Join the Refugee Nation...

Panel at National Asian American Theater Festival

2011-06-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Join us at the National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival as we share our work on a panel. In this case study session, panelist will share the local, national and international impact that Refugee Nation, an interdisciplinary theater project based on stories collected from Laotian refugees, has had in their community. Through theater and organizational partnerships, this project reaches across oceans, from Los Angeles to Laos, to explore war, global politics and U.S. citizenship. We will be joined by long time colleagues: Channapha Khamvongsa, Legacies of War, and Bryan Thao Worra of the Lao Assistance Center.

Progress in Portland

2011-06-01T01:13:00.001-07:00

Why no posts lately? It's been busy. We closed our shows in Seattle, had one day to re-coup (but didn't cause we wanted to see our friends before we left town) and did a final evening workshop for Highline Community College. Early the next morning we headed to the train station with our dear hosts Pom, Phon & Ravi. Bidding them a very fond farewell, wishing we could pack them in our bags, we then took off on the train to Portland. First day here we interviewed Mr. Hongsa a leader in the Lao community. Thursday and Friday more workshops and school presentations. Memorial Day was no Holiday for us. We loaded into the Interstate Firehouse Theater and started setting up lights and costumes. Tuesday was a long day for the guys. A workshop with youth and another 10 hour day in the theater setting lights. Tomorrow is an ambitious day set for two run-thrus. Let me tell a bit about the cast of characters here in Portland! Toc, remember Toc from Alaska? Now a mother of two, Toc is the major force behind introducing Refugee Nation to Portland. She's gathered her like minded, fierce force of South East Asian women to make the show happen. Jen (also the mother of two) is the calm centered one of the bunch, Pone is a go getting lawyer/mom, and Coi is ever helpful and supportive (even if it requires being a drinking buddy/nightlife tour guide). In addition there is Sathy, Bopha, Alma, Souk and a whirling array of excited, generous, helpful, energetic folks making the rainy days of Portland seem full of light!

Sleepless in Seattle

2011-05-25T10:37:00.001-07:00

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!

2011-05-15T23:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-05-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

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.

Sacramento the Lao'd Nation!!!

2011-04-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to LAAO for hosting a historical and amazing event Sabaidee Bpeemai Lao Celebration at Cal Expo in Sacramento. We were honored to be invited. Our participation in sharing an aspect of the Lao community through theater for a crowd of thousands has been a true highlight in the Refugee Nation journey. We had a wonderful time and send sincere congratulations to the team that made it happen: Lily, La, Jerry, Judy, Jenny, Khonnie, Vicki, Melinda, Katherine and everyone of the Sacramento LAAO team. All photos below courtesy of Issy Alex Virasayachack. LAAO leader Lily Liemthongsamout
Afternoon emcees Tim Tararug from San Jose and Judy Sithipone
The over-the-top Emmy Macadangdang and Manny Manuel Luis Sanchez III aka Bert
Mistaken Awards to Ova Saopeng
Over 5000 in attendance at the 1st Lao New Year in Sacramento
Fellow artists: Alex San Dinero, Jonny Olsen, Tommy Chanthasene, K-ONE

same but different

2011-04-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

Rehearsals began this week in preparations for Lao New Year in Sacramento and for our Pacific Northwest Tour to Seattle and Portland. On the one hand, it hasn't been THAT long since our last show, feels familiar. But something is different. Oh yeah! We had a baby! Nouthak Hakumele Saopeng (4 months) is attending all rehearsals and will be joining us on tour. Wow, what a whole new adventure. Hope we get to see you all on the road.

The Magic That Is

2010-10-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Final day with the amazing people who've made it happen. Reflections on Refugee Nation in Twin Cities.
Minnehaha Falls Park with peek-ka-boo artists Lidet, Leilani and Robert.
The family that stays together, plays together!
Point up to the marquee...Refugee Nation in lights!
The masterful workshop at the University of Minnesota students expressing themselves!

THE MAGIC THAT IS...
I have often heard the phrase "It is, what it is" referring usually to a situation that, at least for me, connotes that nothing can be done or it cannot be helped. In most cases I'm on the losing end. This is not one of those cases. Refugee Nation the play, the project, the residency, the performances, took years to sculpt and mature. Magic can happen, magic does happen...it takes time and effort and a lot of hard work! The success of Refugee Nation in the Twin Cities proves it so. I am amazed at the impact we have had in the Twin Cities when done right! Thank you so much Intermedia Arts, Lao Assistance Center and Pangea World Theater for making an example of what collaborative, communicative and conscious effort can do for a community!

There are many moments of magic I can reflect upon during our three full weeks in St. Paul-Minneapolis; from the first day arriving at the airport and picked up by Bryan Thao Worra in his beat up BMW...we didn't fully comprehend the adventure that was about to unfold. Miracles happen thanks to the Ratsabout family in Brooklyn Park...Saengmany, Gao, Maekalah and crawling Zakarin were commendable hosts. Without this family's down to earth spirit and awesome home the RN team would be split up. They were kind enough to accommodate all four refugees: Leilani, Litdet, Rena and myself after much fuss from an assumed prior engagement that unfortunately did not come through. Nonetheless, we adjusted to the situation and made good with making new family and friends. To which I add on to the magical moments of meeting the Photisane family whom lived just a few blocks away. The Photisane's are an amazing unit of eight who have such a deep, dramatic, uplifting story to share to the world that my hope is that it will happen. Thanks to their mother Aunty Oudom we were escorted into the senior group at Lao Cultural Center where we announced our arrival with the hope that they get to experience the play at Intermedia Arts.

I can share of many impactful stories like the young man from Iowa whom was so moved by the play he had to take a moment to collect himself midway through the play. The UofM Southeast Asian American students and the incredible work they produced in workshop with only an hour of time together. The diverse audiences that came to see the play and filled the houses practically every night. B. Ratsabout and other repeat audience members who came to see the play more than twice to fully take in the nuances of the performances. Fans like Julian Hines,who came with friends to support the show and insist that they come and see this play. Elders who smiled at me after the show and wished me well for sharing OUR stories. The Minneapolis artistic core: Bryan Thao Worra, May Lee Yang, Saymoukda Vongsamay, Robert Karimi and many others...

This proves that we are ultimate, historical, significant, penultimate...Lao American play of the decade. We will continue on thanks to the love and support of so many people. Let's continue to step forward building this Refugee Nation!

Twin Cities ACTivities

2010-10-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

After a very successful week of performances we continue to make new friends and fans of Refugee Nation. Amongst the new friends and fans were some who got to experience the fun and educational theater workshops and socials we were able to squeeze in. We call this community engagement, exchange and interaction. All in all the sharing that happens brings us all closer and deeper to better understand and appreciate each other as individual human beings. Audiences have been touched in so many levels which makes us realize the importance of our work and forever drives us. Within this week alone we have presented excerpts, had post-show discussions, and facilitated theater workshops at various institutions throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul including: Intermedia Arts, Lao Cultural Center, St. Cloud State University, John F. Kennedy High School, and University of Minnesota. I am continually amazed at the reach and impact we have on the community. We have had Lao families of every generation attend, we have had a young man awaken to his Lao identity and so affected by the play, see a reflection of his family in the play...the stories go on an on. Art does change everything, art does heal, art is essential to our lives.

Some recent photo memories:
Lunch with visiting fans from Des Moines, Iowa!
Beautiful and amazing playwright and teacher Ms. Kathy Haddad of John F. Kennedy High.
JFK: Getting the creative writing class ready for some thinking activities.
JFK: Reaching for the sky while warming up the body!
UofM: Participants at the University of Minnesota workshop. Thanks to AASAP & LSA
UofM: Lao Student Association and Hmong Student Association Reps welcoming participants.
Lao and Iranian-Guatemalan brothers-in-artistic-arms...Ova Saopeng and Robert Karimi
IA: Refugee Nation cast members Ova and Litdet hanging outside Intermedia Arts
IA: Lao-paparazzi after the Bao Lao Dala!
IA: The power of the arts lives within all generations...GO REFUGEE NATION!
SCSU: St. Cloud St. University brought us for a performance excerpt and discussion.
SCSU: Leilani in dialogue and conversation with students of SCSU.

Lao Love in Minneapolis

2010-10-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

Sharing a meal with Malisamai, Minneapolis Hmong and mom at her favorite place Dancing Ganesha.
Farewell to director Rena with our fabulous host family Gao, Maekalah and baby Zakarin.
Autumn sunshine while walking along Lake Calhoun.
Lao'd and Proud night out with Adisack and crew celebrating birthdays galore.
Meal at Shish in St. Paul after a workshop and radio interview.

We are blessed to have such a wonderful welcome in Minneapolis. The opening night for Refugee Nation was SOLD OUT! Sadly, several people had to be turned away BUT that's great because they can still get tickets for the rest of the run. We have had amazing reception to the play beyond our wildest expectations. So far in only two public performances, we have had standing ovations, a very diverse audience, and incredible publicity. Droves of various groups have come with curiosity, anticipation and excitement from all across the Midwest: Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. Refugee Nation is ablaze with energy lighting up the Twin Cities with pure theatrical force. This is powerful theater that brings communities together. The rest of the run is going to be HOT HOT HOT! Publicity on radio, print, and internet media have been widespread! Minneapolis rocks! St. Paul rocks.

a blessing, some community, food and off to rehearsals....

2010-10-03T21:06:00.001-07:00

Sunday at the end of our week of community engagement was full. We were invited to a Duc Baht ceremony and the home of a friend's family.

We received the blessings of the Monks followed by a real Lao spread of delicious food. We couldn't stay long and it was off to rehearsal at the Theater for the rest of the day and evening. What a blessing the day was. Tomorrow begins Tech week (aka Hell week in theater) and then it's the home stretch to opening night on Friday.

Intermedia Arts workshop brings families together!

2010-10-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

Folks getting the chance to learn and create with the Legacies of War and Refugee Nation workshops. No short of sunshine and smiles at Intermedia Arts! Fun! Fun! Fun!

Legacies of War Opening

2010-10-01T06:57:00.001-07:00

Last night was the spring board in a collaborative effort to make dreams possible. The Legacies of War exhibition along with Refugee Nation in Minneapolis has come to fruition thanks to Intermedia Arts, Pangea World Theater and Lao Assistance Center. We welcome October with a plethora of education and entertaining offerings in South Minneapolis. Legacies of War historical exhibition, community dialogue, film screenings, and Refugee Nation play will have a long lasting impact for the attendees at large. Come one come all to be engaged, educated, engaged and excited about sharing in each others stories.

Lucy Burns and Leilani Chan in attendance.

Local celebrity Robert Karimi.

Attendees viewing the exhibition.

Photisane family has an incredible story to tell.

2010-09-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night -
It's OFFICIAL "Refugee Nation" in lights on the sign outside IntermediaArts in Minneapolis!

but let's back track a bit to where the adventure began...

Sunday - We arrived blurry eye'd and bushy tailed at the MSP airport after a long day of travel.

The incomparable Bryan Thao Worra greeted us at baggage claim properly attired in his Refugee Nation T-shirt.

In search of provisions we stopped by a 24 hour grocery store and Ova saw his first Rutabugah (he was excited).

It was late and since the airplanes no longer offer meals we were HUNGRY. So found ourselves getting Grand Slammed at Denny's. Thankfully our bellies were happy.

Monday - we were had a chance to walk around Brooklyn Park the neighborhood we are staying in and came across this pumpkin patch with huge pumpkins (Ova was excited).

Tuesday - Our first production meeting with the full team. The Bryan, May Lee, Katie, Theresa, Julie, Jake & Mike. Pictures to come. Legacies team is hard at work in the gallery with the installation. Ova and Leilani begin to make the rounds stopping at the Lao Cultural Center and making announcements at IntermediaArts events going on in the cultural center. But the best was stopping by at house down the street from the house we were staying at in Brooklyn Park where the 3 generations of Laotians lived. Why where we there? How did we get there? Well it's all because of Ova's mom. When we were here in August we were picked up at the airport by Loy, and intern helping out at the Lao Writer's Summit. We later met her sister Bop at the Summit as well. But it was Loy and Bop's mother who came to the final day of presentations that made the connection. Their mother lived across the street form Ova's mother in Savannahkhet Laos! So of course the first chance we got was once we returned to MSP to go visit her and her family. And we did so tonight and let me tell it was the best moment of "community engagement" we've had so far. We got the full scoop from the 3 generations of Lao. Maa & Poh gave us the low down on the elders and where to find time tomorrow (aka NOON for lunch at the cultural center), Bop got the cards to go to two universities, and sister number 3, Bey, of course fed us and gave us the logistical facts including the detail that there is a wedding and a birthday party this weekend where RN postcards will need to passed out vigorously (major intel people!). And of course we got an invite to return for a proper dinner tomorrow night. Litdet and Rena arrive Wed evening just in time to part take in real Lao meal. Hope the arrive as hungry as we did.

Come back soon for more pics and updates!

Lao Artists Festival in Elgin, IL

2010-08-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

The last stop on our 10 day 3 state MidWest min-tour was to participate in the Lao Artists Festival. A two day event of workshops, festival and awards show performances. It was an honor to be on the stage with such renown artists form across the country from Hip Hop to Lao-gee-ton to the Frank Sinatra of Laos. And we got to present a scene from our show for the Elgin audience. Little know fact, 5 years ago we attended the First International Lao Studies Conference in Elgin and that was the very beginning of our research and interviews that have eventually become the Refugee Nation show we now tour.

Destined for Des Moines

2010-08-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

Refugee Nation takes time to simmer in various cities to finally find our way to Des Moines. It was some years ago that we had gotten word by random from Mira Yusef, head of MONSOON, about interest in bringing Refugee Nation to Iowa. She had heard about us from Alex Torres, our director at the time who helped sculpt the show in Berkeley. We had high hopes to check out Lao and Thai Dam land but it never came to be...until now. Sometimes, it takes time and funds and heart to get Refugee Nation to any city. I know there is interest from many communities throughout the US and we are so happy that the work we do does have an impact. We strive to continue to do this work and share it with as many people as we can. Here are are in Des Moines, IA riding with Mira touring the town. Enjoy the warm of the Pham family who are the most gracious hosts. We anticipate a wonderful turn out for our performance tomorrow night at Grandview College. Destiny awaits us...destiny is now.

Bye Twin Cities, Hello Des Moines

2010-08-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

Time flies by when you are traveling and touring three states in 10 days. Minneapolis rocks with the Lao Writer's Summit, after much hub-bub and an amazing Saturday night performance of spoken word, poetry, readings and performances...we had to take some time to rejuvenate, NOT! After a fun filled, let loose, laughing til your belly busted out after event celebration....we karaoke and cruised the streets of St. Paul seeking food for the hungry...Perkins anyone?! We had an adventurous time with Minneapolis host who had the audacity to entertain us in various ways with their talents. I must say...thank you deeply to Bryan Thao Worra, Saymoukda Vongsay and Catzie Vilayphonh for being such a great trinity for this Lao Writer's Summit. You three overshadow the talents of the Three Stooges. We love you and look forward to another round of antics that will always be remembered.

We've now moved on to Iowa. We are in Des Moines ready to rock this town with our Refugee Nation sensation. I hear there are Lao peeps in Des Moines so if you are reading this come out to the show. I've attached a flyer. Come share in our experience. It's been great to meet some wonderful people who've just are generous. Mira Yusef of MONSOON and our love host Thao and her family. Thank you. Thank you. We love you. A night rest until tomorrow.

Laotian American Writers Summit Day 1

2010-08-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

What happens at the first Laotian Writer's Summit taking place in Minneapolis, MN. Well...a lot of laughter, food, fun and discussions. Day one has been full of laughter as jokes are thrown around amongst friends and colleagues. This summit gathers a memorable collective of characters fresh and familiar with each other. Guests and artists from Washington D.C., Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Illinois, Vermont, Pennsylvania, California and even Nebraska all jump into this monumental event with fervor. Food fuels conversation amongst like minds. Fun in the loose way of open space technology. Interns and volunteers sharing one word poem.

