Past Performances: 1997
Hong Kong Fringe Festival ‘97
“YellowNation”
January 24-26, 1997
Nestle’s Dairy Farm Theater, Hong Kong
Channel A Launch Party
Featured Performers
February 20, 1997
Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
Late Night Comedy with the 18MMW
April 1, 8, 15 1997
Brava Center for the Arts, San Francisco
Comedy Group Summit
March 13, 1997
Venue 9, San Francisco
Asian Cultural Night
March 14, 1997
Sonoma State University
“It’s the 8:47pm Show!”
April 9-12, April 16-19, 1997
Noh Space, San Francisco
Show info:
Lights & Sound: Valiant Chow
Box Office: Victor Kao and Kimberly Kajihara
Skits:
The 4 Chinese Sisters by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
2 Whiny Asian Guys by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
A Chinese Everything by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Proper Copulation by Harold S. Byun
Roomies by Yato Yoshida
The Following is a Paid Announcement by Michael Premsrirat
Choices (Part 2) by Linda Chuan
We Love to Sing by Rhoda Gravador
Church by Michael Premsrirat
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Pete Wong, Linda Chuan, Rhoda Gravador, Yato Yoshida
World Cup 2002 by Harold Byun
Actors: Linda Chuan, Greg Watanabe, Harold Byun
The Wacky Chinatown Gang Member by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Pete Wong, Greg Watanabe, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Rhoda Gravador, Todd Nakagawa
Asian Pacific Cultural Night
April 23, 1997
University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Asian Pacific Festival
May 17, 1997
Berkeley
Multicultural Riot with Culture Clash
April 23-25, 1997
La Pena Cultural Gallery, Berkeley
Asian American Journalist Association Fundraiser
July 1, 1997
Punchline, Sacramento
“The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors Journey to the West”
July 12-14, 17-19, 1997
Knuth Hall, San Francisco State University
Show info:
Lights: Valiant Chow
Sound: Michael Premsrirat
Note: On this show we hired on 2 female actors, Maria Lin and veteran actor Mitzi Abe because most of our regular female ensemble performers were not available, because they were either doing other shows or out of the country. This show was not originally written as a “theme” show, but was reconstructed as one when it was noticed that we touched upon almost every single popular contemporary Asian American issue throughout our skits, from the “fresh kill” controversy in Chinatown to the beatings at Denny’s to Tiger Woods to the Rhonert Park killing of Kuan Chung Kao to the American fascination with the Dalai Lama. The framework structure was based on a skit of Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle’s in which the classic Monkey King characters were placed into a 3 Stooges plot. We thought this framework would be good because (1) it would capitalize on the buzz surrounding Berkeley Repertory Theater’s recent production of “Journey to the West,” and (2) the “Journey to the West” title was a great metaphor for the Asian diaspora to America and the Asian American experience. Of course, not everyone in the group was in agreement that this framework was a great idea. Also evident in this show was a heavy Culture Clash influence. After being exposed to more of their work and collaborating with them on the Multicultural Riot, many of the writers started tackling contemporary issues in their skits.
Skits:
Opening and Closing Framework by Greg Watanabe (inspired by a skit from Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle)
Actors: Greg Watanabe, Michael Chih Ming, Hornbuckle, Todd Nakagawa, Pete Wong, Mitzi Abe
The Evolution of Feminine Hygiene by Rhoda Gravador
Actors: Mitzi Abe, Rhoda Gravador, Pete Wong, Todd Nakagawa, Greg Watanabe
Asian American Academy Awards by Michael Premsrirat
Power Loungers by Harold S. Byun
Prince of Badminton by Harold S. Byun
Asian Etymology (Slideshow) by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Thank You! by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Maria Lin, Greg Watanabe, Yato Yoshida, Rhoda Gravador
Buddha’s Birthday by Rania Ho
Denny’s by Michael Premsrirat
Psalms of Romance by Harold S. Byun
Tamagochi by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Todd Nakagawa, Rhoda Gravador
Lapu Lapu eats Shabu Shabu in Bora Bora by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Actors: Michael Premsrirat, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Harold Byun, Rhoda Gravador
Rhonert Park Police (Slide Show) by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
Live Animals by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle
L.A. Riot Rebellion Rock Opera by Harold S. Byun
“Chunky Groovy Clay Pot, Squid Added”
July 25-26, 1997
Contemporary Asian Theater Scene, San Jose Stage, San Jose
Asian American Drug Abuse Program
August 2, 1997
Japan American Theater, Los Angeles
Noh Space Workshop Series
“Where No Man has Gone Before”
October 14, 1997
Theater of Yugen, San Francisco
Northern Coalition for Immigrant Rights
October 1997
Noh Space Workshop Series
“Michael/Anti-Michael”
November 11, 1997
Theater of Yugen, San Francisco
Coalition for Immigrant Rights 10 Anniversary Fundraiser
November 19, 1997
Spectrum Gallery, San Francisco
Noh Space Workshop Series
“18MMW Offbeat”
December 9, 1997
Theater of Yugen, San Francisco