Julie Shen, CEO of M3/JMK Modeling and Media Academy; Joey Zhou, founder of LABA International Arts Festival and member of Documentary film Society;Lee Zhengtao, a soprano; Donna Chao, CEO of ACG Funding Formation Team; Ning,CEO of Glow Dance Studio; Sammy Yu, DJ of FM1300 radio station; Dongshun Zheng, leader of Flower International Standard Dance Troup and her team; Holly Zhu and Vivian Xu, models; Zoe Zhang, a DJ and actor; Lai Zhang, singer; John Tseng, actor; Dance performers Zhihai Li, founder of Chinese American Mutual Association; Kirill Nikitin, Dance Code Ballroom; Xinyu Li, New Universe Entertainment dance team; Zora Luo, a Zen dancer. Maria Liang, owner of Dance Star Studio; Joe Zhou, the 90-year old writer; Jane Gao, a survival of the shooting tragedy will take part in the supervising of the performance.
Director Paul Lo also introduced the support team of the show to the media, including the stage director, props team and management team, as well as the co-producers of the play: documentary director William Zhuang, Vivian Chan, Lara Hsu, Sandy Ku, Arthur Peng, Sophy Wu and Helena Sun.
Mr. Johnson Sun, President of the American Academy of Painting and Calligraphy; Mr. Wang, President of West California Academy of Art and Design; Annie Wang, CEO of Younger World Wellness Center; and Wendy Weng, Founder of Sinic International Education Group and other supporting organizations all attended the media conference.
"Dance with New Year's Eve" (English and Chinese Versions)
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LOCATION： SAN GABRIEL MISSION PLAYHOUSE
320 S Mission Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
TIME： SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2024 7:30 PM — 9:30 PM PST (English Version)
SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2024 2:00 PM — 4:00 PM PST (Chinese Version)
TICKETS： (626) 679 8022 (Jin Jin)
(626) 493 5557 (Yi Fan)
ORDER TICKETS ON LINE: https://elite-performing-arts-group-usa.ticketleap.com/dance-with-new-years-eve/
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by The Beverly Arts Foundation
- The Beverly Arts
Updated: Jan 2
Author: Joey Zhou
Photo: AI Generated
In less than 12 hours, the 365 days of 2023 will disappear like fireworks in the night sky!
Although there has been a serious bloody conflict between Palestine and Israel in 2023, it will still be nothing compared to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Although mankind has gone through 2023 AD, it is still in a naive and barbaric state when it comes to resolving territorial disputes.
Most people of insight are sincerely afraid of artificial intelligence (AI), especially the emergence of the upgraded version of ChatGpt in 2023, which seems to aggravate the further crisis of carbon-based life. It seems that carbon-based life is already in crisis!
When I was trying to use ChatGpt to write poems and novels, I suddenly discovered the biggest shortcoming of using AI's ChatGpt: “It is difficult to restore the real experience experienced by individuals and the insurmountable concept of time and space." Yes! Time is the criterion for testing all truth, and it is also the concept that all carbon-based life, including silicon-based life, that cannot copy and change.
Some say there is no time at all in the universe but only motion. When I was writing this "Message to 2024", I felt a large number of dark matter and dark particles pass through my body and pass before my eyes.
Since humans created the concept of time from the sundial 6,000 years ago, that sun will always be the father of the earth. At this point, when we look back on the past year, we can't help but feel filled with emotion. The various challenges and changes in 2023 we experienced will undoubtedly make us full of expectations and thoughts about the future.
First, we must face the severe international situation. The continuation of the bloody conflict between Palestine and Israel and the Russia-Ukraine war has made mankind once again realize the preciousness of peace and development. The importance of resolving territorial disputes has become increasingly prominent, requiring all countries to work together to find ways to coexist peacefully.
Secondly, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) also makes us think deeply. The advent of the upgraded version of ChatGpt has brought new possibilities and challenges. We must face up to the reality of the coexistence of carbon-based life and silicon-based life, and how to protect human value and dignity on the road to scientific and technological progress.
Finally, the relationship between time and nature also requires us to think deeply. As the father of the earth, the sun is closely related to our lives. The passage of time is our understanding of the past and future, as well as our experience and growth in life. The year 2024 will be full of challenges and opportunities. Let us work together to write our future.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by The Beverly Arts Foundation
Master Chef Tony (Xiaojun) Hu
Master Chef Tony (Xiaojun) Hu, the founder of the Lao Sze Chuan restaurants, and winner of a Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) Icon Award, was recently interviewed by Chicago's WGN Weekend Morning News about the Dongzhi Festival, the Winter Solstice Festival in China. He talked about the food and traditions that date back over 2,000 years ago, and demonstrated the preparation of tangyuan, a rice flour ball filled with sweetened black sesame seeds and other ingredients such as pumpkin seeds or peanuts. They are usually served in a warm broth or syrup made of sweet pandan leaves, ginger, and sugar. Today, they are served at weddings, family reunions, Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, and other events when families get together and share meals, particularly for those in the regions of Southern China. In Northern China, dumplings are more often served that are stuffed with lamb or other meats, and served warm with other ingredients including ginger and garlic. The festival is celebrated by Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other cultures around the world and is a time that families come together to share a traditional meal, very much like our Thanksgiving here in the U.S.
Dongzhi is a Chinese word that can mean either “winter’s extreme” or “winter’s arrival.” The festival was first celebrated in China during the Zhou Dynasty (1045 BC–256 BC), and was later declared an official celebration during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 BC). The Dongzhi Festival is a one-day celebration that occurs every year on the winter solstice, between December 21 and 23, and symbolizes union, togetherness, and completeness. The festival is rooted in the ancient philosophy of yin and yang, representing harmony and balance in the universe. On the darkest days of winter solstice, negative yin energy is at its peak, and then after the solstice, the positive yang energy begins to increase as spring approaches and the daylight hours lengthen. In the past, it was celebrated like the beginning of a new year, with Chinese New Year in February being the more significant and elaborate celebration.
Lao Sze Chuan in Chicago, Illinois
About Master Chef Tony Hu and Lao Sze Chuan
Master Chef Tony (Xiaojun) Hu is a celebrity chef, restaurateur, culinary teacher, mentor, and community leader who lives in the Chicago area. Hailing from China’s Sichuan province, Chef Tony graduated from The Culinary Institute of Sichuan, China’s premier culinary institute in 1989. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1993, as a special technician chef, and established himself in Chicago as a trailblazer for authentic Sichuan cuisine, at a time when the area was dominated by Cantonese cuisine. The very first Lao Sze Chuan opened in 1998 in Chicago’s Chinatown and has since become one of the most beloved Chinese restaurants with many locations. Lao Sze Chuan is not only recognized locally as the Best Chinese Restaurant in Chicago by multiple publications but has also received numerous national accolades including “The Best Chinese Restaurant”; “The Most Authentic Chinese Food”; one of the “Top Ten Chinese Restaurants in the U.S.”; “Best Chinese Restaurant for Celebrating Chinese New Year,” and many others.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by The Beverly Arts Foundation