Thanks to wordsmith Bryan Thao Worra for bringing wonderful poets, playwrights, screenwriters, lyricists and spoken word artists together.

Lao people are comedic.

Lao Writers Summit August 13-15 in Minnesota

2010-07-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Refugee Nation will be a part of this historic event in Minnesota. We then hit the road and do a tri-city visit to Des Moines, Iowa and then Elgin, Illinois.

Lao American Writers Summit

Lao American writers and artists from around the nation will gather for the first Lao American Writers Summit August 13-15, 2010 at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. The event includes panel discussions, workshops and author readings.

The Lao American Writers Summit examines ways Lao American writers create work to transform their lives and their world. Many writers will meet face to face for the very first time. It is organized as a grass-roots effort with the assistance of many local and national arts and community groups.

Lao culture traces its artistic roots to the 14th century. Modern Laos, a nation the size of Great Britain, is home to over 140 ethnicities. Approximately 200,000 Lao refugees resettled in America during the 2oth century. Minnesota has the 3rd largest Lao refugee population in the US.

Confirmed summit participants include award-winning film-makers, writers and performers such as Catzie Vilayphonh of the spoken word duo Yellow Rage, Saymoukda Vongsay, playwright and author of the chapbook “No Regrets,” and the acclaimed poet Phayvanh Leukhamhan.

This year’s Summit received funding and support from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Lao Assistance Center, the Loft Literary Center and many others. For more information email:info@laowriters.org or visit the conference website at www.laowriters.org.

L.A.O. at UCLA Rocks!

2010-03-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to L.A.O. for putting up a wonderful and amazing production of Refugee Nation. The support we received at Ackerman Grand Ballroom, the incredible turn out of over 300 attendees, the brilliant question and answer after the performance made the experience completely educational and entertaining. Look out future bookings L.A.O. has set the standard towards an amazing residency and production.

UCLA Feb. 1 Performance

2010-01-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

We are preparing for a one night performance in Los Angeles at UCLA, thanks to the hard work put in by student organizer Leslie Chanthaphasouk of L.A.O. Laotian American Organization at the university. REFUGEE NATION will share a 60 minute performance and Q&A Monday night February 1, 2010 on campus at Ackerman Grand Ballroom in the Student Union at 7pm. This is monumental for many reasons being one of the first theatrical presentations on the Lao experience and presented by the first Lao student organization at UCLA. We are sooooo excited to play again in Los Angeles and looking forward to showing it to our home town friends and supporters.

EVENT INFORMATION:
REFUGEE NATION
Location: Ackerman Grand Ballroom, UCLA
Date: Monday, February 1, 2010
Time: 7:30pm (Doors open at 7pm)
Admission: The event is open and free to the public.

Parking:
Ackerman Grand Ballroom is conveniently located next to UCLA Parking Lot 9 & 6. All day parking permits may be purchased at the parking kiosk on Westwood Blvd. & Strathmore for $10. Pay by space parking is also available in Lot 6 at the same daily rate. Go to UCLA Map for details.

For more information please contact Leslie at laoatucla@gmail.com

Spreading Wings in San Francisco

2009-09-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

The great visit to the Bay Area to participate in the 1st Annual banquet for the Center for Lao Studies could not be any better. We had a wonderful time seeing old friends and family and meeting new people. The long drive to share a little piece of Refugee Nation was very worthwhile. We impressed so many people who attended the event from collegiate academics as well as community members that they want more. So look for us to return to the Bay Area in some form or another at the local universities or a Northern California town. The crowd of about 200 or more filled the Women's Building in the Mission District of San Francisco and we had a very successful event to help celebrate, fundraise and dine with CLS supporters. Following are just some highlights:

Day 1.
Driving up along the scenic route of the 101 and PCH from Los Angeles to San Francisco we stopped at several places. One of which is the sand dunes of California at the seaward edge of Santa Maria in a town called Guadalupe. It was one of the locations where Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was filmed.

Day 2.
Our home away from home when we visit the East Bay we stay at Lao central a.k.a. Phoumy and Toni's house in Richmond. They are such wonderful people and pillars of the community. We got to meet an addition to the family: Suriya our first 5 month old Refugee Nation baby modeling the Lao'd and Proud onesie. She is incredibly cute not to mention very amicable with strangers.

Day 3.
Our NEW home away from home is the Center for Lao Studies Headquarters a.k.a. Vinya and Thang's new house in S. San Francisco where the action took place preparing for the CLS event. We were lucky enough to witness the transformation and transition from non-furnished to fully furnished home.

Day 4.
Took a walk to Oyster Point and practice my crane technique to focus before the show. Balance Ova-san...balance...

Day 5.
The 1st Annual Center for Lao Studies Banquet:Spreading Wings brought many people from all over Northern California from San Jose, Sacramento and the Central Valley.

Day 6.
Saying good-bye to NoCal friends and driving home after a long, successful and eventful night. Clouds hover in the sky along I-5 in the Central Valley. We were happy, content and filled with good spirit after such an incredible journey.

San Francisco Events

2009-09-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

Leilani and I have been invited to perform excerpts of Refugee Nation alongside other incredible Lao talent at the Center for Lao Studies' First Annual Banquet:Spreading Wings The fundraiser on September 12, 2009 will highlight two programs of CLS. First is the completion of the Study Abroad in Laos pilot program otherwise known as SAIL, and secondly the launch of the Lao Oral History Archive or LOHA for short. Center for Lao Studies came about three years ago beginning at a conference at the University of Illinois, Dekalb. Without it Refugee Nation and Legacies of War and many other Lao-American organizations, individuals and academics would not have met. Leilani and I will share the stage with songstress Ketsana, dance troups Lao Seri Nattasin, and pageant winner Ms. Asian America Amy Chanthaphavong. So please join us.

I've also been asked to emcee the celebration of Southeast Asian Resource Action Center 30th year in existence. SEARAC serves the interest of Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese Americans through leadership development, capacity building, and community empowerment. Beyond the Mekong will be held on September 26, 2009. It will be quite an honor for me to participate because thirty years ago marks my arrival as a refugee into the United States.

Hope to see some of you readers at either of these events in Northern California.
For more information please click on the links in the blog. Huk peng everyone.

Inner Strength

2009-09-01T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm a pretty open person. I have a giving and kind personality. I'm also a very grounded person...at least right now at this stage of my life. With that said...I am glad for those traits because a few weeks ago I was attacked by a friend. Well, I thought the person was a friend and it really made me sad. Especially, especially because well...the person is Lao. We are a part of the same group of people within the community and in all my years that I have known this person, I always thought...I know them. We are family. Together as 1.5 generation Lao-Americans we've created this "family" and what unifies us is the yearning to grasp our lost history. The yearning to find fulfillment alongside fellows who understand the experiences we've gone through AND are going! Well, unfortunately a different side of the person came out and it really was ugly. This person has a PERSONAL PROBLEM with ME; accusing me of self promotion, egotism and thievery. Riddled with F-bombs and cuss words and filled with emotion this person attacked the work I do, my commitment to the community, and my determination to succeed in a complex industry. My initial response was "You gotta be joking me?!" but after rereading the email I realized the seriousness of this person's emotions. I was flabbergasted. Not only because it was a surprise to know that this person felt this way but also because the person had the audacity to share their thoughts publicly with others on the list! Knowing full well the email was and should have been simply directed at me. So...what did I do? THANK YOU TRAITS! I could have easily flamed the fire and responded back with defensive and accusatory thoughts of my own. But instead...I took a moment to contemplate my response, to which I simply reached out to this person and asked them to consider a dialogue and discussion with me, wherever and whenever. So far...I've not heard a reply.

So...I asked myself WHY? Why in the world? In 5 years after hanging out, sharing stories, eating meals, taking road trips, making new friends, TOGETHER. Where in the world was this litany of pain coming from? Knowing this person and after reading the email again I had an inkling. The hurt was due to the economic hardship, the lack of opportunity and a deep emotional depression. It's a sad state of affairs. I know...I've been in the same boat. I still am. Life is what you make of it. I want you to know that I am here for you when you are ready to connect with me. You've got my info.

Why is it that the LAO community, OUR community, MY community finds it such a challenge to unite and support one another as one solid unit. Well circumstances like these, that's why! The crabs in a bucket mentality, that's why! Jealousy and Envy, that's why! Ego, that's why! We've got to stop this cycle of bashing and beating down on each other. It does us no good as a community. It is better to support, praise, validate, recognize, help one another to move forward and get to the next level. We've got to EDUCATE each other. Young and old. Friends and foe. Mistrust in the community is such a big problem, especially for the generation that has seen the ugliness of humanity in war. Our parents, our grandparents who have a very powerful voice have lost it to fear. Who can you trust? You can't even trust your own family! Well, it's time for us to shift our paradigm. Shift our perspective and be open to dialogue and discussion. Be open to help improve each others lives by coming together and building a new link of trust. We've got too. We need too. United we stand, divided we fall. Lao'd and Proud.

Khmer Konnection

2009-08-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've written on this blog. Mostly, it's because I have been on break and yes, I agree it has been quite long. In our daily grind to live as artists we've had to buckle down and confront the economic difficulties but we've managed to keep going, re-focus and find abundance in activity. I've been teaching acting classes and TeAda is preparing for the next season. Refugee Nation went on break for a while and we are gearing up again to make it better and tour more cities. San Diego was quite a treat...both in experiencing the struggles and also the impactful return from the Lao community. Now, we look at the present moment and plan forward.

I must remind myself how important our work is...AGAIN. I keep saying that because there are moments when Leilani and I ask ourselves "WHY?" Why do we do this? Pay is horrible. Touring is disorienting. Creating is painful. The answer comes down to our love for performance, our need to share our stories, our value to educate others through theater.

I was just at a birthday party in Upland, CA. A friend of mine by the name of David Prak. He just turned mid-forties, small in stature, passionately loyal and has an amazing spirit. He's also got a great laugh. I met him on Pirates of the Caribbean. Well, Prak is a Cambodian American actor who just recently returned to Cambodia and built a house for his parents. Now, I've never had a chance to sit and discuss with him about his experience from Cambodia to the United States...but I would guess it probably would be intriguing. Nonetheless, my Lao buddy Litdet and I are driving all the way from West Los Angeles to Upland to show up for Prak's birthday party. We roll up and the party is a good mix of folks but made up primarily of Khmer. Sitting at the dining table as we enter his suburban 4 bedroom home in Upland next to Rancho Cucamonga, are lovely ladies hanging. So Litdet and I join the table with food on our plates and we start to meet and greet. Come to find out this ladies are dancers with the Khmer Arts Academy in Long Beach. In our conversation I realized how we knew little of each other but because of our experiences as refugee-Americans we bonded in no time. One thing I discovered was how even Khmer folks didn't know much about Laos and I guess vice-versa. Yet, we experienced the same experience. I was blown away that one party-goer said that there wasn't a war in Laos!? Are you kidding me?! So I had to edu-ma-cate him with a little knowledge from our show Refugee Nation about how Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, France and US were connected in that War. It was just amazing to be able to educate. Deepen each other through important discussions about our histories, our experiences and our connections. What a small world it was to be in a room with the managing director, Serey Tep, of Khmer Arts Academy...who of course knew Prum Ok, an incredible Khmer young dancer an acquaintance of ours, currently attending UCLA World Arts and Culture. But the connections. The importance of our stories. The importance to speak about our experiences. We were all high on great conversation about Southeast Asia. Khmer, Lao, Lao, Khmer. Seeking pride in ourselves and wanting better for our communities and wondering what happened? What happened to our people? We even jokingly went through a little recap of the history of the Southeast Asia about French colonialism, Indo-Chine, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and we all agreed that it's time for payback. Let's kick Frenchies ass for making a hell-hole in Southeast Asia. At that moment, Quang, a Vietnamese friend of Prak walks in and lo and behold our triangle is complete. We had the Khmer, Lao, Vietnamese brotherhood gathered together in one place in Upland, USA. All victims of French colonial stupidity. And who of course should Quang bring with him...a Frenchie by the name of Stephano! History repeats itself?! NO. Not that night. We had a blast just enjoying our conversation and ignored the Frenchie! Humph...take that you disgusting bastards.

LAO'd and Proud! Not just for the Lao New Year!

2009-04-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday, day 2 of the Lao New Year Festival Nicole is one of the lucky people to have bought our first LAO'd & Proud t-shirts! We sold out on Friday night even before the festival began!

Here's Ova getting the crowd to chant "I'm Lao and I'm proud, even if you're not Lao say it with me, I'm Lao and I'm proud!"

If you want to be LAO'd & Proud all year long you can get one th ese shirts and www.blacklava.com and support Refugee Nation as we get back to work planning and organizing our shows for the Fall.

We need your support so we can keep performing this show and bring it to a theater near you!

A Day of Festivities and Refugee Nation for families!

2009-04-30T00:06:00.000-07:00

After a few hours at the booth and enjoying the festival, it's back to the theater to perform Refugee Nation, the family friendly festival version just 30-45 minutes. The LA Lao'd & proud crew drove down! thanks for the support Bangbay, Chay, Brian & Nakhone! And Jim and Chiaw came the night before - you guys rock! After the show it's back to the booth. Pida greets us outside his booth dressed like the King of Laos! As the days festivities wind down, it's back to the theater for us for another evening show for families who came from as far away as Riverside and Oklahoma and as near as two blocks away.

Setting up for the Saturday Festival and Performances

2009-04-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

After a long Friday of performances and events, we all got up early to set up for the opening of the festival. Ova and Litdet hang the Refugee Nation banner outside the theater. While Marie-reine and Leilani set up the booth to sell t-shirts and tell folks about our shows.

From the booth we see the Legacies ladies arrive on the scene. Once everyone is set up the Festival begins with a parade across the bridge from the theater to the festival grounds.

Hard work pays off!

2009-04-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

You may think all artists have to do is show up and like magic, there's a show. But there is a LOT of preparation weeks prior. And for this show there were a lot of challenges. But in the end it all paid off as one of our most successful events to date where over 1000 people mostly Laotians attended our shows and programs. A quick recap of the last week:

Wednesday, April 1 - Ova and Leilani drive down to San Diego to lead a workshop with SDAYO - San Diego Asian youth Organization at the San Diego Police Department Multicultural storefront. Officer Somsack Thongchanh introduces us and we get started.

Thursday, April 2 - First day in the space, we have been told that we are the first theater company to be in the space. SURPRISE - they have no lights! So we had to rent light and load them in ourselves. Luckily Litdet had a truck to haul it all in. But then, turns out the electrical in the "state of the art" facility can't handle the lights. So when the electricity goes out on the outlets, we wait for the electrician toshow up and help. Ova and Litdet start working on some new performance ideas...

Hey, where did Ova go?
Oh, Ova's under the stage looking for alternative outlets for the lights. This takes "find your light" to a whole new level for this actor!

Marie-Reine ignores it all... "must find people to come to the show, must tell people about the show, must get people to the show..." she types away getting the word out to the press and theater community about tomorrow night's performances.

Friday, April 3 - Opening Night!
More tech rehearsal. Lights to hang, Ed our sound guy comes in. We're ready for Dress Rehearsal, and pow. lights go out again! Ed to teh resuce with the proper connectors that the "state of the art facility" does not have and the "light kit" does not provide. Whew! Crisis averted, 1 hour before the doors open! Yikes, put on the costumes, get backstage.... And....WOW! People start arriving. 300 chairs have been set up. but now they are full! Roque and the Jacob's center staff scrmble to pull out more chairs! 400? 500? people? All Laotians of all ages! It's are larges audience ever and the most Laotians to see the show at once. LEgacies of War makes their presentation and people view the exhibit. Then our show goes up (the half hour family friendly version). Laughter and applause in places there never had been before. When the Elder (Ova) tell the Youth (Leilani) in Lao that she should speak Lao ther eis thundersous applause and it takes a good minute for themt os top before Leilani can say her next line. The show ends with Ova chanting "I'm Lao and I'm proud" to audience debuting our new "LAO'd & Proud" shirts and the audience joins in! Success! And a whole bunch fo new fans...

