GENseng: Asian American Performance Ensemble, 1999-2022

For GENsengers who get their news from this page!

Ichiro Suzuki on trailblazing path and past racism ahead of historic Hall of Fame induction Years before he would make his entrance into Major League Baseball, Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, then 22, made a trip stateside.

GENsengers who get their news from this page, it is our Johnson Chong (FALLING FLOWERS)! Please tune in! (Marjorie Chan, Nancy Kim, Fiona Lee, Caleb P**n, Hanna Lydia, Hara Kang, Danny Lee, Kristen Yu-Um, Lydia Wu-Morales !)

How to deal with toxic family relationships | Johnson Chong | TEDxRolandPark Is blood really thicker than water? Is being family enough to outweigh the toxicity of an unhealthy relationship? Over 1 in 4 American adults have experience...

So proud of GENseng's latest accomplishment, closing out its 23rd years of continuous production, "The Chinese Lady" by Lloyd Suh. Pictures to come.

For GENsengers who get their GENseng news from this page! See anyone you know?

Join us this June in Connecticut for our YOUTH ARTS EDUCATORS track, led by MICHA faculty members Naomi Bailis, Chuk Obasi, and Phil Stoesz! Participants will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Chekhov’s psychophysical approach and consider its application in their own creativity as well as their classroom practices. They will also learn the Critical Response Process, a holistic and generative method of giving and receiving feedback on works-in-progress.

For more information, and to register, visit https://www.michaelchekhov.org/international-michael-chekhov-workshop-festival-and-teacher-training/

For GENsengers who get their GENseng news from this page, our Becky Margolis Sellmeyer("Falling Flowers" SM) and husband John welcomed daughter Rachel to their and the GENseng family last July!

For GENsengers who get their news from this page, our Lea Pandoliano ("Ching Chong Chinaman") and and GENtraí'ers ("The Lieutenant of Inishmore," "Lonesome West") and her fiancé Jimmy Hatem announce their engagement! So excited for them both! Click on the photo to get a clearer photo!

For GENsengers who get their GENseng news from this page, it's not theatre, and I'm not exactly a fan, shall we say, of beauty pageants, but when a Korean American woman becomes Miss America (Ms. America), it is worth a post. As well, the Punjabi woman who was designated Ms. Universe. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/evolution-international-indian-beauty-queen-rcna8934

Miss America makes history, as a Korean American from Alaska wins the title When the winner was announced, Emma Broyles was sure it was a mistake: "I said, 'No way. Are you sure? Do you want to check that card again?' "

For GENsengers who get their news from this page:. From our Fiona Lee (PAPER ANGELS, LETTERS TO A STUDENT REVOLTIONARY, FALLING FLOWERS)! Congrats and gongxi gongxi, dearest Fiona!

Barbarian Invasion: Malaysian New Wave's return to self | ArtsEquator Fiona Lee reviews the film Barbarian Invasion by Malaysian director Tan Chui Mui, where a woman stars in an action flick after becoming a mother.

For GENsengers who get their news from this page! An Asian American Muppet! OK, so it's how many decades late? Never mind, our Muppet is finally here! Show your kids!

AP Exclusive: 'Sesame Street' debuts Asian American muppet What's in a name? Well, for Ji-Young, the newest muppet resident of “Sesame Street,” her name is a sign she was meant to live there. “So, in Korean traditionally the two syllables they each mean something different and Ji means, like, smart or wise.

For GENsengers who get their news from this page: it isn't theatre, but it's important: both Boston (Michelle Wu) and Cincinnati (Aftab Pureval) elected Asian American mayors yesterday. NYC elected its second African American mayor, Eric Adams. That's the good news.

For GENsengers who get their GENseng news from this page: Joyously announcing the arrival of our Dana Mee Hee LePage's (A KOREAN COMEDY OF ERRORS, S*X LIES ALMOND EYES, EYES OF THE HEART, KWATZ!) and wife Eun Ko's brand new son: Oliver Eunsul 올리버 은설, born on October 21, 2021 at 7:32pm weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long!

For GENsengers who get their GENseng news from this page!

