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D I V A D CATS TURNS t Chinese New Year Festival in Nevada City Fi2nding A0Need & Filling It r FEW GROUPS EXEMPLIFY THE INVENTIVE AND ment programs this year include the Nevada City visionary spirit of the region’s arts and culture scene Chinese New Year Festival on February 9, a trip to Chinese more than Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra, the San Francisco Opera for Madame Butterfly on A which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. June 15, three screenings during the summer of NewYear From modest beginnings, CATS has grown to Ancestors in the Americas: The History and Legacy of become one of the foothills’ most respected theatre Asians in the Americas, and a cooking class on “Art is and arts and culture groups, thanks to dedication, Southeast Asian cuisine later in the summer. Festival talent and creativity. Two years ago, CATS launched the Xiao Mao literacy of “Finding a need a filling it” has become a motto (Little CATS) Culture Club, which shares the Asian A Chinese for CATS, which has helped bring cultural diver- culture with children of Nevada County through the heart! Lunar New Year sity to Nevada County and beyond, says Executive workshops, Mandarin lessons and summer camps. Elliot Eisner Festival in Director Jeannie Wood. “CATS is pleased to have programs that are serving After some early joint productions at the Studio Nevada City is its community well,” Jeannie explains. Theatre (now the site of the Gold Miners Inn– This year CATS also is sponsoring a trip to Thai- held February 9 Holiday Inn Express & Suites), CATS ventured out land, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to extend the to welcome on its own in 1994 and made the Nevada Theatre cultural experience from Miss Saigon. It is 19 days, the Year of in Nevada City its home. and the tour is designed by Overseas Adventure the Horse. “They put all their efforts into one major show a Travel. Travel dates are October 27 to November 14, year, stretching their resources, and often times A parade begins 2014. “From the grandeur of Angkor Wat’s temples reaching beyond what they thought was possible,” to the simplicity of life along the Mekong River, it’s at noon from Jeannie recalls. an Asian adventure like no other,” says CATS. the Chinese Some memorable productions included The Joy Monument on Luck Club (2001), Snow Falling on Cedars (2010) and The community has embraced CATS, Commercial The King and I (2011), Lowell Robertson, a lifelong Street to theater patron, remembers. Last year, Journey to the and it has won dozens of theatrical Robinson Plaza West won five Elly Awards, including best overall awards, most recently sweeping the production for a comedy, the Sacramento Regional for entertain- Theatre Alliance announced. Elly awards with Journey to the West. ment and festi- Named for Eleanor McClatchy, a devoted patron vities, including G of the arts and former publisher of the Sacramento N Chinese Lion O Bee, the Elly Awards celebrate excellence in Sacra- W

D Dancers from mento’s regional community theater. CATS produc- I V A

Eastern Ways tions routinely win “Ellys.” “The CATS theater D Martial Arts of experience keeps getting better,” says Lowell. CATS 20th anniversary production is the Tony Sacramento. award-winning musical Miss Saigon (below). Along with Miss Saigon, CATS’ cultural enrich- MissSaigon Broadway in the Foothills Journey to the West FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE TONY-AWARD WINNING It is based on Giacomo Puccini’s classic opera, Madame But- musical Miss Saigon is coming to the Sierra Foothills this spring. terfly. In the turmoil of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, an Miss Saigon is being presented from April 10-May 10 at American soldier and Vietnamese girl fall in love, only to be the historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City. “CATS is separated by the fall of Saigon. excited about bringing this musical to the foothills” for the Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years group’s 20th anniversary production, says Executive Director end in tragedy for her and a fighting chance for a child he Jeannie Wood. never knew was his. Miss Saigon is from the creators of Les Misérables with music CATS production of Miss Saigon is directed by Susan Mason, by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil and lyrics by with musical direction by Susan and Jeffrey Mason. The cast Boubil and Richard Maltby Jr. The musical premiered on Broad- includes local, regional and Bay Area talent. way in 1991 and has played in many other cities. For tickets and information on events, visit CatsWeb.org.

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