Couldn't have done it without this crew! Sakuna, Somsack and Channapha and Islanda (not in pic)!

GETTing READY! Lao Pii Mai San Diego '09

2009-04-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

Refugee Nation and Legacies of War troupes setting up in Celebration Hall of the Jacobs Multicultural Center, San Diego. Everything went soooo "smooth"...OK, just kidding. I'd be up for an "Oscar" if you believed me. Besides the lights, schedule, time, vehicle complications, communication...it all went Great! All the events of the Lao New Year festival took place at Market Creek Plaza and the Jacobs Multicultural Center. Amidst the wild and perilous journey from Los Angeles(gigantic pot holes, jay-walkers, the smog-Force, elderly drivers) to San Diego, shimmering rays of sunshine(April, Pida, Paul, Antoine, SomSack, and many others), shined the pavement for our safety.

Notwithstanding the many obstacles and difficulties, every person's Dedication, Hard Work and Will Power pulled together and got the show going...to the very last minute - Lights, Camera, Action! Wait, no Lights!!!

Maybe if these guys knew what to do with the equipment?!?

Dedication!(Leilani)

Hard Work!(Marie-Reine)
Will Power!(Pida and April)

Meeting OGs a.k.a. the REAL Ajans

2009-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the weekend before the Lao New Year, we drove down to San Diego to spread the word about our show. First stop was the San Diego Police Department Multicultural Center also known as "the storefront." There Ajan Somsack kept a captivated audience of this year's Lao Beauty Pageant contestants and supporters while he was going over the preparations for the Lao New Year Festival. We arrived just in time for Ova to tell the 40 or so people assembled about the show that was coming to San Diego for the Festival as well. The place was a buzz with all the activity, Fashion Show practice was in the next room along with the break dancers rehearsing. We then drove to April's house, our coordinator, and she drove us to all the Lao businesses in San Diego. Seven o'clock rolls around and then we get a call. Ajan Somsack asks "Where are you guys?" We reply "We're on our way, you said 7:30" Then he says "You need to get here soon!" So we make our last stop and head over to Ajan Bounmy's house. There we were, Ova, Leilani, and our patient friend Bangbay who joined us for the ride. The house was FULL of Ajans, husbands and wives. And after dinner we were requested to perform an excerpt of our show. We were nervous. So busy with production we haven't had much time to rehearse. And here we were before a room full of elders and not just any elders, these were the first wave founding members of the Laotian Community in San Diego, educators, doctors, people who really know all there is to know about Laos. So in the living room with about 20 Ajans and family looking on, we performed the first 5 min of our scene Ajan/Ajan. After the performance, there was silence, a pause, and then, clapping. Then Ajan Bounmy raises his hand, "Can I ask a question?" So, Ova in his best Lao-glish proceeded to answer the many questions from the Ajans. "Why do we do this? How did we get started? Why haven't we seen anything like this before." A theater piece about our people? About Laotians? And so, we stayed until at least 11pm when despite the offers of glasses of wine, we said our goodbyes got promises that they would come see the show and bring everyone they know, and hit the road back to Los Angeles for our two hour drive. Getting home at 1:30AM! Now that's what we call OUTREACH!

Proof positive that we ventured into the depth of Lao San Diego.

1. Ova and Mr. Somsack at a dinner party with San Diego AJANS!
2. Muang Luang Imports off of Market St.
3. Lunch at Sang Dao restaurant.
4. A visit to one of the Lao temples.
5. Mekong Village where food and fun happens.

Young Refugee Nation fans

2009-03-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

Footsteps of the circle of Lao.

Attending a Lao gathering where food and fun in San Diego Ova Saopeng meets young fans. Lao-American kids meet Ova Saopeng, "Hollywood Actor" he's the pirate guy!

Meet Ashley, Kelly, Lucas and Vanessa. They can't wait to see the performance soon to come during Lao New Year.

Preparing for Knoxville!

2008-10-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

We've been home only a month. We came back to madness! TeAda opened it's 08-09 season with a it's first three week run. Which of course meant Leilani was super Artistic Director Producer and Ova got roped into pinch hitting as Board Operator for the show. When in world are we going to find time to rehearse for our show next week! Life is crazy, but somehow we keep going. Tomorrow we start packing up the props and costumes and hopefully find the time to run through our scenes. We close Wong's show on Sunday, and get on the airplane to Knoxville on Monday! Sounded easy when we planned it. But....hey, it's an exciting life. We are looking forward to finally taking Refugee Nation to Tennessee where we hope Laotians will come out to see us!

Schools not Bombs

2008-09-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Xieng Khouang day two was focused on a visit to Lathsene village, where a preschool will be built from the money raised through the Schools not Bombs campaign. We were a big part of that fund raising and it was great to be able to witness the birthing of it. Partnering with Give Children a Choice, a organization with a strong mission to build preschools in Laos, the group trekked into the bomb affected village. We first had to visit the Ministry of Education in Xieng Khouang to view the signing of the memorandum of understanding but once that was done we headed straight away to ban Lathsene. The village was off the beaten path along unpaved roads and along the way we saw: villagers, goats, water buffaloes, cows, chicken, ducks and other rural sights. By the time we got to the village we were wondering where it was because there was just fields and fields of rice and corn. We pulled up to the area where the school was being built and there it was...a few men were just laying the foundation and framing of the school. It was a very good feeling to know we are helping a village to expand its educational needs. We were then summoned to meet with the students and villagers and finally had a baci ceremony lead by the elders to end the visit. There was a bit of confused coordination going from one room to another but we made it through.

Next stop after the village was a visit to World Education Consortium, a organization that educates people about the dangers of UXOs. They are about advocating and prevention of harm, as its difficult to ask people in poverty to not till the land or search for scrap metal to survive. Yet, that is all they have. The real tragedy of this is that UXO really affects not just one person but a family, a whole group of people. When land is not available to use...what can these people do to make a living? They are farmers. They grow vegetables and rice and herbs to sell and barter and trade. That is their livelihood. No many choices. We met two young men who volunteer with Consortium World Education to be examples and guides in such activity. They both lost their arms to a unexploded ordnance and have such incredible stories to tell individually. Being in their presence makes the work we do so much more important as they put in time to help others from possible accidents like they've had.

Finally we ended our day at the MAG Foundry of Xieng Khouang. Mine Advisory Group works throughout the country in education and removal of UXO. The foundry is where metal is collected lek seet scrap metal and many UXO and metal remains of the war are compiled. It was a true sight to see as we realize the immense work that needs to be done to clear the landscape. Hundreds, thousands, millions of the ordnance pollute the land...at this foundry was a very small, small portion. Yet, for the group this was a lot. Many types of ordnance lay around gathered and piled in groups, from small acidic nails, bullet casings, grenades, bombies, mortar shells, bomb shells, etc...military metal gear found all in the Lao earth. Pictures tell it all.

Xieng Khouang. Xieng Khouang.

Reflections on Laos...just the beginning

2008-09-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

Due to limited internet access and time to ourselves during our Laos and Thailand trip we could not update our blog as frequently as we would have wanted. We will do our best to highlight the various aspects of our trip for everyone knowing full well there is a lot to reflect, unravel and decompress. The weeks spent in South East Asia traveling on planes, trains and automobiles from cities to towns to villages took its toll on our bodies and spirit. It's taken us this long to recover. We are now back in action and very anxious to mount the show again...

And so...after Vientiane the group flew domestically on a 30 minute Lao Airlines flight to Xieng Khouang province to visit the town of Phonsavanh just northeast of the city of Vientiane. Xieng Khouang is one of two major provinces heavily affected by bombings and UXOs, the other being Savannakhet in the south. All along the eastern face of the Laos map like a rash of zits are the evidence of war...UXOs. You wouldn't know it though from arriving at the small airport of Xieng Khouang; where the cool highland air welcomes you and the green raw pastures is all you can see for miles and miles. It's a very different Laos that we were introduced too in Vientiane where the hustle and bustle and heat of the capital city overwhelms you. Xieng Khouang is the opposite...the countryside. The ban nok. The easy-breezy-take-your-time town of Phonsavanh. On that first day, we visited the Plain of Jars or Tung Hai Hin, a fascinating and mysterious tourist attraction. Leading us was Long, our tour guide, who speaks Lao, Hmong and English, walking us along a loop trail around the lush rolling meadowlands where we gazed at ancient stone jars, bomb craters, and sparrow traps. It's a very otherworldly sensation, like time travel, viewing various remnants of times past in the present moment. It's no wonder that Fred Branfman felt so inspired to write his book "Voice from the Plain of Jars" after his first trip there. We left the peaceful Plain of Jars to intimate rendezvous with elation. That evening we were treated to a very surprising engagement with a schoolhouse run by Manophet, a friend of Elaine's, who teaches English to poor youngsters throughout the province. Education is the root of progress and paves the way out of poverty, a belief that Manophet knows full well in Laos and actually worldwide, himself being a true example. Since entering the country this meeting was the most immediate, geniune and upbeat interaction anyone of us had ever had. The teenagers, all boys (girls had class earlier in the day) were so ecstactic about exchanging English dialogue and with so many people to converse with it was staggering. We arrived to a two story house at sunset full of about 100 or so kids. It was crowded downstairs so they asked some of us to head upstairs and from chaos to order we each sectioned ourselves to groups of 3-10, visitors to students, and basically questioned and answered and shared with each other all in the English language. That was the rule...it was forced English immersion for the night. I was so inspired by them, seeing such eagerness to speak English, to question, to be curious, to learn. It was such a joy to be able to be a part of such positive and affirmative energy. To our groups surprise afterwards, many of them held a very good grasp of the spoken language. After that we returned to our guest house, we had dinner together and rested up for the night. We were ready to take on another day.

this is real

2008-08-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

Today is our last day in Vientiene. We visited more NGOs and government agency who remove UXOs. It is very different to be here hearing what really happens to a family and community in the UXO contaminated areas. From far away in the US we learned and had an idea. But here, it is really and these organizations are all struggling to make a dent in an insurmountable task. we go to each meeting and we are served a little tea and little water and they tell us of their challenge. Then we show them our Legacies of War video about all the projects we do, and I catch a little smile. This is something new. Lao Americans returning to Laos to help their community, their global community, the diasporic family. Perhaps we bring with us some hope.

Vientiane

2008-08-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

Vientiane is hot! The heat here is unbearable and getting around outside is like a sauna. Nonetheless, we are here to see what efforts are taken regarding UXO issues with the Legacies of War group. The group of 14 or so treks around town meeting with NGO's, offices and routinely meet and greet many people. Some of the challenges have been language and translation but we do get by. The major story on UXO right now in Laos is victim assistance and preventive education. The road to clear all UXO in Laos is daunting so many angles on the issue are being addressed...primarily the immediate needs for villagers to make a living. Laos. Poor country. Poor people. It's going to take a while to get this country moving forward.

As for the arts scene we have not seen any theaters or artists. So we are still in search of a possible venue or live performers to meet. We just heard about the Lao National Puppet Theater Company and hope to connect with them in the next few days before we head to Xieng Khouang.

The country is changing...city life and country life are two very distinct lifestyles. Vientiane is one very specific area. We've yet to visit the rest of Laos and the countryside to see the other aspects of life. So far...Vientiane is a modernizing city.

There are times I feel that I don't belong...my Lao is weak. My sense of direction...lost. I feel very foreign in a place that I have very little memory of. Tourists pervade the streets and hotels and I am not them...yet I am...a visitor connected to this country if only simply by birth...but not much else. Laos. Land of a million elephants. It was before my time before your time.

In Laos

2008-08-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a trek to get into Laos as we didn't fully plan out our trip in. We had a hard time because we tried to book our flights too late. Not to mention the fact that we've ridden on every form of transport from planes, trains, boats, automobiles and motorcycles...it's all exhausting. We were fortunate enough to connect with Aunty Betsy in Chiang Mai who was pivotal in guiding our way into Laos. We left Chiang Mai heading west to east on a long 12 hour overnight bus route to Udon Thani transferred to another bus to Nong Khai and finally found our way across the Friendship Bridge into Vientiane. It was a long, long, trip...inexpensive but time consuming. We finally were relieved to be in Vientiane thanks to Uncle Sombee, a relative of Aunt Betsy.

We connected with Legacies of War and have been on the meeting trail...with different organizations for this trip. We are also doing a blog on the www.legaciesofwar.org Lao trip as well. Vientiane has dramatically changed in the past few years...lots of development and a major contrast of old and new. You can see it very clearly at the Dalat Sao (Morning Market) where there are vendors in the buildings of old as well as the new Malaysian funded air conditioned mall built as an extension of the market. Selling and buying of goods is still the same just the new materials like computers and cell phones mixed with fruits and vegetables. Development holds a double edge sword as we see the colliding of the new and the old. It been the biggest issue for us as we visit different organizations and speak about the work that we do. You've got major poverty with a push to progress...how does a country that has been slow to change do so...so drastically. We will find out in the next few years.

Theatrical Bangkok

2008-08-19T03:05:00.001-07:00

We had a great day in Bangkok catching up with an old friend Cecily Chow, aka the illustrious former Technical Director of SOMARTS and robert karimi's show at OUTNORTH MAN/MARDAAN. She took us to alternative performance venues in Bangkok she's been working with. Wow, we couldn't have asked for a better tour in just a day or so. Pictures to come as soon as we can get the photos uploaded. Eat your heart out Robert Karimi, we are having lemongrass juice with Cecily at a cafe/performance venue on the river in Bangkok. Took a water taxi to get there!

Here today, gone to Laos

2008-08-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

We've been home in Los Angeles for almost two whole months! Amazing! We've been so quiet on the blog because we've been taking care of business, getting ready to be gone once again, but this time to Thailand and Laos. We are excited and terrified. We are joining Legacies of War on a fact finding learning trip to the villages of Laos still dealing with the consequences of cluster bombs some 30 years after they were dropped. We are ready to learn, be inspired, be changed by what we see. As many of you know, we have also been helping raise money to build a preschool in one of these villages. Hopefully we will get to meet some of the kids who will get to go to the school. TeAda raised $1,000 toward the effort lead by Legacies of War called the Schools not Bombs campaign. Check out their web page for information if you are interested. In the mean time, we will take pictures along the way and try update the blog as often as possible.

Success!!!

2008-05-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

REFUGEE NATION @ La Peña Cultural Center was a success! Thanks to the hard work of the La Peña staff and Laotian community organizers, we filled the house! Opening night was SOLD OUT! They had to pull chairs out and volunteers were standing room only. Thank goodness because it was a benefit for Legacies of War and Center for Lao studies, both worthy organizations that have had a significant impact on the development of our show. We first met Channapha of Legacies at the CLS conference three years ago in Elgin IL - and tat's when it all began! Without either organization, REFUGEE NATION would not be. Saturday matinee was filled with the beautiful youthful faces of our workshop students from SEAYL (South East Asian Youth Leadership for Richmond) and LASR (Laotian American Student Representatives of UC Berkeley) and even some of the elders who said they'd never leave Richmond. And amongst the crowd we had people drive up from Los Angeles, new friends who had somehow heard of the show, drove in from as far away as Sacramento, Modesto, and San Jose! And the Legacies team came to town for the benefit and held our national steering committee meeting, they came from Alaska, New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Boston, Seattle, and all over the country! Sarah of La Peña said the crowd was practically all new for La Peña. Yeah - we do what we can. Thanks everybody for your support. It was hard to leave the Bay Area, but we had to. It was hard to say goodbye to Sarah and Lakin and to our hosts Toni and Phoumy. Man Toni is a good cook - we were so spoiled we had homemade Kao pun and Pho and payapa salad almost everyday! We don't cook like that a home that's for sure! Where are all the pictures you ask? There comin' when you send them in folks! We only have a few from the nights of the shows, because well, we were so beat after each performance that we could only stand a pose for the cameras. So all you folks who were playing paparatzi and taking pictures - post them here for us or email them to us so we can add them to this blog. Thanks everyone for a successful run in Berkeley. As you can guess, people are asking when we're coming back, well, that up to you folks. Talk to your local presenters to see if we can make it happen. We want to come back, we need to go back! More photos to come, promise...