🥋 Bruce Lee Day was declared on October 21, 2000 in San Francisco to honor Bruce Lee, a famous Chinese American icon who had strong ties to the San Francisco Bay Area. 🥋

🐲 Bruce Lee was born at the Chinese Hospital in San Francisco Chinatown. He moved back to Hong Kong as an infant and came back to live in San Francisco in 1959. It was his time in the Bay Area where he was able to discover himself; in the early 60s he moved to Oakland and opened a Jun Fan martial arts studio.

📷: Bruce Lee Family Archives

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Wing Luke Museum
Bruce Lee Foundation
Bruce Lee
We Are Bruce Lee Exhibit

Cut Fruit Collective
SFCMA | San Francisco Chinatown
Revive SF Chinatown
Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco
Chinatown Community Development Center
Chinatown Alleyway Tours
San Francisco Chinatown Visitor Information Center
NBC Asian America
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
San Francisco Heritage

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#李小龍 #香港

Our Mallika Shah (SILK ROAD COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, MOTHER IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE, A BRIMFUL OF ASHA) is in her first film, just released this week, "Sardar Udham," and you can find it on Prime Video. Look for Mallika at the 1 hour, 12 minute mark! Shabash, Mallika!

For GENsengers who get their GENseng news from this page, welcome to Cameron Morales, born to our Lydia Wu-Morales and hubby Jason on 8/14/2021 at 6:13 P.M., 8 pounds 5 oz., 20 3/4 inches; he is not the least intimidated by the thought of auditions at only one week old!

https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/simu-liu-interview/?fbclid=IwAR2085155VxZRoavYR-gzgVjMNc9WSvTOe-Jl6KXsnXm7d5WfMWJjv8JZwk

How Simu Liu Went From Struggling Actor to Marvel Superhero The 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' star is at once a trailblazing Asian superhero and a bro who loves Good Will Hunting and beach volleyball

Hawaii's Carissa Moore scores gold! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdMNCGaO7x4

Carissa Moore, an American, wins first ever women's Olympic gold in surfing History made.Hawaii’s own Carissa Moore took home the gold medal Tuesday in the inaugural women’s Olympic surfing competition, defeating South Africa’s Bianc...

Worth the share with GENseng!

Suni Lee gets her own official day in Minnesota after winning gold at Tokyo Olympics Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter are both declaring Friday Sunisa Lee Day.

GENsengers Far and Wide, Kelvin Han Yee is a new friend and a long-time, hard-working, ass-busting actor. Mark your calendars to catch him on Magnum PI!

Dear GENsengers, Far and Wide, Who Get Their GENseng News from This Page:
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write to you today to inform you that GENseng has lost our Bryan Pedersen who passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July, 11, 2021 at his home in Seaside Heights, NJ.
Bryan was among the earliest “classes” of GENsengers, making his first GENseng appearance (and stage debut) as Hisao Matsumoto in Philip Kan Gotanda’s “Ballad of Yachiyo.” He continued to grow as an actor, playing Vincent Chang in Gotanda’s “Yankee Dawg You Die!”, directed by our Judy Park (Judy Noh); and the intrepid detective Sam Shikaze in Rick Shiomi’s “Yellow Fever.” He was a joy with whom to work, as those who worked along with him in those early years, including Jacalyn Lee, Kristen Yu-Um, James Kim, and Roslyn Lee can attest. Bryan was instrumental in the years when GENseng was just beginning to approach its strike, inspiring younger GENsengers for whom he found himself serving as a role model, including Nancy Kim, Hara Kang, Frank Lin, Gary Tso, and Chuk Obasi. Of his performance in Genny Lim’s “Paper Angels” in 2003 as Fong, Bryan later observed poignantly that he came to a realization that, having risked conveying his characters in the most vulnerable means possible, that is, by using his body, voice, and heart, he was enabled "to perceive and acknowledge in turn acceptance from his live audiences and complete a 'circle' of communication between actor and spectator. I became aware that the audience approved; the audience cared; the audience understood. And that moment made everything possible.”
Along with Fiona Lee, who is now a professor at the University of Sydney, Bryan’s legacy at Geneseo would expand beyond GENseng when the two classmates founded “Mint Magazine” in 2003, a student literary publication that exists to this day. Of late, Bryan’s writing took a political turn. He demonstrated a lightning wit and deep insight while others descended into invective and insult. He was a consummate gentleman, in person and in his writing. GENseng was hoping he would pursue a political career himself before too long.
Bryan is survived by his wife Ghazal Pedersen, their five-year-old daughter Natasha, his parents, Ole and Lisa, his brother Dan, and the entire GENseng family who mourns his loss. We invite GENsengers to submit condolences to the family at https://www.akmacagnafuneralhome.com/obituary/bryan-pederson.

