Sleepless in Seattle

When you tour with a 5 month old...sleep deprivation is eminent. Say, you have a performance at 7:30pm and end at 9:30pm...you got out with fans and colleagues aftewards and soon realize time has passed. Next thing you know...you'll be up at 2AM or 4AM for the feeding, cleaning and changing of your 5 month old. We are lucky that our boy is one of the most social, calm and very friendly baby.

Seattle is done. We leave Sea-town with a warm send off. Our three performances at the Ethnic Cultural Theater brought in approximately 250 new audience members who had a chance to experience Refugee Nation. The demographics of various ages and ethnicities is the most impressive. Our Saturday matinee surprisingly brought Laotian families from elementary school children to grandparents. We had a very successful outcome that I feel made quite an impression and impact on the community in Seattle. We heard wonderful responses to the play like "I wish more people could see this...I wish I had told my friend or family about this...they should come." All these responses make me realize the great work that we do, the high quality of acting and presentation and the commitment we have to our theater art.

Thank you Seattle for a wonderful time. Lao Heritage Foundation: Major round of applause for master host Pom, Phon & Ravi Khampradith. They are such a busy family and with the heart of giving. There home is a cultural center for the Lao, especially for Kinnaly Dance Troupers. Big sisters Olivia, Jennifer and Phonetip are emerging leaders. Thanks for the fun times, laughter and taking our "boys" Litdet and Kedar out for a Seattle night to remember. Joseph Mills and Franklin High School Southeast Asian youth who had the joy of experiencing a Refugee Nation theater workshop as well as seeing a phenomenal life changing play. I hope we inspired you to seek your desires to serve not just your own personal dreams but your communities. Joseph came twice to see with many of the boys in tow. Ekkarath Sisavathdy and Lina Older of Highline Community College are the most warm and supportive new friends we have made. Aside from squeezing us in to the API event early on our arrival to Seattle...we ended our last presentation and workshop at Highline with over 60 adult ESL students represented globally from every continent some countries even new to our vocabulary. We had an amazing workshop and presentation and afterwards were treated to fine dining at a restaurant by the waters of Puget Sound. Blessings to Sakuna Thongchanh and her family for being such great supporters.

Kinnaly Musicians & Dancers ACT!

Our tech maestro, Kedar Lawrence, arrived today and is put to work documenting our visit to Kinnaly Dance Troupe's weekly Sunday practices. Rainy Seattle welcomes Kedar with cold and dreary atmosphere on his first trip to the Pacific Northwest. He is excited to be joining the Refugee Nation team on tour. In lieu of regular class the students of Kinnaly were treated to a workshop lead by Leilani and your's truly. They were challenged to express themselves in ways that brought giggles, laughter and moments of pause. All had a great time and the 3 hour session ended with a workshop performance in front of the many parents that were there. The middle and high school participants got to share some of there stories in a group effort "flocking" around the studio, while the elementary school participants found self expression without inhibition. A great day for learning, loving and family.
Leading the workshop
The expressive line-up

Faces of the youngest actors in class

Learning how to flock while storytelling

Getting down into the story

Parents sit in the studio to enjoy the work and progress
Group cheer "IMUA" embedded to me from my days at T-shirt Theater

Highline Community College & Meeker Middle School

On our first day arriving in Seattle we were greeted by co-presenter and host Pom Khampradith of Lao Heritage Foundation. The weather...bleak...usual in Seattle but we came with warmth and smiles after an early morning airplane ride on Alaska Airlines. This was our first adventure with Nouthak our touring baby on board. He did well on the plane ride from LA to Seattle...YES for free lap child policy. Kinnaly Dance Troupe had a performance at the Asian Cultural Heritage Celebration at Highline Community College and we are asked to share an excerpt to a crowd of 300 or more. HCC has a large population of international students and you could see it in the crowd. Many beautiful distinct faces and languages socializing. The next day we went to Meeker Middle School and worked with 6-8 graders who are looking ahead towards college and did a workshop. So far the residency activity for our stay here has been very diverse of demographics. Refugee Nation is truly reflected in the people we've met with so far. Kinnaly and Leilani in the rain at Highline Community College
Welcome to Highline Community College
Kinnaly preps before performance
Backstage
Flags of countries highlighted for this years Asian Cultural Heritage celebration
International audience ready for some culture exchange
Acting outside with Meeker Middle School students
Expressing yourself

UCLA May 9:We came, we spoke and we conversed.

On May 9 at UCLA in a classroom of the Physics and Astronomy Building young minds gather and open up to hearing the tale of Refugee Nation. About 60 students attending an Asian American Theater class was filled with inquiring minds after we shared an excerpt on video. Both Leilani and I enjoyed for the first time the laughter and introspection that come from viewing the piece. We were in awe of our own performance alongside these new viewers. Afterwards, with so much content to discussed Leilani and I spoke with Nouthak strapped on about the important value of telling our own stories. Special thanks goes to the Professor Lucy Burns of Asian American Studies Department and Teresa Barnett of the Center for Oral History Research for making our visit to UCLA possible. I think we inspired and encouraged emerging voices to take the leap towards getting their community stories out!
Leilani lectures
Refugee Nation tag team lecture.
Father and son time.
Refugee Nation post lecture meal time.
Professor Lucy Burns observes with intent.

Full Circle of Inspiration

Our appearance at the UC Irvine Library's Southeast Asian Archive Open House brought us full circle. Several years ago while we were birthing Refugee Nation we went to visit the Southeast Asian Archives having met Anne Frank and Prany Sananikone for the first time. Through our visit we were inspired to collect and even learn various techniques of story collection. We also realized the importance of the voice for Southeast Asians and more specifically need to create and find Laotian material in the archive. Year later, Refugee Nation is a part of the collection at the UC Irvine Library. The event was like a family reunion of sorts with long time supporters and friends in attendance. Thank you for letting us share. The Southeast Asian Archive is a very important source for academics, scholars and anyone who is interested in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Christina J. Woo and Prum Ok
Southeast Asian Academic Power
Attendees and long time supporters: Bryan Thao Worra, Leslie Chanthaphasouk, Ketmani Kouanchao.
Pioneers of the Southeast Asian Archives: Prany Sananikone, Mr. Frank and Anne Frank with charming artistic couple and baby.