East Bay KPFA Tri-Fecta

2008-04-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

Blam! Blam! Blam! One after another Leilani and Ova hitting home runs on the radio thanks to KPFA public supported radio station in Berkeley, CA. We were fortunate enough to make friends and build buzz for such an amazing show that the houses were packed for the performances. All three performances at La Pena Cultural Center were filled and thanks a big part to the KPFA radio spots. Take a listen by clicking the link to the radio shows of our IN THE NEWS section.

Listen carefully and you'll notice both Leilani and I have very strained voices due to that fact that we were SICK! Yep, exhausted from rehearsing, workshops and driving around town all the while full of anxiety that we needed to get more word out so audiences could come to fill the seats at the performances. It all pays off. Next time...I'm swigging my anti-sickness immune boost drinks and medicines before I start off.

Big hugs and applause go out to Weyland Southon of Hard Knock Radio for hitting us up with a great chat three way with Channapha, Leilani and myself. Wayie Ly and Gina "G" Hotta of Apex Express for the continual support expressing the Asian-American experience. Love to the Mitch J. and Amy Allison of The Morning Show for the morning wake-up to boost the word about Refugee Nation. It was such a pleasure to do the radio both on a prepared and improvised status. The skills that these talented host and producers have to make the news go round cannot be matched. Until our next radio spot comes a word of advice. YOU have a voice...so use it!

The Feast!

2008-04-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday Khammany had the brilliant idea of getting folks together for a meal at the best Lao Restaurant in Oakland - Vientien(e) Cafe! The dinner brought together almost everyone helping with REFUGEE NATION marking a gathering of most of our Northern Cal team. It couldn't have come at a better moment. Just when we were starting to get tired, our team came together for a magnificent feast expertly ordered by our Bay area community leaders Khammany with help from Toni an Phoumy there, amazing hosts who have housed and fed us. Sarah Guerra of La Peña Cultural Center was there along with Lakine Valdez our Light Board Operator. And the recent arrivals Marie-Reine, TeAda's Operations Manager, Jen our TD, and Paul Berrera our video collaborator, and local Director Alex Torres, making up the biggest our tour team we've ever had. What a joy, everything is going so well! And new friends and supporters like Weyland (who had us on air Wednesday - check out the links to the right) and others. Man we need the juice of everyone's energy. It's kept us going all week through tech and dress rehearsals to know we have the support of the amazing people at the feast! And to all you supporters of this blog too - we wanted to share the joy with you. Here are some pictures of the meal!! Wish us luck tomorrow with our opening night and Legacies of War Benefit!

KPFA's Hard Knock Radio

2008-04-24T00:44:00.000-07:00

Weyland Southon is the MAN! Thanks to the hip-hop connection via Jeff Chang whom we met at Intersections V in Amherst just a few weeks ago we were invited to share a piece of our show on the radio on KPFA 94.1 Berkeley. Check out the link as Weyland our hapa-host of Samoan-Chinese ancestery and new found Lao-food critic of Hard Knocked Radio quiz Channapha Khamvongsa of Legacies of War and Leilani and I of Refugee Nation about our programs this weekend. It was great to talk, share and promote the upcoming events. Listen to it online and click the link under IN THE NEWS section.

This is hell week for us in the lingo of theater production and we have our full team steaming ahead with Marie-Reine at the helm of marketing and promoting, Jen Cleary tech-savvy magician with the confines of La Pena Cultural Center performance space, Paul Berrera at the MacBook Pro video editing station and Alex Torres director at large to finalize this outcome of Refugee Nation. These creative people have come together to make the upcoming NoCal debut of our show a success. Leilani and I forge forward with fine-tuning the piece to make it even more dramatic, more humorous and more alive. We even have a special local young guest artist in Junnida Siribounthong, teen-traditional Lao dancer extra-ordinaire whom will collaborate with us in the final scene of our show.

Across the Bay in San Francisco we have our partner organization Legacies of War prepping for a national steering committee meeting this weekend. Many of our friends and colleagues we've made through this amazing organization will be arriving on Thursday from all different parts of the nation: Seattle, Boston, Pennsylvania, DC to attend the performance as well as discuss the future of Legacies of War.

Emotional weekend...by Leilani

2008-04-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

It started yesterday. We headed over to UC Berkeley to do a workshop for the Laotian American Student Representatives. Lucky for us LASR also runs a mentorship program with High School students from SEAYL so we got to spend more time with some of our students earlier this week. The workshop went smoothly despite the early morning start on a Saturday. We decided to challenge this group to dig deep and explore the mythic moments of their lives, mining for stories from their ancestral memories. We got to hear many powerful stories. Still, as the workshop was coming to a close, I wasn't sure if we had got through, if we had communicated why we were here and what we do. So when we sat down to discuss our workshop and who we were, I was searching for a way to explain how important their stories were and why we needed them to come see our show. It somehow came to me. I asked how many of them have seen their story, the story of Laotians on stage live before? One Hmong student said she did when she was in school a long time ago. Point is, she remembered that she had. None of the others had. I explained, for me it was seeing Jude Narita perform her one woman show that told me wow, Asian women can do this work, if we learn to write and produce our own work. The experience of seeing your story on stage after being forgotten, never being seen on TV or Film or mainstream anything, the experience of seeing what is real to you live on stage, is an important and empowering experience. And more than just trying to sell a ticket, that is why we need to see them in this audience. We don't want these youth to miss that experience. We don't want this community to miss that experience. And I thank these folks for reminding me why we do what we do.

Then today, we joined our hosts Phoumy and Toni, and our community reps Vinya, Khammany, and Mali at a meeting of the Laotian elders. I'll let Ova tell you more about that meeting since it happened mostly in Lao. But as I sat there watching and listening and looking at the room we were in, I started getting emotional again. This room has been built for these meetings. Over 30 years perhaps of community meetings have happened here. These elders have been doing community work for many years. These are also the people our show is about. They too need to be in our audience. If only so they can see how we honor their experiences and the issues they are addressing here today. I got emotional, even in my silent observation.

Burning the mid-afternoon oil!

2008-04-17T23:43:00.000-07:00

Immersed in rehearsals and workshops we have been very busy here in the East Bay. The students of the SEAYL program had a blast sharing their experience with us as we taught them some theater exercises. They had just recently come from a social justice workshop a week ago and had that subject in their mind so vividly. In Richmond, one of the most notorious problems is crimes and gangs. They did a sculptor of a police profiling scene. It was incredible and definitely reflected for them what was going on in their neighborhood. It gave us insight into the city they call home. Majority of the group were Khmu ethnics from Laos. It was great to connect with them and I hope they achieved a sense of ownership and validation of their history and personal stories.

Each and every time we rehearse Leilani and I get better and better. We delve deeper into the characters or story or concept that we continue to learn more and more about how important and very powerful the play can be. There are great lessons to learn from it. I hope the push this weekend to get the word out brings commitment by audiences to attend. We've worked very hard to bring the dramatic tensions into certain scenes and can't wait to share it with everyone.

Oakland International High School gave us an hour with some refugee students to work with. We had a fun time exploring theater games but the challenges were also there as the language comprehension and vocabulary stumbled us a bit. Time is of the essence and we covered only a few exercises. In the end we did get through to them but it was interesting to be able to share a workshop with refugees and immigrants from such various places like Burma, Africa, Yemen, Russia...they all had similar yet different experiences. We did our best and hope we influenced and educated. One of the surprising comments by one of them was when we did a cultural mapping exercise and asked participants to step into the circle if you are a refugee...when he saw me stepping in...he said "YOU are a refugee?" I simply replied "Yes."

As we work here in the Bay Area I am thinking of my LaLao group down in Los Angeles. They are my Lao'd and Proud friends whom I've come to cultivate and nurture. They are having a beach get together this coming weekend and though I will miss it...I know they are sending good vibes for us. Some of them will actually trek from SoCal to NoCal for our performance weekend. Lou, Litdet, Sinakhone and Bangbay for sure will make the trip. The Lao'd and Proud group came together when I started to search for Lao connections and friendships in Los Angeles. Since my initial push I can now count a good dozen or more active young Lao-American men and women coming together for social and cultural gatherings. It's been great to have group to bond with.

Wise words, hard work.

2008-04-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Practice, practice, practice or more aptly rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals are going well for us. Leilani and I are enjoying the process of rehearsals with our director Alex Torres. He is the artistic leader of Bindlestiff Studios and has been instrumental in giving us the time to discover nuances of the characters and further refine the play. Alex hails from the Philippines and this "monk looking" photo of him leads us to believe we have chosen the right "one" to guide us. Last time we touched the script or played the characters was back in November 2007. That's a long time ago and as actors we need to retain the word and body "memories" again, to get connected to the people that we portray.

In between the rehearsal we have several workshops that we'll be holding throughout the Bay Area as part of our residency. They include SEAYL, Oakland International High School, UC-Berkeley LASR (Laotian-Americans Student Representatives) and other opportunities to immerse ourselves with the community. This particular day we've scheduled to work with the SEAYL: Southeast Asian Young Leaders in Richmond, a program of the Asian Pacific Psychological Services. I can't wait to share our process and see what the young leaders come up with.

Richmond and the Bay Area is rich with many Lao people of many different ethnicities. We hope to get as many to attend our performance as much as possible. So far...it looks good as word is getting around. We look to find some community collaborations with traditional Lao dancers and musicians for this run to enhance the experience for us and our audiences.

Hello Bay Area!!!! - by Leilani

2008-04-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

We drove up from Los Angeles and arrived late Friday night at Phoumy and Toni's house, our gracious hosts for this Northern CA residency. Turns out Phoumy and Toni's house is Lao community central! Lao New Year Festival preparations were taking place even at midnight when we arrived. We tried to catch up on as much sleep as we could that night given that we hadn't slept much in the days prior to leaving LA preparing for our travels and packing up our show for hit road. But we didn't want to miss anything. Neither of us have been to a Lao New Year Festival before, and Northern CA has one of the biggest Laotian communities in the country. Plus we had to get our Ajan/Ajan scene up and running for the festival. We haven't performed that scene since Alaska so we only had enough me to run our lines once on the drive up from LA and once again on the drive from the house to the festival. We finally got to the San Pablo City Hall where the festival was in full swing. As we walked up to the event I felt totally under dressed. To me, from Hawai'i, festival means shorts and slippers. Not at the Lao New Year! Women were in their beautiful Lao costumes, men work silk and Lao sashes. We missed the morning ceremonies but got there just in time to eat some food, help at the booth, great our family and friends, and quickly throw on some costumes. Before I know it I hear the hosts introduce "Ova Saopeng and Leilani Chan," and then Ova's voice over the mic saying something about how were are married and he loves Lao food, and so do I (his wife). My comeback, "yeah, I like spicy, that's why I married him!" And we were just warming up. To our surprise the audience was listening! Outdoor festivals are usually the hardest audience to play for. It's hard to compete with a beautiful day, food, games and socializing. But this crowd was listening, laughing, and a applauding at places we'd never got applause before. It was a truly magnificent experience to perform for the first time to such a large crowd of Laotian Americans who knew exactly what we were talking about. Even when we brought up some potentially political issues, one of the Ajan told the other "that's very political Ajan, this is a family festival we don't want any fighting" we got a laugh and even some applause I believe. It was truly amazing and a gift to be able to perform for such a crowd. Many elders came up to us after the show to thank us and tell us they'd never seen something like that before, about them! Then of course we told them that they only saw 10 minutes and they should come see our full show at La Pena Cultural Center! But no promises yet. I'm hearing that most Lao don't want to leave Richmond even to go ten minutes to Berkeley! Let's prove 'em wrong people! Come see the show that is about you!
The festivities continued with Lao music, dancers, performers, and then we found out why it's called a water festival. This venue was chosen not just for the outdoor courtyard, but for it's central waterfall. It's amazing how the Spanish architecture of this San Pablo City Hall was converted for the day into a magical Lao fountain, representation of life along the Mekong river, and well, the place for people tog et water to throw on each other. Luckily we were warned to bring a change of clothes, because we were drenched (thanks to Vinya the who dumped water on anyone who was dry. He even dumped water on our Director Alex who we'd just met in person). Lao people don't mess around! As we paraded around the fountain I saw two guys, grown men, someone's uncle and grandpa, fight over a hand gong. Why? Because one was a musician holding the gong, the other wanted to use it to toss water. The musician lost the battle. (wish I had a picture of this, but it would have been to dangerous to have a non-waterproof camera anywhere near that!) - Note to self for next Water Festival - size matters - bring bowls not cups to get people wet! What topped our day was that our favorite niece (our only niece) and her mom could celebrate with us. Check out this picture, lots to see, they guys in the fountain splashing water on the crowd, the parade circling the crowd, and look in the lower left hand corner, Ova, our niece Asia, and her mom Vantha.

And...we're back!

2008-04-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone must be wondering what is going on? What has happened to Refugee Nation since Alaska? Well, a lot. We apologize first and foremost to those that have been reading up on us and wondering when is Refugee Nation coming to our city? town? home? Well, to be honest we needed to take a long break. Just consider for a moment all that traveling: planes, trains and automobiles from June to December in and out of town from New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Alaska, the miles, the people, the energy and effort, the changes in time and weather...it's exhausting! It's work!! So we felt we needed to take a breather. Calm ourselves. Be with ourselves. Be down with ourselves and during that time we took time to evaluate 2007 and all it's struggles and successes and take that knowledge to plan out the 2008 series of Refugee Nation events to come. We hope you follow us again because our batteries are fully charged and we look forward to making impact with people, places and things...promise. So come along for the ride or better yet come see us in person when we are in town. It's a lot nicer face to face, smile to smile.

As you can see we will be in Northern California this month and am very excited about the incredible opportunity to put what we've learned in our growth last year into practice. I call it the creative trinity. The creative trinity is the interconnected efforts to make a residency and performance effective in any town we come upon. The creative trinity are 1.Artists (that's us) 2. Presenter or venue 3. Community coordinators and in a sense we are all producers in this jigsaw puzzle of getting this production running and gunning. With these three parts in communicato, planning, meeting, calling, strategizing, decision-making; together with one vision we can accomplish anything. It's like a tripod...without one leg, whatever it's holding will fall. So in terms of this visit to Northern California we have La Pena Cultural Center as our presenter, Vinya Sysamouth & Khammany Mathavongsy & Phoumy Sayavong who have stepped up to be our community coordinators. (I consider them like the three-headed elephant of old Laos)

So the creative trinity came together and met in February to discuss the way we will make Refugee Nation as successful as it can be in the Bay Area. We are now putting into action the plan and look forward to how it will unfold, as we rally each other THE Refugee Nation NoCal Team. (as I call it) San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond...here we come!!!

There are other highlights and activities to note as well like: How did a 7 year old Lao-Chinese-American child empowered herself with her family's story? What happened to Refugee Nation at Lowell, MA...wasn't that suppose to have happened? What was Ova and Leilani doing in Pioneer Valley aka "Happy Valley" in western Massachusetts? What is the Lao'd and Proud club? Hmmm...the queries of the mind? But I'll save that for another entry.

Confessions of a touring addict - by Leilani

2007-11-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

You know you're a touring addict when you get home, you're exhausted, you're still unpacking, you're still jet lagged, and you are already planning the next tour in the next city and you can't wait to get on the road again. Okay, I can wait, 'cause I'm looking forward to being in one town for a while. Man my own bed feels so good. The road is hard. It's the stress of travel and work wrapped up in one for, in this case, two and half weeks. It's like a little working family, there are moments of bonding, moments of stress, irritation and bickering (and we are a husband and wife time, so imagine the testing of our relationship - poor Jen and May had to witness it). Not to mention the financial concerns of the show just barely paying for itself, and we still must come home to the regular bills we need to figure out how to pay in the coming months. Nonetheless, we begin talking about the next trip, the next stage of development for the show, and the next cities we want to reach out to and perform in.