Obituary for Bryan L Pedersen at A.K. Macagna Funeral Home We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Bryan. He was loved by many, including his Mother Lisa, Father Ole, Brother Dan, as well as his wife Ghazal and cherished Daughter Natasha. Bryan was a brilliant, fun loving creative person, full of energy and ambition. He loved life, his

'Bout time! Congratulations, Illinois!https://www.npr.org/2021/07/13/1015596570/illinois-has-become-the-first-state-to-require-the-teaching-of-asian-american-hi

Illinois Has Become The First State To Require The Teaching Of Asian American History Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation last week that will require public school students to learn about Asian American history starting in the 2022-2023 school year.

Not quite theatre but an important Asian American achievement we all get to know, thanks to Gil Asakawa!

National Youth Poet Laureate Alexandra Huynh on telling stories of equality, identity and her "double life" Huynh, 18, writes about her California childhood interrupted by climate change and the pride she feels as a Vietnamese-American.

Not to be missed! Mark your calendars! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YjFbMbfXaQ

Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Official Trailer Watch the brand new trailer for Marvel Studios’ "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" and experience it only in theaters September 3.► Watch Marvel on ...

For GENsengers who get their news from this page, GENseng is so proud to be able to share news of DR. Dom Ciruzzi's (EYE OF THE COCONUT, AND THE SOUL SHALL DANCE) first post-graduate teaching appointment as an Assistant Professor of Geology at the College of William and Mary starting in August!

2021-2020 is official! The SUNY-Geneseo and GENseng MainStage season is Lauren Yee's "The Hatmaker's Wife" in October 2021, and Lloyd Suh's "The Chinese Lady," starring alums Lea Pandoliano and Rustle Alan in May 2022 in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. And now GENseng can say that Geneseo's Department of Theatre and Dance has produced only Asian American playwrights on its MainStage for two years running: (2020-2021) STOP KISS (Diana Son; directed by Jaime M. Arena ), TEA ( Velina Hasu Houston , directed by
Brodie McPherson ), HOLD THESE TRUTHS (Jeanne Sakata , directed by Randy Kaplan and starring Rustle Alan ), and now the plays by Lauren Yee and Lloyd Suh, both of which will be directed by Kaplan. Very proud of this accomplishment! In Spring 2021 GENseng also hosted a playwrights' series, bringing in Philip Kan Gotanda, Lane Nishikawa , Velina Hasu Houston , Jeanne Barroga, Ralph B. Peña , Lloyd Suh, Prince Gomolvilas, Ernest Abuba , Lee Cataluna , and Rick Shiomi. As well, in April GENseng hosted Lane Nishikawa presenting and talking about his latest film about the Japanese incarceration, "Our Lost Years." Considering all the COVID challenges, it was one hell of a great year for GENseng! Wish us luck as we move into 2021-22!

From our friend Ernest Abuba! Samantha Chan Urban, take note!

Anna May Wong on a quarter — literally! The U.S. Mint will honor legendary actress Anna May Wong in their upcoming American Women Quarters Program. Starting in November 2022, special coins will feature a "diverse group of women whose achievements, triumphs, and legacies reflect the strength and resilience of our Nation.” Others honorees so far include Maya Angelou, Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, and others. More info: https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/mint-announces-additional-honorees-in-american-women-quarters-program

Dearest GENsengers Far and Wide, See anyone you know? (Special thanks to Paul Douglas Michnewicz)

Generally speaking, I do not like to toot my own horn, but thanks to my friends Mimi Lee and Lily Lee of Asian Pacific American Association of Rochester, I was honored to be included as one of Rochester Women Who Changed the World Exhibit (Nov 2020-May 2021) alongside more than 300 stories and legacies that will rise onto higher plane digitally at RMSC.org/Changemakers. The proclamation I am holding in the second photo is from Mayor Lovely Warren, designates GENseng, along with the Bhutanese Community of Greater Rochester, the Pakistani Association of Rochester, and the Filipino American Association of Rochester, as vital to the designation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in Rochester, NY, on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike marking completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Point, Utah (May 10, 1869). Couldn't be prouder for GENseng.