WEST VALLEY LIGHT OPERA PRESENTS Our 40th Season:2004-2005 Performing at the SARATOGA CMC THEATER 13777 FRUITVALE AVE. in SARATOGA June-July 2005 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Welcome to the third and final production of WVLOA's 40th season, "Plower Drum Song". We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful "East- meets-West" romance set to a memorable Rodgers and Hammerstein score. You're Invited! Whether you are already one of our 1500+ subscribers or here in the Saratoga Civic Theater for the very first time, we invite you to join us this coming November for West Valley Light Opera's 41st season. It will open with "Oliver", the musical based on Charles Dicken's novel, "Oliver Twist", "Once Upon a Mattress", the musical comedy based on "The Princess and the Pea" (which made a star of Carol Burnett) and "Marne", the musical version of "Auntie Marne" written by Jerry Herman. Look at Our Centerfold! Included in this prograrn is a special blue insert which we invite you to use to subscribe to WVLOA's 41st season. Subscribe NOW to ensure good seats and substantial saving over the cost of individual tickets. Current subscribers may also use this form to renew for next season. All subscriptions and individual ticket orders will be processed according to the date on which they are received, but actual tickets will not be mailed until after this season's last production has concluded in August. Let me close by stating that you, the audience members who share your support and enthusiasm for WVLO's endeavors, make it a truly gratifying experience for all of us involved, both on the stage and behind the scenes. And we extend our special gratitude to those subscribers who have donated additional funds to ensure the excellent quality of sets and costumes that we strive to bring to this stage. We hope that you have a marvelous time at this musical and that you will join us for our future productions. Edward Hand, President West Valley Light Opera Association WEST VALLEY LIGHT OPERA ANNOUNCES NEXT SEASON: 2005-2006 We invite you to become a subscriber to WVLO's New Season. Please use the insert in this program! Subscribe NOW to assure good seats and substantial savings! Current subscribers may use this form to renew for next season. _ 'West Va[feg Light Opera ~Ss&latICf\.~ Presents Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by ~=m'w'inII ~~ 1~.SOWG Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joseph Fields Featuring Josie Bodle, Jennifer E. Cuevas, Edmond Kwong, Daniel K. Lai, Roy Shimada and Irene Trapp Director: Jeff M. Hicks Music Director: Dan Singletary Vocal Director: Diane "Mom" Reynolds Choreographer: Nancy Kwong Producers: Edward Hand and Nancy Kwong • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Gala Opening: Saturday, June 25 8:00 PM • • Fridays: July 1, 8, 15,22,29 8:00 PM • • Saturdays: July 9, 16,23,30 8:00 PM • • Saturday Matinee: July 2 2:30 PM • • • • Sunday Matinees: June 26, July 10,17,24 2:30 PM • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • "Flower Drum Song" is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatre Library, 1065 Avenue of the Americas, Ste. 2400, New York, NY 10018. Visit our web site: www.wvlo.org e-mail: [email protected] 24-Hour Voice Mail: (408) 268-3777 A Note From Our Director, Jeff M. Hicks jheo V$~ Now - ")t} V$~ New - ~Otloq V$~ -eMer All of these themes are at the very heart of "Flower Drum Song" and are the themes, which make it a beloved, yet controversial piece of American history. Written in the late 1950's during a time when rock and roll and the beatnik eras were emerging to give the younger generation a voice, "Flower Drum Song" is as much a comment on Chinese-American culture (seen through the rose-colored glasses of the 'other' generation), as it is about the perpetual universal conflict of the generational gap; understanding an age which you no longer are or have not yet achieved. But when it debuted, most viewed "Flower Drum Song" as a reflection of what American Chinese culture must be like, rather than about the age divide, which helped to create its place in American history. After the show's debut, Asian-Americans of the 50's praised Rodgers and Ham- rnerstein as well as director, Gene Kelly, for bringing the first mostly-Asian cast to the Broadway stage. In 1961, this attitude was solidified when Universal Pictures made history with the motion picture version, which holds the distinction of being the first studio picture with an Asian cast. As the Academy-Award-nominated star of the film, Nancy Kwan (Linda Low) said in Asian Week, " .. .1 think [the show] is very uplifting and very positive. It showed Asians in a positive light, and ... at that time, it introduced Asians to Americans-that we are part of America