Highlights from Boston to Alaska:
1) Our dress rehearsal performance for Harbor Middle School students, they were so expressive, and so engaged with everything we did on stage. After the climax of our fight scene when Ova's fighter hit my gangmember character and a student exclaimed out loud "you better run!" and during our Q & A after show a student said she related most to my mother character "because that happened to my mom, when my uncle was deported backto Haiti, she cried and cried like that." (thanks Phitsamay for setting this up!)
2) Meeting Toc and May for the first time at the airport where Mike came to pick us up. Little did we know what this team of people was about to accomplish.
3) Our first baci ceremony at the Lao Temple.
Food coming out of no where, our sound guy being a bit overwhelmed being the only falang (white guy) in the place until we showed up with Mike. And the ceremony itself! I almost cried while it was going on. the symbolism of the community coming together to wish you well. We've been working on this so long, it was amazing to feel this sense of community support. I still am wearing the strings of well wishes on my wrists.

4) Our assembly for Begich Middle School where 20 Hmong students got to share their family stories of escape from Laos with their classmates. It made the evening news where one of the students interviewed exclaimed that she didn't know she and her parents were refugees until she took our theater workshop. After the assemblies, when the principal asked who would participate if they started an after school theater program, almost all the kids raised their hands.
5) In the dressing room Saturday night in Anchorage when Jen our TD comes running in the back door of dressing room looking for extra chairs exclaiming "Monk seating issues, monk seating issues!" and she runs out, and then, looking out the front door of our dressing room and seeing Mike carrying chairs with a jolly grin on his face exclaiming "Monk seating issues! No one told me about Monk seating issues!" His grin was too big, I knew he was tickled by this little cultural surprise his venue was experiencing as a result of bringing a new audience to OUTNORTH.
6) Did I mention FRONT PAGE of the Alaska Daily news?
7) Homer's Fireweed Academy's enthusiastic students and amazing principal.
8) The tears from Asia and Rika after our performance that told me they got it, they really got it.
9) Our performance for the youth at Maclaughlin Youth Center - I don't think I've ever been more energized. Looking out at the youth who live at the detention center knowing they'd see right through me if I couldn't get this gangmember character down. I was supposed to cut out all the "f" words, but I got so into character, I let one fly. But I think if I hadn't, the students would not have believed my character at all. The teachers forgave me afterwards, I think they know it made sense. The Q&A was the most enlightening so far. They asked specific questions about the performance and the characters.
10) Toc, Toc, Toc, Mike, Mike, Mike, - if the two of them were with us wherever we go then Refugee Nation will travel far and wide. And I am thankful for Lee and May - who we also need wherever we go! And Jen who we could not live without. And of course Ova, who still loves me and I still love even after all the madness!

Thanks for all your support everyone! Updates to come once we've set our next destination. Please post more comments if you've seen the show!

Yours, a touring addict, Leilani aka a diva wanna be...

Snow to Fog

2007-11-20T23:52:00.001-08:00

The completion of our residency in Alaska made me realize the full extent of what we do as artists. We are not merely entertainers and educators, we are activists. McLaughlin Youth Center was our last stop before we headed off to the airport. It was a last minute effort and decision for us to visit but we filled it in with a performance excerpt of Refugee Nation and a Q&A with the teens there. The 25 or so youth at risk of various ethnicities that did attend were so mesmerized by the "Lao Fighter" scene, we were quite amazed at the questions and comments that came up. One girl asked why did we put the two stories in one scene and the other students offered answers including: 1. Same struggle, different time 2. One is fighting in Laos, the other is fighting in the U.S. What they saw truly resonated with them as well as with the adults. We kept a discussion going for almost another hour. The impact is amazing. I truly felt like a good citizen empowering these young minds to think and work to make themselves better people. Mike, Toc, Leilani and I were so fueled by the experience we didn't want to leave. I'd like to thank Principal Catherine Jones for allowing us to share this and to Candace McKenzie for arranging it.What was awesome was to see 5 Southeast Asian boys 3 Lao, 1 Mien and 1 Cambodian all speak up about how they related to the excerpt and how they saw some piece of their lives portrayed on stage. It gave them hope that they can choose a better path. I think seeing Leilani and I, two artists of Southeast Asian descent, able to accomplish what we've done is a victory for us and for them. I could see it in their faces thinking "Wow, if they can do it, maybe so can I!" Well, I wish you the best my young Lao brothers. I wish you the best.
Now, we are safely back in Los Angeles after such a long plane ride and a great residency. We have so much to close up from Alaska, and so many to things to face in Los Angeles and all at the same time planning to look ahead. Arriving in Los Angeles early yesterday morning at 1:30am to a very foggy weather made me miss the snow. It's no wonder we get sick here in Southern California...there is no season and when you venture outdoors it is deceiving because temperature dips or rises yet visually nothing changes. Sigh...California.
Our next step is to recoup and plan out Refugee Nation for 2008-2010. We really have something special here. I am very much looking forward to the future having learned from the past. I hope those who have read the blogs have enjoyed the entries so far.

Closing but not done

2007-11-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

The "saibai" silence of a Sunday morning at dawn in Homer welcomes me after a very, very exciting yesterday filled with a snow-opera, packed house performance and some good-byes. Yes, we are coming to a close here in Homer and in a few days Alaska and though the performances are done, I know for a fact, the work continues.
The Snow Opera or "Sliding Light"
What could be more exciting then to leave Homer with a Homer experience. It was a cold day yesterday. Gray skies and the pounding sea forewarns pending worries and possible doom. Snow...beautiful falling snow continually covers the earth giving the illusion that life is calm and peaceful. Unbeknown to us all that we'd come face to face with...the "ICE" below. All we wanted to do yesterday was spend some down time with Asia Freeman our benevolent Homer host before we left. Driving to her place, me and Jen in the 16 passenger behemoth and Asia in the lead vehicle with Leilani, May and Jake. We were seriously a few blocks from the house going up an inclined stretch when suddenly...the van starts to slide...slide....slide. What do you do? Well, one DON'T PANIC. Two PULL THE VIDEO CAMERA OUT. Three MANEUVER THE MUTHA'F VEHICLE WITH CARE. Four KEEP JEN SMILING. So we slide sideways as the ass of the van starts to turn CRASH! The rear tires slump down a small ditch. I rev the gas...no luck...we are stuck! Perpendicular to the driveway and blocking 3/4 of the road. Good thing it's not a busy drive. Next thing you know we see Asia and her vehicle with passengers turn around and coming towards us...but SUDDENLY...yes, ICE underneath. Her vehicle starts to slip...slide...slide and passengers jump out and the car continues to slide...Asia LEAPS out just in time before CRASH! the vehicle goes off to the side of the road into a 3 foot ditch! STUCK. Ahhh...the snow opera. Both vehicles are stuck down both ditches of each side of the road. Luckily...NO ONE IS HURT. We all shrug our shoulders and calmly walk up the road a quarter of a mile up to her house. It's getting dark. The snow continues to fall and WE HAVE A SHOW IN 3 hours. What to do? What to do? One DON'T PANIC. Two CALL THE MOUNTAIN MAN. Three SMILE AT JEN. In the end everything was fine. We had literally a sip of tea and both vehicles got pulled out of the ditch and we made it back to the gallery filled with adrenaline and excitement to perform.

The final performance or "Open the Door it's Freezin' Out Here"
By the time we get back to the gallery. We needed to warm up and calm down. So we did. It was the last night of our performance in Homere and word got out from Friday night's show that "Refugee Nation" is a must see and Homervillians need to see this before we wave "aloha". We'll, by 7:15pm we had a line outside the door of over 50 people in the cold and snow waiting to get in. Once the door opened up...the house was PACKED! We had to pull out extra chairs and even sat people along floor in front and on the side of the stage. Those that sat along the side got to see two shows as they could also see backstage where we were changing. The excitement didn't stop there...

Saying GOODBYE or "La Gon" to May Lee Yang
After the show the audience was so riveted they had so many overwhelming thoughts to share about the performance raving about our skills as actors, the content, the energy...all the while May Lee had to say goodbye as she needed to head for the airport to catch her flight at 10:00PM. We hugged her deeply and were a little concerned about the conditions of the weather, which was still snowy and slippery. We send our friend, colleague and fellow artist off. Her commitment and "open" attitude really gel with our sense of work and adventure. THANK YOU MAY LEE for joining us on this journey and also throwing some of your skills on this blog! Safe journey back to Minnesota and keep in touch. We may be together again...oh...one more thing MLY...it's okay to be afraid of drugs.

Thank you so much Bunnell St. Art Gallery, Fireweed Academy and Homer for this beautiful exchange. We head to Anchorage where we will do our final activity...doing an excerpt of the show at McLaughlin Youth Center and School for youth at risk. It would be a great honor to share a piece of this show with them in hopes to give them thought to become better citizens.

This is just the beginning. Where the land may end, the sea begins and we ready ourselves to board the ship and bring Refugee Nation onto other shores. So, if you are interested or know anyone who is interested....PLEASE contact us, we'd like to talk. Refugee Nation deserves to be in your community because it will engage, enlighten and empower...I guarantee it!

Home-r Stretch

2007-11-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

The final leg of Refugee Nation's tour in Alaska is almost over. Last night's opening performance in the Bunnell Street Art Gallery was filled with warm hearts and minds. The audience of all ages from baby to grandparent appreciated the performance.
Our youngest fan Spencer with cheers and applause! When I did my monologue and said I'm Lao and I'm proud...I heard him in the audience cheering me on, even though he isn't Lao!!! Go Spencer! (He likes to walk on chairs!)Again, it is a testament to the universal appeal of this show. Many people commented on how well the performance weaves together so many elements of dialogue, movement, live performance, film, content, improv, script...I could go on and on about the layers and layers that Refugee Nation offers. Hint: calling out to all academics out there! This is a hot piece of study. Grab us soon or next thing you know...we'll be gone. What we are doing is so friggin' incredible and amazing and think of all the papers upon papers that could be written about this process and project. You could be in school forever!!! Anyway, Homer has been an exchange of blessings. It's an honor to be here and connect with the people of Homer and we've gotten the same sentiments from Homervillians thanking us for coming.Before the show DJ TDJen warms up her finger to prepare and create magic with lights, sound and video for Refugee Nation in the Bunnell St. Art Gallery...all by her solo self. JC ROCKS! (That's Jen Cleary, not to be confused with the JC from the bible.)

While, Leilani and I do our physical warm-ups (being the great actors of observation that we are) taking in the traits of the local animals as we stretch...I'm doing the walrus stretch in the background and Leilani is doing the moose stretch.
Our show closes tonight in Homer and we shall see where the show will take us next. In the meanwhile, we'll take with us stories from Homer and memories to cherish. We've also made such great friends that we will surely return...maybe in the summer:)

Extra Curricular before opening..

2007-11-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

So, you may wonder...what do actors and techies do when they have time on their hands before a show. Well, here you go:

Our day usually starts off with waking up and going to breakfast. Here we had a great meal at the Mermaid Cafe. Server "Samantha" aka ?????? (it's not her real name as she wanted to be anonymous) because she kept on messing up the orders and spilling things here and there and well it was an off morning for "Samantha" aka ??????. Kidding, aside she is very sweet. Everyone deserves one right?! Nonetheless, she was wonderful and so is Mermaid Cafe. They've been around for 2 years I think and serve some great eggs and reindeer sausages. Right next to it is a bookstore where I spoke with Mike Armstrong from the Homer News for an article that should come out today.
On our way walking back as they ladies posed in front of the Mermaid Cafe and May Lee tried to reference the ummm you know women from the sea in the Odyssey or Iliad or Greek tale...oh "whatever"...yes the sirens. It occurred to us that I had no place with them in the picture. So being that they were the three Sirens...I was then designated as the Cyclops. So IF I were and did become one...this is how I would look. I'd be a pretty smart one though...most cyclops were giants and dumb! Or at least that's what I'm told.Next on the list Jen and Leilani scheduled a massage because...hey it's hard work what we do. The stress of the production schedule, traveling, performing, teching...we needed to rejuvenate and relax AND it's no wonder! I mean look at this...can the stress levels be any higher? This is the van I'm driving around town, the conditions are icy and snowy, up hills and valleys. It's a 16 passenger, heavy duty Dodge..mutha'f and the massage therapist Sara LaQue is way up in the hills of Homer...like a good mile and and half up West Hills Drive which is like a Skyline Drive of any major city with mountains. The Refugee Nation crew, Leilani, Jen and May Lee have had a fearful experience with me already in Anchorage driving on black ice there. The famous "kiss" at the stop sign on Bragaw and 16th one block away from Out North. So...stressed yet?...See the cracked windshield. No rear view mirror. Low gas! Humph...and you thought this acting thing was easy...HELL NO! I had to find a way to climb up on the front bumper and scrape off ice and snow. Today...I get MY massage. Deep tissue anyone?!
One thing about Homer and Alaska in general is...I can never go wrong with names. So far we've met 5 Mikes...Huelsman, Hayes, Armstrong, Mason and our wonderful photographer and awesome cook at Panarelli's, Mike Walsh. Now, take a moment to count that for a second. Four are in Homer....so the odds are good that the I'll probably meet another angel called Mike "Where the land ends and the sea begins." There are a lot of Mikes here...so if you come to Alaska don't worry about remembering names. Start with "Hey Mike" and you'll be fine.

Finally, here is a great shot of me wondering around Homer and meeting up with canine Babu. There are many wonderful dogs here from Happy , Karma and many others I've yet to meet. They are also Homervilleians with stories to tell.

Fireweed Academy Fabulous!

2007-11-15T00:49:00.001-08:00

Once again another wonderful day of outreach in Homer, Alaska. Woke up early morning to have breakfast at Two Sisters Bakery before we head to visit Fireweed Academy for our final day of workshops with 3rd and 4th graders. May Lee, Jen and I all went to breakfast. Leilani needed to rest in and she deserves it considering none of us would be here without her vision and direction.

Drove the van to the school and got in around 9:05am. The classes came in and the 3 & 4 graders came in with enthusiasm and excitement. They all jumped right into the theater exercises and really absorbed a lot. Education through the arts is enriching. More funds SHOULD be directed to arts programs in every school. It just really opens up doors for students to want to learn. In the workshops, we share theater exercises and teach the kids to use their voice, body and imagination to create a world on stage. Skills that can be used to enhance every aspect of their lives. Isn't it incredible that a Lao-American and Hmong-American artist are sharing their lives to kids in Homer. One exercise leads to another and one hour leads to another and next thing you know...we are done. Afterwards, I signed some autographs and requested a photo of all the workshop participants from Fireweed. Many warm thanks goes out to the wonderful teachers that elevate, challenge and support these efforts Kiki, Kris, Kim and Stephanie for being such amazing leaders. Teachers continually amaze me as they balance teaching, class management and curriculum. Kop jai lai lai Fireweed for having Refugee Nation be a part of your day. We look forward to seeing many of you in the audience at 7:30pm this Friday Nov. 16 and Sat. Nov. 17 at Bunnell Art Gallery.

The Refugee Nation Crew had a chance to drive around town today after work. It was nice to be able to leave Main St. and Bunnell for a short excursion. We hit the Homer Spit where land and sea embrace each other and drove around the town getting familiar with the streets and local business. On our return to the gallery we rehearsed to prepare for tomorrow night's opening. Can't wait to share the performance with people here in Homer. Additionally, a last minute radio spot opportunity came up so we zipped off KBBI 890 Public Radio to chat with radio host Mike Mason announcing Refugee Nation has come to Homer. Come one , come all to the show...you'll be engaged, enlightened and electrified!

Homer is where the heart is...

2007-11-15T00:02:00.001-08:00

One night at Old Town B&B right above the gallery and we were set. Central to everything with views of the mountains on one side and the ocean from another window, it's a nice walk from several good places. One of the places right next door to the Bunnell St. Art Gallery is Panarelli's. Asia Freeman our beautiful, charming, thoughtful artist and host dropped us off for lunch there. She had to speed off to another engagement but I caught her in time for a quick paparazzi shot. She's got a fascinating history with Homer. If you ever come this way...visit her at the gallery and she can tell you stories.

