Past Performances: 1995
"Notice How She's Her Gaits But a Limply Gallop"
Feature Show
January 12-14, 19-21 1995
Asian American Theater Company (2nd Stage), San Francisco
Notes from the show:
Title Note: This title was actually a line from one of our “group skit” experimental writing sessions. We’d all sit around a lap top and churn out a skit round-robin style. This title was proposed by Isaac Ho who probably originated the type as well.
Director: Michael Torres
We had asked Marc Hayashi to direct us again for this production, but he had already gone onboard as director for Diane Yen-Mei Wong’s “Happy Birthday,” an AATC spring 1995 production. Michael Torres was our next choice. A good director who had done some work with Culture Clash in the past and who had worked with some of us previously in the New Godzilla Theater Workshop.
Cast: Corinne Chooey, Isaac Ho, Rania Ho, Nicole Higashi, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Pete Kim, Todd Nakagawa, Pearl Wong, Peter Wong, Yato Yoshida
Note: Harold Byun, Grant Imahara, Greg Watanabe took a leave of absence from this show. Greg was cast in “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Harold and Grant were both traumatized so much from the last show that they needed a break. On the plus side, Rania Ho joined us on the acting and writing end upon her return to Chicago. Todd Nakagawa and Pete Wong, former members of Godzilla who had just recently appeared with another AA comedy group, Tsukemono Variety Performers, also began acting with 18mmw with this show. Corinne Chooey’s involvement was minimal because she was commuting from Los Angeles for these rehearsals. She eventally wound up performing only 2 nights of a 6 show run.
Writers: Valiant Chow, Miyuki Fujii, Isaac Ho, Rania Ho, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Michael Premsrirat, Yato Yoshida
Note: Miyuki Fujii, one of our charter members, began writing for 18mmw on this show. She had previously been busy with “Waking the Red Dragon,” a production of the AATC women’s workshop which she had founded.
Skits:
Sex Therapist by Michael Premsrirat
Synopsis: Lonnie Nishimoto, chronic masturbator, seeks sexual help from sex therapist Minerva Hong.
Actors: Pearl Wong, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Pete Kim
Michael Douglas Show by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Synopsis: At the time this skit was written, Michael Douglas had been involved in a series of movies that might be construed as “Asian Bashing.” The premise of this skit is that Douglas has his own talk show and literally bashes Asians every week. Author’s Note: This skit was fingered out as one that portrayed Vietnamese Americans as the “bad Asians,” when we performed it at Pomona College Fall 1995. After pondering this, I had to agree, and removed the reference to Vietnamese from the skit. Shortyly after, the skit was removed from our “Greatest Hits” lineup because it was becoming out-dated and there were better skits being written.
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Pearl Wong, Yato Yoshid, Isaac Ho, Pete Wong, Pete Kim, Corinne Chooey
Fuzzy by Isaac Ho
Synopsis: A classic enigmatic Ho piece where characters ruminate on a mysterious item.
Director: Yato Yoshida
Actors: Pearl Wong, Todd Nakagawa
Dance with Me I by Isaac Ho
Synopsis: A classic Ho wordless piece where 2 characters dance on stage.
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Isaac Ho
G.l. Joe by Michael Premsrirat
Synopsis: The return of Mrs. Lee from “Return to Sender,” this time written by another writer. In this episode, she returns several violent action figures.
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Yato Yoshida
Mister Diarrhea by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Synopsis: We started polling our audience members on their favorite skits with this show, a tradition (based on Michael Torres’s idea) that has continued to this present day. Mr. Diarrhea wound up with the most votes for this show and appears occasionally in our Greatest Hits lineup.
Actors: Nicole Higashi, Yato Yoshida, Isaac Ho, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Wonderful Family by Miyuki Fujii
Synopsis: The Japanese American fiancee of a Japanese man meets his strange Japanese family for the first time.