and we have progressed, and we are part of the American culture." While the "older" generation sang its praises, the younger counter-culture gen- eration of the 60's and 70's despised "Flower Drum Song's" portrayal of innocent stereotypes of Asian-Americans and quickly became the example of what political, social and cultural correctness did not exist in American culture. Today the original "Flower Drum Song", after a recent ill-received and rewritten revival, is not looked at through the eyes of historical perspective. A period piece. And so it continues to make an impact, as a comment on how life was in the 50's, how the generational conflict continues in all cultures and on preserving family traditions in a race to be more "American." The values contained in the storyline and the parallel impact that this musical has made on American culture and history, remind us that "Flower Drum Song" remains a story for the generations. 2 CAST OF CHARACTERS (in alphabetical order) Madam Liang Irene Trapp Liu Ma Angeline Navarro Wang San Paul DiLoreto Wang Ta Daniel K. Lai Wang Chi Yang Roy Shimada Sammy Fong Edmond Kwong Dr. Li Don Masuda Mei Li Jennifer E. Cuevas Linda Low Josie Bodle Mr. Lung (The Tailor) R.]. Castenada Mr. Huan (The Banker) George Fernandez Helen Chao Melissa Tom Professor Cheng George Fernandez Frankie Wing David Hsiao Head Waiter David M. Baugher Night Club Singer Miriam Ruth Madam Fong Jae Landers George Chone David M. Baugher Ensemble: David M. Baugher, Lyn Candeias, R.J. Castaneda, Angeline Navarro, Teresa Visini Children's Ensemble: ..... Corey Linh Baugher, Megan Colopy, Carolyn DiLoreto, Jensen Hsiao, Thanh-Nguyen Nguyen Understudy for Linda Low Miriam Ruth (Miss Ruth will appear in this role on July 29 and 30.) ORCHESTRA Conductor: Dan Singletary Piano Diane "Mom" Reynolds Bass Scott Brown Percussion Dori Shimer Flute Nina Webber, Jonathan Dufour, Jenny Anderson Oboe Marty McHan Clarinet Katie Coyle, Pauline Samson, Kristina Finnegan Bass Clarinet Owen Hakes Trum pet Dax Bamberger, Jeff Kohler, Mike Rose, Greg Goebel Horn David Dufour, Fleurette Sevin, Joe Kelly Trombone Henry Yang, Patrick Wu Violin Emily Hsueh, Lynell Miller, Miho Nishi, Virginia O'Reilly, Faye Yang Viola Kathleen Harley Cello Lynda Bloomquist, Pam Robinson Not all instrumentalists will play for each performance. 3 SYNOPSIS OF SCENES AND MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I San Francisco's Chinatown - June, 1959 Overture Orchestra Scene 1. The living room of Master Wang Chi Yang, early afternoon "You Are Beautiful" Wang Ta & Madam Liang ''A Hundred Million Miracles" Mei Li, Dr. Li, Master Wang, Madam Liang and Liu Ma ~ Scene 2. A hill overlooking San Francisco Bay, later that afternoon "I Enjoy Being A Girl" Linda Low Scene 3. The Wang living room, the next morning "I Am Going To Like It Here" Mei Li Scene 4. The Wang living room, that afternoon "Like A God" Wang Ta Scene 5. The garden of the Wang house, immediately following "Chop Suey" Madam Liang & Guests "Don't Marry Me" Sammy Fong & Mei Li "Grant Avenue" Linda Low & Guests Scene 6. Linda's dressing room, that night "Love, Look Away' Helen Chao Scene 7. The Celestial Bar, later that night "Fan Tan Fanny" Night Club Singer & Celestial Showgirls "Gliding Through My Memory" Frankie Wing & Showgirls Intermission ACTn Entr' acte Orchestra Scene 1. Helen Chao's room, late that night Ta's Dream (Ballet) Want Ta, Mei Li, Linda Low & Helen Chao Reprise: "Love, Look AwaY' Helen Chao Scene 2. The Wang living room, the next morning "The Other Generation" Madam Liang & Master Wang Reprise: "You Are Beautiful" Wang Ta Scene 3. Sammy Fong's penthouse apartment, the next evening "Sunday' Linda Low and Sammy Fong Scene 4. The Three Family Association, immediately following Reprise: "Don't Marry Me" Sammy Fong Reprise: "The Other Generation" Wang San & Kids Scene 5. Sammy Fong's penthouse apartment, the following week Scene 6. The Three Family Association, the next day Reprise: ''A Hundred Million Miracles" Ensemble 4 PRODUCTION STAFF Producers Edward Hand and Nancy Kwong Director JeffM. Hicks Music Director Dan Singletary Vocal Director Diane "Mom" Reynolds Choreographer Nancy Kwong Assistant Choreographer Teresa Visini Production Designer Stephen C. Wathen Technical Director Ed Hand Lighting Designer Michael Glenn Munoz Assistant/Programmer David Yoder Sound Designer Bob Nelson Production Stage Manager Bob Wallitner Assistant Stage Manager T.J. Logue Stage Crew Hayley Allison, Donna DiLoreto, John DiLoreto, Gail Hicks, Mike MacKenzie, Reynaldo Navarro, Liza Navarro and John Palmer Costumer Aggie DeLucchi Costume Construction Patti Evens, Dena Groot, Judy Nielsen, Cele & Judy Pincus Hair and Make-Up Melissa Tom Properties Kris Dudley Set Construction & Painting Les Dale, Ed Hand,