The morning started off with a walk to breakfast at Two Sisters Bakery. Snow flurries in the air. Brisk walk in the morning. Leilani didn't feel so good as she's been under the weather. She joined us for the first workshop at the school but we made her rest for the 2nd workshop. She is still resting and recovering. May Lee and I have taken to facilitate the workshops with ease. I love team work. We also met Mike Hayes for the first time the technical hire for Bunnell Street Art Galllery, who drove us in a van which we are suppose to have for use. He and Jen are working hard to get the lights and sound ready for the show.

Homer is a nice town full of heart and the people here are gracious. Today, we set foot on Fireweed Acadamy School and were led by Kiki Abrahamson to meet the students. We worked our tails off presenting two theater workshops today with energetic and bright 5 and 6th graders. This is an amazing school. The children are very bright, the teachers warm and the atmosphere full of learning and growing. Tomorrow we work with 3rd and 4th graders and I'm very curious as to how they will turn out. Hopefully, I'll get a nice shot of everyone tomorrow and I can post on the next blog. Introduced and welcomed in the gym in front of 75 plus students we did a quick intro and went to work. Funny how all the kids had more questions about Pirates of the Caribbean 3 than anything else, go figure.
May Lee would like to register to be a student at Fireweed...she fits right in with her size and look at the attitude on her face. School anyone?

On our arrival to Fireweed, I posed with a bicycle fish.

After a nice long day. We went to eat at Fat Olive's an Italian eatery that is housed in the old school bus barn. I had the game hen...tasty. It was nice to be together again and take some time to plan out the rest of our stay. Hung out at Duggan's pub and had myself a beer while Leilani and May Lee glued themselves to reality tv (Survivor:China) on youtube.

Homer, Alaska--The Drinking Town With A Fishing Problem by May Lee-Yang

2007-11-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

Today marked our last day in Anchorage. This morning was filled with last-minute meetings, some good-byes, and a mad dash to clean up the apartment that had become our home for the last week.

Then we flew from Anchorage to Homer, Alaska, and, as always, things were interesting.

First off, there was no security check for the airline that took us to Homer. All of us noted how odd it felt to not have to go through the protocol of security check.

Next, our plane was small...so small that EVERYONE had a window seat and there was no stowaway space above us. There was some turbulence initially on the plane, but, let me tell you, it was worth it.

In the 45 minutes it took to get us from Anchorage to Homer, I saw the landscape and sky change several times over.

There were mud flats all over the ground...and, of course, the mountains were ever present. Then we drifted in the whiteness of clouds for a while. For a moment there, I felt as though I was in one of those horror movies in which the passengers of the plane unknowningly go through a thick cloud only to emerge in some creepy parallel world.

But I eventually saw the light--literally.

The views of Alaska are really breath-taking. I wish I could better describe what I saw or that I had photos. What I can say is that I felt as though I was watching a painting created before my very eyes.

Anyway, about Homer...Anchorage had been snowy when we left. Homer is still green. There was some rain left over from earlier today.

We were shown to the Old Time Bed and Breakfast, which will be our home for the next couple of days. The Old Time B & B is really cute place. It's situated right above the Bunnell Street Gallery where we'll be performing REFUGEE NATION this Friday and Saturday.

What I can say right now about our neighborhood is that everything is very cute, very whimsical (and, yes, I know I've already used the word "cute" several times but it really is). The buildings are all brightly-colored and Victorian-esque. We have a coffeeshop downstairs from us. Down the street is a bakery/coffeeshop, a bookstore, a pub, among other things. I'm looking forward to exploring the coast line. That's right. We have a great view and easy access to the Pacific Ocean.

The Bunnell Street Gallery has beautiful artwork and our host, Asia Freeman, organized a wonderful dinner for us tonight at which we got to meet some of the students from her painting class.

Anyway, it's a beautiful town, and I look forward to our new adventures, which begins tomorrow morning at the Fireweed Charter School.

This photo was taken in real time. That's literally me as I'm writing that's literally Jen sending photos to the blog site. And no, I'm not pregnant! Just fat.

Also, we'll be discovering whether Homer, indeed, has a fishing problem and the other stuff about the drinking too.

Last show in Anchorage... by (spaced out) Leilani....

2007-11-12T23:50:00.000-08:00

We just finished or last show in Anchorage, so tired, can't spell AnkorAge... can't make sentence... must blog... so excited...must blog....so many faces...so many great people... sold out shows...diverse audiences...really cool MEDIAK Native Youth came tonight and taped our show (and they really liked our show which made us feel ultra cool - guys, please add your comments to this blog, we wanna hear why you liked it)...

...and for the Amazing Toc's birthday... went to the ULTIMATE THAI restaurant where Uncle Tom fed us phet, phet, PHET thai/lao food... Allison the amazing artist I met when I was here last directing robert karimi's MAN/MARDAAN... and look at our closing night party! look at these faces!!! All our new friends in ALASKA! We've only been here TEN days. We wont say goodbye, we are just going to say, until next time...must pack, must sleep, off to Homer tomorrow...maybe we will finally see some moose!

Left to right - The Amazing Toc, Shana who sold the most Refugee Nation t-shirts EVER (note to self, always have hot friendly Lao girls with tattoos of the budda of compassion sell our t-shirts), and me of course - so happy 5 shows are over (or maybe it's because I just had mango sticky rice - my favorite...)

Uncle Tom - owner of the ULTIMATE Thai Restaurant and Ova compare beards...

My dear long lost friend/sister in art - Allison Warden, the soon to be emancipated-from-her-9-to-5 to be come a full time singer/writer/performance Native Alaskan artist.

The Refugee Nation After Party...

THIS IS ALASKA PEOPLE!!!!!!!

Adventures in Alyeska - by May Lee Yang

2007-11-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

On one of our first days off, the Refugee Nation Crew (Ova, Leilani, Jen, and I) ventured into the unbefore-seen world of Alyeska (also known as Girdwood). We drove south of Anchorage taking in the scenic drive of mountainsides to our left and water to our right. In the far right, you could also see misty mountain landscapes reminiscent of artwork one sees while eating at a Chinese buffet.

But this was more than a journey to nature. This was a journey to discovering how much of a nerd I really am. While Jen and Leilani conversed about trendy things, I was in awe of the waterfalls that trickled down the sides of the mountains. I was entranced by the water formations on our right. I knew then that I wanted to come back to Alaska so I could go salmon fishing, so I could watch the whales feed, and so I could try Native food like seal.

It turns out no one else was thinking the same thing.

When we made the left turn into Girdwood, we pulled into a shopping mall with interesting store names:
* Coast Pizza (It's true we were by the coast and they sold pizza)
* State Trooper (It's true this was the office of the state troopers)
* The Shop (which looked like a coffee and ice-cream shop)
* Tourist Trap (which did sell tourist-y items)
* Restaurant (which was a restaurant)
* Bakery (which sold baked goods)

After getting coffee and baked goods from Bakery and after purchasing a exclaimed, "Look! Green grass!" Jen replied, "Uh...you don't have pooping moose from the Tourist Trap, our adventures continued towards the Alyeska Ski resort. It was here I discovered my love for nature: there were fat-ass mushrooms that made me think of Smurf villages, green grass and moss (When I green grass in Minnesota?" Not this time of the year. Not this time of the year.) Among our nature finds were a babbling brook, frozen roses, clusters of red berries, and a man humping a moose.

At the Alyeska Ski Resort, I also discovered that Ova had a love for animals. See the photo of Ova and the bear. And Ova and the other bear. And Ova and the moose (yes, he was the man humping the moose). And Ova and his Karate Kid crane pose, which became a staple no matter where we went.

Our hiking expedition in Mt. Alyeska took us from the ski resort entrance to a back walkway to the ski resort entrance. We were told to find--what was it? Eagle Creek Drive?--which would take us to higher hiking grounds, but we made a wrong turn and circled into a shopping center.

Because night was coming and Jen had been warned that vampires were roaming Alaska, known for its dark days, we left the town of Alyeska and headed back to the safety of Anchorage.

****
Author's Note: Despite the previous blogs that may make it appear as though I haven't been doing anything (there are numerous photos in which I am merely standing by and observing), please be reminded that I was brought in as a guest artist of Refugee Nation. I am a writer. Therefore, I was acting!

The Anchorage Players or Ova's Observation

2007-11-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

The art of theater is collaboration, teamwork, and creativity. I wanted to take a moment to profile and praise and print my observation on some of the individuals whom have made it possible to properly present the production of Refugee Nation in Anchorage. I've come to encounter such INTERESTING people whom have now become family, friends and colleagues. The work that we do comes from our passion to bring progress and change. Art is engagement. Art is empowerment. Art is a reflection of life.

Mike Huelsman
If Santa truly existed Mike comes really close. Actually, if you really think about it, he does look like Old St. Nick except leaner; just imagine him in a red suit, laughing ho-ho-ho and giving out presents. Wait a minute?! He IS Santa, OUR Santa. I mean think about it. He lives NEAR the North Pole, he runs an organization called OUT NORTH, and he PRESENTS...us tothe people of Anchorage! Wow, all this time he was actually Santa and I never knew it until now. He's busy all year long, just like Mr. Claus, welcoming, leading, fundraising, programming, housing, outreaching, planning everything and anything so that things run smooth and everyone is happy. If we needed to be picked up or dropped off or taken somewhere, here comes St. Mike on his trusty chocolate brown snow tire equipped Saturn to deliver the goods (that's us.) And, if you ever get a chance to chat with him as he shares with you a myriad of stories galore because he is an OLD TIMER...you'll get to hear him laugh and it usually goes like this haw-haw-haw! Mike is Santa and Santa is Mike...except Santa's a myth and Mike is real...besides he's got a foul mouth when he's stressed out and Santa doesn't swear...OR does he. Hmmmm.Judy Huelsman
When I first met Judy it was at the Thai House for our first meal in Anchorage. We had just arrived and I had just been introduced to Aunty Ouy, who looked at me and said "He's not Lao. He's...." Anyway, Mike called Judy up and she came to join us. Judy sat next to me and well...we just hit it off. It was as if we knew each other from another life or that I knew someone who had her personality. She's like a Californian girl, like now living in Alaska, like you know! A Southern Cal gal she enjoys being fulfilled by the richness of diversity and global concerns and has actually traveled quite extensively. She's definitely got a West Coast attitude...laid back and relaxed...kinda reminds me of Hawaii. Maybe that's why we click. She's a great host always concerned about our welfare especially when Honcho is loose. If there ever were a Mrs. Claus, Judy comes close.

Schatzie Schaefers
If Barbie were alive she would look like Schatzie, except Schatzie is better looking and smarter. Besides Schatzie is real and Barbie's a friggin' toy doll! Not to mention her name is much cooler! Schatzie is an artist, carrying with her a pink, Barbie back-pack. No purses for this playwright performer. Marketing Director for Out North she handles the publicity and other things, hey it's a non-profit. She is truly a value to Out North. An Alaskan local, born and raised here, she is truly aware of everything...honing in with her bionic ears any conversations that goes on in the Out North office. Hmmm...be careful what you say in that building. Schatzie will pick it up and she'll know. Anyway, she's also very in tune with the changes in Anchorage from the lack of snow to the urban sprawl. If ever you head up this way and see a young woman with a pink Barbie back pack strapped to her shoulders...stop, ask her for some local advice and you've come upon a Schatzie sighting.

Thomas Higgins
Okay, so Thomas just had a vacation in Cabo San Lucas. When I first met him I thought...he looks like what I've imagined people describe what Alaskan men look like...weird, wild and totally unpredictable. You know the whole convict, escape the law in Alaska personae. Well, it's no surprise because as he was in the theater setting up lights with our TD Jen Cleary, he was dressed in a WET SUIT and carpenter jeans. So, I'm thinking...why is he wearing a WET SUIT?! It's Alaska. It's cold! Did this guy just swim out of the freezing Pacific?! Crazy man....I'm thinking...crazy. Not to mention he smelled a little. (Just being honest Thomas!) Come to find out after a friendly hand shake and quick intro...he had baked himself in the Mexican sun and turned his whole back-side red like a well-done lobster. The sun burn is pretty bad and it hurts he confesses (aww poor boo-boo...well there goes the outlaw/tough guy personae) so the only way to keep healing and to be pain free is to wear the wet suit and not bathe. Hmmm...it's been 4 days. :)

Toc Soneoulay
Toc likes to talk! No, let me rephrase that Toc LOVES to talk, but don't get me wrong. I say that in a positive light because when she talks it is filled with confidence, clarity and truth! If I can describe Toc she would be like the Lao Zena Warrior Princess...except more beautiful, shorter and lanky! You should see her on the volleyball court. She'll defend your fucking spike and throw her whole body on the floor to dig it. She's relentless, tough as nails, outspoken and very opinionated. I think it comes from her love of life, her sense of duty to give a voice for her parents and her deep relationship with them. She is the vessel through which her assimilating parents can channel their frustration and anger and hopes in. Toc is an amazing presence. She has within her a very strong spirit that is contagious and energetic. She's rich with stories and straddles two cultures, two worlds, two languages. The local Lao celebrity (beep-beep) there is a lot many people can learn and take from her. She is a leader...though she may not fully want to be. She is a passionate and pivotal person in the Anchorage community. I see her as my ally to boost the Lao-American voice, to educate, enlighten and endure. She is like a sister from another mother. If you ever get a chance to meet her...you'll love her right away! She's honest, blunt and brash. Truly she is an E-Lao.

Lee Vue
I've not had a chance to really hang out with Lee. But, through May's time spent with her...I've gotten to know her indirectly. Lee is a surprise. Her story began in Laos and makes her way to Wisconsin and finally ends up here in Anchorage. Did you know her family drove from Wisconsin to Alaska to seek a better life. She is a mother, a teacher, a community activist, an organizer, a Hmong-American leader and success story. The reason we rarely see her is because she is so busy playing those roles. She has 10 lovely children to raise, she's versed in the Hmong language and culture and has a passion to bring progress in her community. She strives for better education for herself, her family and other people. Lee is the cultural broker, the bridge between America and Hmong, between youth and elders. It was encouraging to hear how her son, Jimmy, in Middle School come home with the permission slip about our workshop. It said Refugee Nation. He ask his mom...I'm not taking this workshop, we aren't refugees right mom? With shock in her eyes, she sat her boy down and shared with him their heritage & history. She told him you better do this workshop...and so he agreed.

We're BIG In Alaska!

2007-11-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

We made the evening news earlier this week with our workshop and assembly for 20 Hmong 7th graders and today we made the front page of the Anchorage Daily News AND, it's snowing!
Check it out...
KTUU channel 2 news - http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?s=7323210
Alaska Daily News - http://www.adn.com/

And... opening night went fabulously well! We got to meet Toc's family and they got see the show and see Toc on stage with us. We were so happy to see so many Lao people in the audience.

Non-stop Alaska Adventures a.k.a WORK

2007-11-06T22:36:00.000-08:00

You didn't think we just came up to Alaska for fun and fancy did you. It's taken me this long to get back on track with our blog because we've been so busy and I had to get internet access again. We've also moved from Mike's house to a B&B off of Valarian St. which is actually closer to Out North. The residency and outreach work continues to create great buzz for Refugee Nation. We were just on the news today on NBC Channel 2 in Alaska. They did a "kicker" segment on the work we did with Begich Middle School, a wonderful new school in Anchorage made up of a myriad of ethnicities from Asian, African, Pacific Islander, Latin, Native and Caucasian: AMERICAN diaspora. A little glimpse of the few days since last I wrote.