Actors: Todd Nakagawa, Pearl Wong, Nicole Higashi, Yato Yoshida, Pete Wong, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Isaac Ho, Rania Ho
I Used to Love Him by Rania Ho
Synopsis: A song that Rania had had in her repertoire previuosly and which she donated to us for this show.
Actors: Lead Singer: Rania Ho, Backup Singers: Pete Kim, Pete Wong, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Dilemma of AA Male by Miyuki Fujii
Synopsis: A skit based on the cowardly ex-boyfriend of Miyuki Fujii.
Actors:Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Rania Ho, Pete Wong
Yan Can Counsel by Valiant Chow
Synopsis: Michael Yan, Martin Yan’s younger brother, runs a counseling show in which the solutions to all problems are found in an old Chinese recipe. Based on an improv performed in the lobby of AATC by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle and Greg Watanabe. All the callers are named Michael, a gimmick we repeated in “JA Sex Hour” for our Fatty Cat Pippi show in the summer of 1998.
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Pete Wong, Pete Kim, Isaac Ho
Bus Stop by Yato Yoshida
Synopsis: A bizarre encounter at a bus-stop.
Actors: Yato Yoshida, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Doughnut by Isaac Ho
Synopsis: A man trying to stay on a diet is tempted by a doughnut.
Actors: Rania Ho, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Yato Yoshida
AA Frankenstein by Miyuki Fujii
Synopsis: Three Asian American women try to create the perfect Asian American man.
Actors: Pearl Wong, Rania Ho, Isaac Ho, Pete Wong
Superman by Isaac Ho
Synopsis: Superman is on trial for being an illegal alien.
Actors: Pete Wong, Nicole Higashi, Yato Yoshida, Todd Nakagawa, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Sukipratanophile by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Synopsis: A woman from Sukipratanophile brings her date home where he encounters her brother and insane father. Author’s Note: Corinne Chooey played the role of the father in the skit on Thursdays only, because she was commuting from L.A.
Actors: Todd Nakagawa, Isaac Ho, Corinne Chooey, Pearl Wong, Pete Kim, Pete Wong, Yato Yoshida
A John Woo Family Dinner by Valiant Chow
Actors: Todd Nakagawa, Pete Kim, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Yato Yoshida, Nicole Higashi, Rania Ho
Radio Skits
Phone Call by Valiant Chow
Synopsis: Imprisoned rockers call home.
17 Brides for 17 Mighty Mountain Warriors by Valiant Chow
Synopsis: Another sequel to the original 18mmw skit based on an idea by Michael Premsrirat. The 18mmw get married.
Paul Simon by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Synopsis: Paul Simon tackles Peking Opera.
Woo’s on First by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Synopsis: A parody of “Who’s on First” with Chinatown gang members.
Secret to Getting Dates by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Synopsis: A smooth guy shows his pal how to get dates.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Performed as AATC Players
April 23, 1995
Kabuki Theater, San Francisco
Sacramento FringeArts Festival
Evening Headliners
May 20 1995
Metropolis Cafe, Sacramento
“Wumpa Wumpa meets Le Shank Hawai’i”
Feature Show
July 6-8, 13-15 1995
Knuth Hall, San Francisco State University
Notes from the Show:
Title Notes: The title is anagram for certain people we know. It was proposed by Michael Premsrirat and Yato Yoshida who had scribbled out the anagrams at a restaurant over a year earlier.
Director: Ron Muriera
This was our first new production upon leaving the umbrella of the Asian American Theater Company and was a test of fire for us to prove that we could be independent and successfully produce our own show. The show was more successful than we could imagine. In many ways, it was our “Camelot.” We probably have not achieved this level of unity and enthusiasm since this show. We were very lucky to get Ron Muriera to direct this show. A former member of the improv group “The National Theater of the Deranged,” Ron had the comedy experience we were looking for. And by the most remarkable of coincidences, he was looking to get back into comedy when we approached him.
Skits
Bruce Can Cook by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Greg Watanabe, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Chinese Food by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Nicole Higashi, Yato Yoshida, Pete Wong, Earlene Somera
Dilemma of AA Female by Miyuki Fujii
Actors: Pearl Wong, Greg Watanabe, Michael Chih Ming HornbuckleReunion by Isaac Ho
Actors: Earlene Somera, Linda Chuan, Tod Nakagawa, Isaac Ho, Harold Byun
Dipthong by Isaac Ho
Actors: Pete Wong, Leo Legaspi, Nicole Higashi
The Famous Relatives Show by Harold Byun
Actors: Harold Byun, Greg Watanabe, Todd Nakagawa, Pete Wong
Tang by Michael Premsrirat
Actors: Earlene Somera, Pete Kim, Leo Legaspi
Secure by Grant Imahara
Actors: Pete Kim, Pete Wong, Pearl Wong
Superstar Desu by Rania Ho
Actors: Nicoel Higashi, Pearl Wong, Linda Chuan, Isaac Ho, Todd Nakagawa
Dueling Drums by Isaac Ho
Actors: Pete Wong, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Isaac Ho, Todd Nakagawa
Sharin’ & Carin’ with Sharon and Karen by Michael Premsrirat
Actors: Linda Chuan, Diana Weng, Greg Watanabe, Leo Legaspi, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Harold Byun, Michael Premsrirat, Yato Yoshida, Pearl Wong
Convention by Isaac Ho
Actors: Pearl Wong, Isaac Ho
Those Nutty Striking Railroad Workers by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Todd Nakagawa, Pete Wong, Pete Kim, Yato Yoshida, Isaac Ho
Dizzyland by Valiant Chow
Actors: Greg Watanabe, Diana Weng, Pete Wong, Nicole Higashi
Eros & Agape by Michael Premsrirat
Actors: Leo Legaspi, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Yato Yoshida, Diana Weng, Pete Wong
A John Woo Family Dinner by Valiant Chow
Note: This skit, being our dependable crowd-pleaser “cult classic” ended the show.
Actors: Todd Nakagawa, Greg Watanabe, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Harold Byun, Pearl Wong, Earlene Somera
AARisings IV: Music & Comedy Showcase
Featured Performers
August 5, 1995
McKenna Theater, San Francisco State University
Notes from the Show:
The last of Nels Wong “AARisings” music/theater talent showcases. We actually performed 3 skits in this show: Famous Relatives, Dueling Drums, and a new skit: Milk Does a Body. This was Grant Imahara’s second and last produced skit for the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors and his second and last skit based on fart jokes.
Skit:
Milk Does a Body by Grant Imahara
Actors: Greg Watanabe, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Nicole Higashi
“Forget Tattoos and Body Piercing, Add an Epicanthic Fold”
Feature Show
September 14-16, 21-23 1995
Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, Berkeley
Notes from the Show:
Title Note:
At one point this show was called “The Slopes of San Francisco,” (Yato Yoshida’s idea) which was a play both on “Streets of San Francisco” TV show, the hilly scenery of the city, and the slur “Slopes.” There were some objections to this title, so we switched it to the title above (a Harold Byun idea). Interestingly enough, we later learned that Harold thought an epicanthic fold was double-eyelids. In fact, epicanthic folds are the traditional lidless Asian eyes. As it stands, the title of the show exhibited racial pride, but Harold’s original intention may have been more sardonic.
Director: Michael Torres
Note: We were invited to perform at the Julia Morgan Theater after its artistic director Bendrew Jong saw us perform in Wumpa Wumpa at SFSU. The rehearsal time (3 weeks) was one of the shortest periods we’ve ever had to put up a show. It has been stated that the 2nd weekend of this show was much more polished than the first. This show elicited a number of mixed responses and was generally considered a “dark” show. Michael Premsrirat, primarily a writer, made his 18mmw acting debut with this show. Though we call this a “new” show, there was in fact some controversy behind the scenes about the material. And ultimately it was decided to choose material for this production without regards to whether it was new material or previously produced. For this reason, “Blaine Asakawa’s Self-Defense Class” and “Reunion,” 2 previously done skits were remounted for this show.