Sunday
Surprise! We offered a workshop to the Lao community and thanks again to the perseverance and shadowy tactics of Toc Soneoulay. She found a way to bring 12 Lao-American 1.5ers or "professionals" to our workshop. At first many were hesitant and unsure of what to expect but in the end they all had a great time. Thank you for all jumping in with gusto! Everyone who participated had a lot to share and we even got two families of sisters to come together which they rarely do. Hope you siblings learned something! We learned a lot about each other like some one (Susan) likes to fart?! How does anyone like to fart?! Anyway, we played theater games that made us move, play, act and delve deep within ourselves pulling out our ancestral stories. Many in the group realized the similarities in their experiences and the struggles their parents went through to give them the opportunities they have now. We even had an incredible (you have to be there) race that made everyone giggle and laugh with delight. What more could anyone want. Food...that's what, so we ended up at Tokyo Garden, an Asian buffet owned by Koreans.

Monday
Leilani, May Lee and I continued our theater workshop blitz with 20 Hmong students at Snow Leopard central Begich Middle School. Which made me wonder...where are the Lao students, man? Were they invited? Are there any Lao students at Begich Middle School? It was informed to us the workshop opportunity WAS given to over 50 students including Lao BUT no one took the handle and opened it...for whatever reason. Hmmm...my advice to young Lao brothers and sisters when opportunity knocks it's best to open it. Could it be saibai syndrome? I wonder. Major applause goes out to Principal Jeanne Fischer and ESL Counselor Carolyn Butler for making it all happen.

After our 3 hours pulling teeth to get our young actors to perform and practice we headed over to the University of Alaska in Anchorage and held another class hostage. A social work graduate class lead by Jamaican born, easy-going, James Earl Jones look-alike Professor (Ajan) Henry. The visit gave us the opportunity to share our knowledge of refugee and immigration issues that enlighten these future social workers. Dr. Henry kept throwing us profound questions like "If you had the support of the U.N. how would you go about making the refugee resettlement adjustment process work?" Lots to think about people! It's a university with a lot of very bright people! Anyway, we left them with more to chew on and excitement about coming to see our show.

At this juncture...Jen arrived from her long ass flight from Philadelphia. We headed home to do some R&R. Mike cooked an awesome salmon dinner and I got to play with 10 month old Honcho, Judy and Mike's four legged baby. Everyone say "Honcho SIT DOWN....SIT DOWN...good boy!"

Tuesday
Early to wake brings anxiety about the show and tell. We prepare and hope that our kids would be up to the challenge of picking up what they could remember from yesterday for the two assemblies. The nerves begin and the chilly morning air brings us to the school before the sun comes up. We enter the cafetorium at 7:15am and see chairs being set up for the upcoming assemblies. Our student actors slowly trickle in at 7:30-7:45am and the first presentation is at 8:15am. Time was really tight and in the chaos of those 15 minutes Leilani, May Lee and I, warmed-up, wrangled, organized, rehearsed the 20 student actors to do their best. Understand now also that in the mist of all of this, we didn't even get a chance to warm up ourselves for our portion of the presentation which was the Lao Fighters excerpt. So, the massive student audience enters. The grand Principal Fischer introduces us and welcomes any special guest in the audience including the the local news. Sigh...talk about a nerve wracking morning?! Through it all we survived and came through with much success. The assemblies captivated and engaged our audience.

After closing out with our wonderful kids at Begich we drove over to a different school. The Alaskan Literacy Project where the students were all international adults new to this country they came from various parts of the world like Korea, Cuba, Mexico, Philippines, Laos, Japan, Russia, all of whom are learning to speak English. Anchorage boast, 2nd only to Honolulu, to be the most ethnically diverse city in the nation and this classroom proved it so. They responded well to our excerpt of the "SHOW" and had incredible responses and questions. We even pulled in May Lee to join us for the piece and she passed with flying "Ajan" colors.

Lunch at a Lao owned restaurant. Wow, talk about an identity crisis here. Mike and I pointing out the facts...read carefully the AUTHENTIC THAI & POLYNESIAN FOOD...hmmm Pictures don't lie. Nor do my taste buds...the food was so onolicious. People miss out if they don't try new things.

After that heavy lunch, we rehearsed at Out North and cleaned up the "Ajan Ajan" scene adding in May Lee to the mix. At the same time we were also spiking or marking the stage to prepare for tech tomorrow. One major snafu was that a set from the Rocky Horror Picture Show was not cleared from the stage so we had to just deal with it! Shit...flew every which way from Mike's mouth because of this. He keeps mentioning how much he realizes the value of a person (in this case technical director Thomas Higgins) when they are not around. More work. More swearing. Ahhh...the joys of the theater.

We next went to chat about artistic process with some incredibly tech savvy, young Alaskan Native youth. They were part of an after school program called Mediak that gives opportunity to Alaskan Native youth to build and learn skills in digital media and production. In the exchange we connected how theater and film must follow the same process of creation, learning that any project must go through the following steps: idea, development, pre-production, post production and presentation/distribution. Mike outed me on Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and questions came swishing at me faster than I could say AAARRRGH.

Enough is enough. We need to break from outreach and focus on the show. Tomorrow we begin the remounting of Refugee Nation at Out North.

A quick side note. Notice all the pictures of May Lee. What does she do? Does she do anything? What does a guest artist do? Maybe you should ask her...hmmmm.

2 Days in Anchorage and we are part of the family

2007-11-03T19:31:00.001-07:00

It's been two days in Anchorage and already we feel like part of the family. We've been welcome with warm smiles, hugs and hospitality unmatched beyond any expectation. In these two days so far, we have met more people, been filled with excitement and enthusiasm and gone to several happenin' events in Anchorage that it's like we never left home. Friends surround us in this most diverse city up along the tip of the Pacific Northwest.

Day 1 highlights include:
1. Mike and Toc's warm welcome at the airport, they kept telling us to keep an eye out for moose, they are camouflaged and you don't want to mess with the moose because they OWN the streets of Anchorage. But in the back of my mind I'm wondering, IF they are camouflaged how do I "see" them, hmmmm. In my mind I had pictures of military camouflaged moose marching madly in the streets of Anchorage. So far...I haven't seen any. I've got 15 more days to spot a camouflaged moose. Wish me luck.
2. Meeting May Lee Yang, our guest artist, who trekked her way from Minnesota. The cold didn't bother her while I was freezing my ass off! Big thanks to Ka Vang and Robert Karimi for such an excellent recommendation.

3. Eating at Thai House restaurant and meeting owner Simon and Malada. Malada looked at me while Toc introduced me and totally said I did not look Lao at all to her. Of course that changed after a bit of conversation and Simon and I had a Lao male-balding experience. Yes, it's okay to laugh!

4. Dia De Los Muertos celebration at Out North. Mike gave Thomas his technical director a vacation for a few days because ON was suppose to be dark, meaning no programming was schedule at the venue, but then..the Latino/a community called him up and wanted to do this event. So for the first time Dia De Los Muertos at Out North! I felt like I was back in Los Angeles.
Day 2 highlights include:
1. Humpy's, a Karimi recommended bar restaurant in downtown Anchorage where our friendly wait staffer Jason welcomed us to Alaska and drooled over Leilani's iPhone. We ate halibut! HAL LI BUT!!! Great food there. Leilani had the benedict, May Lee tried the reindeer sausage and I went with the classic humpy's benedict. Con Karimi spirit lives in Anchorage.
2. Toc's volleyball tournament at Cellular 1 where we got to watch her dig, dig and dig those balls! She kept making the digs so well that it frustrated the other team and made them lose. Hah, goes to show you can't underestimate the skill of a low to the ground, tiny, Lao sister! You go E-Lao! Lao pride baby!
3. Siam Cuisine visit. A Thai-Lao-Vietamese restaurant owned by the Kittivong clan. I got to finally meet the family (her maa/mom, her nasao/aunt and even her pah tao/grandfather) of my good friend now living in Chicago, Soudary Kittivong-Greenbaum. She was one of the first 1.5 Lao activist, sister and colleague I met who came from Alaska! We met in Oregon when she was in undergraduate and I was touring with hereandnow some 13 years ago!
4. Finally, last night the most amazing, diverse and literally fun-filled event we ever attended. Loy Krathong at the Senior Center. Loy Krathong is a Thai festival but heck the community invited everyone! There was food, kids, parents, politicians, monks, seniors, blacks, asian, latinos, native, immigrant, whites, artists, commoners, rich, poor, everyone! We were entertained by traditional Lao, Thai, Hmong dancers and singers AND ballroom, hip-hop, AND BELLY DANCING! Holy crap! We had singers and banjo players and in the mix of all that...Leilani and I did an excerpt of Refugee Nation! I think we sold more people to attend our show just from our little performance! Everyone is excited. I'm excited. We were so excited that after the event we actually went to the Sea Galley, a local hang and decompressed from our two days in Anchorage! Big thanks to Virgil, Toc's husband, a South Carolina Alaskan the sweet man that he is, who took care of the bill.

This is only the beginning...Alaska already memories to cherish.

A miracle is happening in Alaska!

2007-10-27T23:32:00.000-07:00

We are so excited!We’re going to be BIG in Anchorage! No small feat! With the amazing help of our presenter Mike Huelsman of OUTNORTH, we’ve made contact with two community organizers who are AMAZING! Toc, a young Laotian go-getter and Lee a passionate Hmong social worker, trusted leaders and STRONG WOMEN in their communities, are by our side! Today we had the most amazing conference call, a crazy daisy chain in and of itself. The call included Mike, Toc, Lee, AND May Lee Yang our Hmong collaborating artist and translator, Ova and Leilani and OUTNORTH staff. I don’t’ think we’ve ever had so much support before even arriving in a city. We are going to Anchorage on Friday, a weekend before our performances to do outreach and our schedule is packed with workshops and appearances. So much so that we are going to have to split up, Ova and Leilani with Toc to meet with Lao community, May Lee with Lee to meet with Hmong community. AND we will be conducting workshops and doing an assembly for a local Middle School.

I have to share two stories that also came out of this planning meeting.

THE STORY IS BEING SHARED ALREADY - Lee has a son that goes to the middle school we will be working with. He came home with a notice about a REFUGEE NATION workshop. He told his mom he didn’t sign up because “we’re not refugees.” WELL, his mom set him straight. She then shared his legacy by telling her son all about his parents and grandparents struggle through tragedy and escape from Laos. The conversation ended with, Lee’s son saying “Oh, okay, then I guess I’ll sign up for this.”

TRANSLATION – we considered the question about translating our flier into Hmong and Lao. Lee informed us that well, most of the Hmong who recently arrived in Anchorage don’t read Hmong, some maybe read Lao, most read THAI. Well of course, we realized, the new wave of refugees have been living in THAI refugee camps for maybe 20 or 30 years. So then, what do we do? Well, we are going to need to do THREE translations – Lao, Hmong AND THAI! I wont mention that we ought to do Kmai too… but we’ll save that for another day.

So the preparations for Refugee Nation to take Alaska continue… - Leilani

Refugee Nation
Written and performed by Leilani Chan and Ova Saopeng
Based on the stories of Laotian Refugees in the U.S.

November 9, 10, 11, & 12, 2007
@ OUTNORTH, Anchorage, Alaska
www.outnorth.org

November 16 & 17, 2007
@ Bunnell Street Gallery, Homer, Alaska
www.bunnellstreetgallery.org

The Price of Hard Work

2007-10-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

Creating art is hard work. Performing art is hard work. Producing art is hard work. I've been thinking about our recent performance in Boston. This is hard work, man. I mean to coordinate and make it all happen...there needs to be more funding, human support because it seems we are always short on funds, staff, human power?! How do we do this then you ask? Is it a labor of love...yes. Is it just that we are crazy...maybe. We feel our work is important. Necessary. Vital. For us, for you, for others. What do we get out of it? Money...hahahahaha...not really. So what's the price of hard work. Well, all that hard work does pay off. It's called fulfillment unmatched beyond dollars as we make new friends, fans and supporters along the way. It's about changing, enlightening, openness. It's life.

Speaking of hard work. I want to thank Mrs. Phitsamay Sychitkokhong Uy (that's a real tough family name to remember and spell?! Hey, Phitsamay, did you know that you are also a young man in MN and wanted by the Shelton police in CT???) Search yourself. Anyway, again thank you for your passion, effort, giving, sharing and sacrifice. One person does not make it all happen...but one person can definitely do a lot to make it happen. For those who don't know Phitsamay she is a workaholic and she carries a heavy weight of work as the New England Coordinator for Legacies of War. She plays the role of wife, friend, educator, student, coordinator, concierge, host, spokesperson and a slew of many other roles that could go on forever. One key thing for her to realize: GET SOME REST! RELAX! You need to take care of yourself so you can work hard but effectively and with little stress as much as possible. Your well being is our well being!

Let me tell you a little bit about Leilani Chan and yes I'll be biased because she is my love, my life, my partner in all things. She is an artist. She has been giving opportunities for other artists in Los Angeles to grow, to blossom, to create. Now, that's hard work people. That's sacrifice. Refugee Nation has been a tough experience for her, as she desperately tries to keep TeAda Productions going forward at the same time dance the dance doing Refugee Nation while on the road. New York, North Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts. Realize my friends that Leilani Chan is the Founding Producing Artistic Director of TeAda Productions...without her drive to keep TeAda alive Refugee Nation would not exist. Many other programs and artists would not have happened. Yet, she is humble and keeps the challenges to herself. Money to pay others for their work...money she has helped to bring in by grant writing, fundraising to make art. Money that doesn't come on time so she can pay the artists...hey...this should be more than just about money. Art is about change. Creating art, giving someone the opportunity to perform, write, direct, workshop...that's hard work. What does she get for it? What does she get for it? How about some appreciation, peace of mind, future support...she needs it people. We all need that stuff. It makes us better people. It makes us better artists. It builds our community.

The price of hard work...isn't just money, it's fulfillment.

Boston Red Sox or Refugee Nation???

2007-10-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

So, we are back in Los Angeles after a long yet successful stay in the Common Wealth known as Boston. Our performances on October 12 and 13 went extremely well considering the incredible competition we had that weekend with other events. Needless to say...audience attendance was dreary. How can one predict that the Boston Red Sox would be in the playoffs during the same time that we were performing Refugee Nation IN BOSTON!!!! And look right now they are down 2 games to 1 about to be ousted from the World Series by the Cleveland Indians. Why couldn't it have happened BEFORE our show! I appreciate the fervor of the fans but come on...get some culture people! I'm sure we could have had more attendance in CMAC, if the Red Sox were not in the playoffs. One less competition for us. This just goes to show; when it comes to sports entertainment or live theater...no questions it's very one sided. I wish we could have a fan base like that of the Red Sox...imagine seeing packed houses whereever we go and Refugee Nation fans shouting and screaming. Ahhhh...one battle at a time.

Nonetheless, all is not lost. Theater is alive and kickin'. Though we had a grim turn out what is important is the impact on our audiences. Refugee Nation is getting better and better as Leilani and I improve the show. We've added fight choreography, a new scene and video elements to the piece making it more rich with stories of struggle, survival and triumph. Truly we enlighten people about the Lao American experience. History, Healing and Hope. Drama and comedy interwoven in solid characters based on real people, real stories and full of life. Nothing beats talking and engaging with people after an amazing and engaging performance

Impact comes in many forms. 1. A Dorchester 7th grader from Harbor School commented that she related to Leilani's portrayal of a mother character crying after the state of the affairs of her son on the brink of being deported. "My uncle was deported back to Haiti and my mother would cry and cry." Would you believe it, here is a play about the Lao experience. yet it has universal connections to other cultures of America. 2. A discussion on the opinion of a Lowell Lao attendee who was disappointed at the negative role of the gangster character. She felt it was not a good view of the Lao community and expected more positive models...yet, if you see our show all the stories we share are positive. They tell of struggle and courage to survive the circumstances of war, assimilation, poverty and preservation of a lost Laos. That heated conversation simply brought us more legitimacy because it shows that theater provokes. I can't wait to share Refugee Nation with more Lao American audiences of all ages and hear those opinions. 3. Legacies of War exhibition in tandem with Refugee Nation is powerful to the core. Many people commented that after viewing the exhibition and seeing our performance they were educated, entertained and empathetic.

We are important. Our work is important. It is as important as the Red Sox are to Bostonians. As artists we are proud to have a role to make people wonder, think, reflect on life, on personal issues that relate to national issues that connect to global issues. Through our characters we challenge ourselves and the audience to hope, dream and overcome the odds. Performing art is alive.

We are tired. In our short time in Boston and Cambridge, we've done excerpts of our show at the opening reception for Legacies of War and Haggerty School, we've offered workshops at UMASS-Boston to students and 80 Harbor Middle School 7th graders, we've performed 2 full shows to very attentive and intellectual audiences and gave a dress rehearsal for 50 very lively, vocal and engaging 7th graders, AND in btw all of that find ways to outreach, drop post cards, connect with Boston Progress etc.etc.etc...people this is HARD WORK! We are immigrants with the heart of a citizen!

In our quest to bring this show to the Lao community and beyond. I still ask...where are the Lao? Where is the love? I want to see more Lao Americans coming out in droves to see more theater, to support spoken word, to lift our spirits in this country. We are no longer refugees! We are no longer silenced. Step up. Speak out. Recognize your worth and be proud of who you are...kon LAO. Make people KNOW who you are. Our stories and experiences are so rich and amazing. Let's share that with others. Let's share that with each other. Let's celebrate together as a community.

Finding our peeps in Boston!

2007-10-07T17:55:00.001-07:00

We have been leading workshops in Boston this week sharing our process of working with community to tell the stories of immigration, escape, transition, struggle and triumph! We spent a day at Harbor Middle School in Dorchester, MA working with 80 7th graders. Lord - every time we work in schools we got to give it up for teachers. One day and four classes, and we were beat for the next 24 hours. Teachers do it everyday! Unbelievable! Yesterday we did a 3 hour workshop with UMASS Boston students and then they took us to this really GREAT Taiwanese restaurant in Chinatown! It was a great workshop working with these undergrads who were getting their first exposure to theater and we feel blessed to be a part of hearing their stories. These diverse students were really courageous and had really incredible stories to tell, especially about their moms! And did we say we had a really great meal at this restaurant! Can't wait to see you all at our show at CMAC this Friday and Saturday!

morning stretch in Boston

2007-10-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Today we tackle the script! We've been in Boston since last week. The grand opening of the Legacies of War (legaciesofwar.org) exhibit was last Thursday (friends please post your pictures here - we were so busy we didn't take any - no, don't post the "inappropriate" stuff!). Then we had all day meetings with the legacies peeps. It was so great to see everyone! Now we get to work on our show, or maybe. There's so much work to do, outreach, workshops in schools, finding our way around on the "T." Phitsamay has been helping set up outreach opportunities. Tomorrow we teach 7th graders in Dorchester. Today we find Trader Joe's and get some re-writes done. Not to mention rehearsing our fight sequence. Argh, touring and art making, our work is never done. Tell everyone you know New England about our upcoming show on October 12 (cmacusa.org). This photo is taken at the Ashmont station in Dorchester - um where's the station?

Lao Owners. Thai Restaurant.

2007-07-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

So, even though we have left Boone and are now back home in Los Angeles, we still have the memories of the Appalachian mountains, ASU's (Appalachian State University) summer festival opening and Cha Da Thai.

In Boone, North Carolina we were graciously housed by Denise and Marshal Stein-Grohs, who are actually family. Denise is Leilani's aunt. They have a wonderful home tucked away in the mountains. We traded the mechanical noise of the city to the natural sounds of the wilderness. Fireflies, wasp, deer, chipmunks, wild turkey and birds galore.

Our performance in an art gallery impressed a lot of people as well as confused a lot of people in the audience. Some thought we were doing something on Japan. Maybe, because we mentioned bombs, who knows! Nonetheless, as performers we projected our voices and bodies to make Refugee Nation matter. The festival went well. The staff and students, especially Hank, head curator of the gallery were wonderful in assisting us in the gallery, putting out fires (almost literally) before our showing.

In the meanwhile as we explored downtown Boone and what boon it may have, we encountered Cha Da Thai, a fairly new business in Boone. Curiously, Leilani had a hunch that the Thai fine dining place may have Laotians. Well, the picture above says it all...the owner is Lao. Please meet Bountha, she runs the place and gave us a little insight into why it's not Cha Da Lao. Nobody's heard of Lao restaurants! So there you go. We did our best to get them to come and see the performance but as you may have guessed...they are working, morning until late. We may have to consider doing our excerpts in restaurants so the people we are performing about can see our show.

Boone, NC

2007-07-03T13:42:00.001-07:00

We now move on to our next adventure. We left the city to enter the woods of North Carolina. Specifically, Boone, NC the north western mountains of the state. We will be performing at the Turchin Center www.turchincenter.com as part of the Appalachian Summer Festival. It will be at a beautiful gallery space with incredible artwork. We are the live installation performance. July 6th, 2007. This will be our final stop before heading back home to Los Angeles. It's been very peaceful and restful so far. Can't wait to experience the outcome.

Good-bye New York

2007-07-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

New York City thank you. NAATF thank you. Audiences in New York City thank you. We thank you all for a very successful run of Refugee Nation at the Abingdon Theatre as part of the first ever National Asian American Theater Festival. This experience has made us learn how important our work is. The impact on the audiences that came really completes the cycle of art and healing. Several of the performances we had people in tears because they could relate to the characters on stage. The refugee experience is not new. The refugee experience is one where we can all connect and understand. The struggle to find a better life. The hope and horror of war. I was very happy to have met more Lao people. I was very happy to perform with Leilani. I am happy with what we are doing and look forward to making it even better.

To all the fellow artists and participants of the NAATF. Congratulations for all your hard work.
Ova

Count down

2007-06-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

One more day until our first show at the Abingdon. We've got four performances to go to help close out the NAATF. Leilani and I have been hard concentrating and focusing on making our piece better and better. Rehearsals have been up and down, it's amazing how the weather can affect your rehearsal process. We had a few days of heat in New York City and our loft felt like an oven which in turn makes us all cranky. On those days we don't get as much done. On cooler days we definitely get a better run of our lines, our moments and characters in the scenes we've created. I can't wait to show what we have to an audience and get a few good runs. I'm excited to have my family from Hawaii joining us and supporting Refugee Nation. I'm excited to hear of new Lao audience members joining the Refugee Nation. This is an exciting time.

Sleep or Never

2007-06-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

New York City maybe the city that never sleeps...but we NEED our sleep. A trek into the city can be an exhausting one. Consider last night. The festival has begun and it seems the performances are going well. Leilani and Marie-Reine went to see Regie Cabico and Aileen Cho's show. They had a great time at LaMaMa with other festival participants like D'Lo and Kristina Wong rooting and supporting each other. There is a strong sense of camaraderie amongst the participants because it's important and we need each other. We need each other as audience, we need each other as colleagues and we need each other to better ourselves. There is so much activity as part of the festival and New York City itself that time is valuable. Choices can be difficult to make depending upon location, time frame and distance. Going from one place to another takes a lot of walking. So by the time you are subway setting to one place you exhaust yourself. When you get home...sleep is important. So sleep in when you can.

I went to the Asian American Legal Defense Fund event around Chelsea. There were many NYC professionals in attendance numbering close to 500 or so. I did my best to promote Refugee Nation. Most who I spoke too seem interested and I hope they come. It was great to connect with friends I had made at a BBQ earlier in the week. They were instrumental in helping me spread the word and give out postcards. I also met new friends who in the future could help us out. Hsindy from Boston. We'll definitely connect with you when we arrive in Boston during the fall. Progress takes time.
Ova

Pirate or Refugee?

2007-06-12T20:33:00.001-07:00

Leilani has been bugging me to write about the difference in the work I did on Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and the work I do with Refugee Nation. The two experiences have such a wide gap that it's incredibly ludicrous to think about. One is backed by a multi-billion dollar business under the name of Disney, while the other is supported by a tiny, non-profit organization called TeAda Productions.

Being a pirate on the film made me realize the truth behind the business. It's all about the dollars in the end. The creative forces that control the film must and have a strong arm on the outcome of the final product. I was a very teeny tiny part of that giant machine. In the end I was fortunate enough to have screen time. I was lucky. It can be done with a lack of soul.

Being a refugee performing with my wife Leilani AND sharing about the Lao experience is rewarding in so many levels. It is the truth of who I am. It is the essence of what I am. The struggle to make the performance powerful and alive. The passion and courage to deal with relevant issues that plague our society today. War. Oppression. Healing. I am proud to be creating a work so personal and yet global.

So if you were me would you rather be Pirate or a Refugee?

NAATF

2007-06-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the First Ever National Asian American Theater Festival. Fresh and familiar faces of the Asian American theater circle gathered at the Public Theater last night to witness this monumental event. Companies from around the nation are being represented in theaters throughout New York City. Check out the array of companies and artist at www.naatf.org

We are the only company sharing specifically about the Lao American diaspora. It's a monumental and historical time as Asian American theatre embraces new refugee and immigrant voices. Slowly, we are getting our material out there and rising to the occasion. It's nice to have the support of each other to continue to create more work that shows our Asian diversity.

Searching for Lao in New York City while Vang Pao is being arrested in Cali!

2007-06-05T22:06:00.001-07:00

So haven't we been saying, it is time for the Laotian story to be heard? Yet all over the news is this story about the arrest Vang Pao. We're not sure what to say. Is it real? Did the general really buy guns? Or is it a US conspiracy? There are strong opinions on both sides.

We don't know, but all we know is that this a community that's story needs to be told and heard, not just by the media that always focuses on the worst. Gang violence, rapes and military coups.

It would be much better to tell the world about our show! A show that is about a community in need of healing. The sensational news does little to help us get the elders to speak about their experiences and begin to heal the wounds of the past. Here a leader is being arrested. Right or wrong, the other stories about this community are not being heard. The stories about struggle, survival and overcoming amazing odds. Instead these stories make elders wonder, who is watching, which side is the government on? And why in the world would anyone one care to talk to me? Can we blame them for remaining silent?

And yet...

We care! We care! We care! We want to hear your story. Share your story with us!

Come out and see our show so you will know what we are all about!

On another note from the artists end trying to get the word out while struggling to find the time and space to rehearse in this over-stimulating city... we got an email blast together... YIPEEE! Thanks to the amazing Gabriela Lopez for the design and Marie-Reine for sending out the blast, we can tell everybody about the show with this fabulous e-post!

Making Friends and Building an Audience

2007-06-04T20:32:00.001-07:00

We had to take it easy today because the last two days were exhausting. Leilani and I slept in today and finally got ourselves out to the city in the late afternoon. One thing about trekking in New York...you've got to plan out your day because once you leave the house...it's difficult to return. You've got to plan out the walking and station to station stops. Public transport can be fun but also challenging. Today, to continue our exciting plan to build audience we went to connect with the staff for NAATF. Jeff, Kelly and John are all wonderfully working hard but we are finding press and marketing to be the biggest challenge. So, we've harnessed any contacts in New York that we know and are telling them about the festival and our show Refugee Nation. It was a great visit to the office because all the other theater offices are there on the 2nd floor of one building...Ma-Yi Theater, NAATCO and Pan-Asian Rep, not to mention many other theater organizations. The visit made the reality of this festival current! There was a feeling of "We are here! This festival is really happening! How exciting!"

Our next leg of the day we went to celebrate the birthday of Kristina Wong. She gathered some people together and we had a wonderful time at Lan Cafe in the Lower East Side. It was an all vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant which was pretty good. Not all the people attending...more new friends of Kristina and now us, are vegetarian but we all were there to enjoy the company and of course realize KWong's birthday in New York!! All of them now know about the festival and will come out to see Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest AND Refugee Nation! Yahhh....
Ova

Reigning in New York

2007-06-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

We hooked up with our fabulous friend Channapha once again and broke into a Brooklyn bbq! Awesome people were there...thank you Anu & Rosalyn best dynamic hostess of the night. With heavy rain and whipping winds coming at us all over the city we could not be stopped as we walked along Brooklyn streets to share our Refugee Nation upcoming performance. The people we met at that party are way cool and supportive. They all want to come and see us perform. June 22nd is the designated benefit night with Legacies of War. It will be exciting to open and dine for a cause we all wish for...to educate and advocate for removal of UXOs in Laos.

Leilani and I will now get into rehearsal mode and for the week fine tune our performance to ready itself to shine at the Abingdon Theatre.

I am in search of the Lao and South East Asian community to make noise! You are a part of the Refugee Nation. Come join us. We also visited the naatf table at a fair on 2nd Avenue which stretched for miles. So many people passing by but we did get an opportunity to speak some words of wisdom...The First Asian American Theater Festival is here in NEW YORK and WE are a part of it! See our show.

1st Full day in New York

2007-06-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Our first full day in New York City can only be described as learning how to walk! We started off in our neighborhood of Greenpoint at the Greenpoint Cafe for brunch. After a long flight the night before (we arrived at 1:30am at JFK) and getting into our sublet, we were itching to explore and not to mention supply ourselves with some homely goods. The sublet is furnished but bare. We got out into the neighborhood and shopped around off of Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn...it's a busy street. Got some groceries and bathroom supplies. We then hooked up with Channapha and Islanda, our Legacies of War fellows at Prospect Park. The day began to feel a little bit easier yet also harder...because we have a lot to do in getting an audience for the festival and our show Refugee Nation. Nonetheless, it was great to meet with a New Yorker like Channapha and visit her place. We then spent our late afternoon and evening in Brooklyn learning to take the G line and F line. Walked around other neighborhoods of Brooklyn and even went to 1st Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum. It's once a month and free entry to the museum plus there is entertainment and fun. Leilani and I visited the Global Feminist exhibition and got to see Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party" piece. Pretty grand. Now, we are back at our place and just ready to plan out the rest of our work week. We need to schedule rehearsals, writing, and getting more press about our portion of the National Asian American Theatre Festival. Learning to navigate away around the city via the subway is particularly fun. Our next destination tomorrow will be Manhattan.

New York or BUST!

2007-05-31T23:18:00.000-07:00

Ova and I are packing for our month long stay in New York City! We are excited and nervous. So much to do before we leave town. We will be staying in a loft in Brooklyn where we can also rehearse and write. We want to take what we did at Highways last Sunday and tighten up the script and the performance. We also want to work on the movement which means for the both of us a LOT more exercise and getting in shape. So we plan to workout, rehearse hard and walk all over the city. Why am I nervous, because I sure hope we get an audience! Ova's family is coming all the way from Hawai'i to see the show. And apparently we have family in New York and Vermont! So it looks like we might even get to meet some new Laotian Family members! Hope I get some sleep tonight! - Leilani

Starting the Refugee Nation!

2007-05-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to Refugee Nation. We have been working on this project since 2005, it's been two years! We started at the 1st International Conference on Lao Studies in DeKalb IL with the help of a grant from the Multi-Arts Produciton Fund/Rockefeller Foundation. At that conference we met Laotian scholars and community organizers from around the country and the world. We then began interviewing Laotian Refugees and their children. We drove form Elgin to Minnapolis St Paul and back to Chicago. We've been to New England, Seattle, Atlanta and all over California talking to Laotians around the country trying to get a better understanding of our community.

Yesterday we did a workshop performance at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica California. Whew! It was scary, we weren't sure we were ready, but we did it! The show is now an hour long. Now we have the core of our show. Over thenext four weeks we will be writing, rehearsing and getting in shape four our New York debut... well, actually it willb e PREVIEW performance. June 22-24, 2007 in NYC (for tickets go to http://www.naatf.org/index.php?page_id=165)

Check out our web page for more info.
http://www.teada.org/refugee-nation.html

Also check out these sites for informaiton, video and a RADIO show on KPFK!

Legacies of War:
http://www.legaciesofwar.org/community-work/refugee-nation-theater

KPFK radio show:
http://64.27.15.184/parchive/mp3/kpfk_070524_070100mr_thur.mp3

YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7lcuO4zx8&mode=related&search=

If you are Laotian and want to contribute your story, find out more about us, or bringus to your town, email us at refugeenation@gmail.com