Actors: Harold Byun, Linda Chuan, Nicole Higash, Isaac Ho, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Todd Nakagawa, Earlene Somera, Greg Watanabe, Diana Weng, Pearl Wong, Yato Yoshida
Writers: Harold Byun, Valiant Chow, Isaac Ho, Judy Hamaguchi, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Michael Premsrirat, Yato Yoshida
Skits:
Music, Please by Yato Yoshida
Note: This skit was revived for this show after being cut from “In Deep Shabu Shabu.”
Actors: Harold Byun, Greg Watanabe
Big Poo Poo by Premsrirat, Ho, Hornbuckle, Fujii, Yoshida, Chow, Judy Hamaguchi
Synopsis: Little Johnny has been in the bathroom a longtime and his concerned parents are trying to figure out if there’s a problem. Note: This was an experimental group-written (round-robin) skit that was created during the first summer of our existence (Summer 1994). Judy Hamaguchi, a non-Rough Edge Writer, non-18 Mighty Mountain Warrior, happened to be hanging around Asian American Theater when we were writing this so she was drafted into the grand experiment. The reaction to this skit was somewhat negative. The punchline cannot be repeated here. This made us consider that perhaps writing a skit round-robin isn’t the best way to approach skit-writing.
Actors: Yato Yoshida, Diana Weng, Linda Chuan,
Todd Nakagawa
Rapunzel by Isaac Ho
Actors: Greg Watanabe, Nicole Higashi
Reunion by Isaac Ho
Actors: Harold Byun, Isaac Ho, Linda Chuan, Earlene Somera, Todd Nakagawa
Parking by Michael Premsrirat
Actors: Diana Weng, Greg Watanabe
Sumo, A Love Story by Michael Premsrirat
Actors: Yato Yoshida, Harold Byun, Isaac Ho, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Todd Nakagawa, Pearl Wong, Nichael Premsrirat
M.A.B. by Harold Byun
Note: This skit was originally titled “The Discussion” and established a classic Harold Byun style skit: 2 or 3 people engaged in a heated argument.
Actors: Greg Watanabe, Michael Hornbuckle, Isaac Ho
Angel Island Game by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Michael Hornbuckle, Greg Watanabe, Yato Yoshida, Pearl Wong, Nicole Higashi, Todd Nakagawa, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Dr. Bruce & Associates Healthy Hard Body Clinic by Harold Byun
Note: This skit was popularly know as the “Chinese Women’s Swim Team” skit.
Actors: Harold Byun, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Greg Watanabe, Pearl Wong, Yato Yoshida, Earlene Somera
Fiance by Isaac Ho
Actors: Isaac Ho, Diana Weng
Persistence by Isaac Ho
Actors: Isaac Ho, Todd Nakagawa
Captain Insanity’s Playhouse by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Michael Premsrirat, Earlene Somera, Diana Weng, Yato Yoshida, Todd Nakagawa, Greg Watanabe, Isaac Ho, Nicole Higashi
White by Isaac Ho
Actors: Isaac Ho, Harold Byun
Charles Manson School of Dating by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle (1st Weekend)
Secret to Getting Dates by Michael Hornbuckle (2nd Weekend)
Actors: Harold Byun, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Nicole Higashi
Mimi Nagasaki: Oriental Porn Queen by Michael Premsrirat
Actors: Earlene Somera, Todd Nakagawa, Nicole Higashi, Linda Chuan, Isaac Ho, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
A John Woo Family Dinner by Valiant Chow
Note: Being our dependable “cult classic,” this skit ended the show.
Actors: Todd Nakagawa, Greg Watanabe, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Harold Byun, Pearl Wong, Linda Chuan
College Tour
November 4, 1995
Lyman Hall, Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Benefit: Asian American Women’s Alliance
Headline Performers
November 11, 1995
University of San Francisco
Asian Talent Show-Pinnacle Fantasy Productions
Specialty Act Contestants
November 18, 1995
Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco