Photo Shoot – Good Boys

We’re starting to create the graphic identity for our upcoming production of Good Boys by Jane Martin, and we held a photo shoot of some of the actors at Hoover High School’s football stadium.

Actors Mike Sears and Robert Barry Fleming with Photographer Nick Abadilla

 Actors Mike Sears, Robert Barry Fleming, and Sacha Allen braved the cold weather last night.

Mike Sears and Robert Barry Fleming

Stay tuned for the final product….

in the U-T

This was in today’s San Diego Union-Tribube:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/25/1a25news182535-arts-news/?uniontrib

Join the party at the Mo’olelo ‘Birthday Bash’

 

Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a play-and-reception “Birthday Bash” during the run of the Old Globe Theatre’s “Since Africa.”

The Feb. 14 fundraising event begins with a matinee performance of Mia McCullough’s play, and continues with a catered reception in the Globe’s Balboa Park rehearsal halls.

Seema Sueko, Mo’olelo’s artistic director, is making her Globe directing debut with “Since Africa,” which opens Thursday and follows the story of a Sudanese “lost boy” refugee. Her own company has become known for its focus on social issues and its mission to pay Actors Equity union wages to cast members.

Mo’olelo’s next production is Jane Martin’s “Good Boys,” a meditation on school violence. Its begins its run May 21 as part of the company’s residency at La Jolla Playhouse.

Tickets for the birthday event at the Globe are $100 and $150. Information: (619) 342-7395 or moolelo.net.

– JAMES HEBERT

congratulations to jason

Lighting Designer Jason Bieber received a Patte Award for Theatre Excellence tonight for his design in Mo`olelo’s production of Night Sky. Congratulations to Jason!

Jason with Night Sky Director Siobhan Sullivan

since africa at the old globe

Announcing Birthday Bash

For Immediate Release

Press Contact: Seema Sueko, 619-342-7395

 

 

MO`OLELO TURNS FIVE

 

Birthday Bash Celebration with Since Africa at The Old Globe

Saturday, February 14, 2009, 2 PM

 

January 14, 2009 – San Diego, CA – Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company, San Diego’s socially-conscious community-focused Equity theater company, celebrates its fifth anniversary with a Birthday Bash fundraiser on February 14, 2009. The event will include the 2 PM performance of Since Africa by Mia McCullough at The Old Globe, followed by an exclusive reception in The Old Globe rehearsal halls.

 

Originally produced in San Diego by Mo`olelo and directed by Mo`olelo’s Artistic Director, Seema Sueko, Since Africa tells the story of a Lost Boy of Sudan refugee and his resettlement into life in urban America. The leadership of The Old Globe saw Mo`olelo’s award-winning production in 2006, and asked Sueko to direct the play as part of The Old Globe’s 2008-2009 Winter Season. “It’s a nice feather-in-our-cap that The Old Globe elected to produce this play after seeing our production, and we are thrilled to see Seema make her Old Globe directorial debut,” said Mo`olelo’s Board President, Clifford D. Sweet, III. “What a wonderful way to celebrate our fifth birthday,” he continued.

 

Mo`olelo’s Birthday Bash starts at 2 PM with the matinee performance of Since Africa at The Old Globe’s Copley Arena Stage. The exclusive post-show reception, catered by Viva Pasta, will take place in The Old Globe rehearsal halls and will include raffle prizes donated by the Westgate Hotel, Ivy Hotel, Bali Hai, Jake’s Del Mar, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Hornblower Cruises & Events, Barona Valley Resort & Casino, and more. Tickets to the Mo`olelo Birthday Bash are $100 and $150 and are available at www.moolelo.net or 619-342-7395.

 

Event Details

What:                           Mo`olelo Birthday Bash

When:                          Saturday, February 14, 2009, 2:00 PM

Where:                        The Old Globe Copley Arena Stage & Rehearsal Halls

Cost:                            $100 – $150

Info & Resrvations:     619-342-7395 and www.moolelo.net

 

———————————————————————————————

About Mo`olelo:

Mo`olelo means story in Hawaiian. Selected as the inaugural Resident Theatre Company at La Jolla Playhouse, Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company is a socially-conscious theater organization dedicated to broadening the scope of San Diego’s cultural environment by telling powerful stories that are as diverse as the islands of Hawaii while paying Equity wages to local actors and developing environmentally-friendly theater practices. A recipient of the Patté, McDonald Playwriting and the Anti-Discrimination Awards, its mission is to create new works based on research within various communities, produce lesser-known works by master and contemporary playwrights, and to educate youth.

To learn more, visit www.moolelo.net or call 619-342-7395.

 

-more-

 

Birthday Bash, page 2

 

Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company

Five Year Production History

 

¨       2004 – remains by Seema Sueko

·          Original play about Israeli-Palestinian conflict

·          Anti-Discrimination Committee’s Artistic & Cultural Achievement Award; KPBS Patte’s McDonald Award for Playwriting.

·          Productions & readings in Chicago, San Francisco & Minnesota

·          Taught at University of Puget Sound Theater Classes

 

¨       2005 – A Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro

·          A play a bout the American women who served in the Vietnam War

·          Unique partnership with Veterans Museum and Memorial Center

·          Launched Mo`olelo’s innovative Three Part Arts Education Outreach Program

 

¨       2006 – Since Africa by Mia McCullough

·          A play about Lost Boy of Sudan’s resettlement in urban America

·          Sold out before opening

·          MY HOME Literacy-through-Theatre After School Program in partnership with International Rescue Committee

·          KPBS Patté Award for Theater Excellence: Outstanding Ensemble

·          Selected for 2008-2009 season at The Old Globe

 

¨       2007 – The Adoption Project: Triad by Kimber Lee

·          An original play, commissioned by Mo`olelo about the complexity of the adoption experience told from multiple perspectives

·          Community Art Installation Project

 

¨       2007 – Cowboy Versus Samurai by Michael Golamco

·          Contemporary, Asian American re-telling of Cyrano de Bergerac

·          Partnership with Asian Business Association

·          Patté Award for Lighting Design

·          San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for Sound Design

 

¨       2008 – Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons

·          A play about art, race, representation & the media inspired by The Barnes Foundation

·          Partners: Young Audiences, San Diego Museum of Art

 

¨       2008 – Night Sky by Susan Yankowitz

·          A play about traumatic brain injury and aphasia

·          Partnerships with San Diego Brain Injury Foundation, Sharp HealthCare Rehabilitation Services / ThinkFirst program, Disability Awareness Network, National Aphasia Association

·          Inaugural play in residence at La Jolla Playhouse

 

# # #

Happy New Year from Mo`olelo’s Board President

Dear Friends,

 

Mahalo to all of you for making 2008 such a successful year for Mo`olelo. I am pleased to report that thanks to so many of your year-end contributions, Mo`olelo ended another year in the black! A rarity among nonprofit theater organizations, Mo`olelo has never sustained a deficit since our founding, though we continue to pay Equity wages, health insurance and pension to local San Diego actors. As stewards of the Company, the Board of Trustees wishes to assure you that every dollar contributed to Mo`olelo is applied responsibly and efficiently to fulfill our mission and serve our community with integrity.

 

We have a wonderful year planned for 2009. First up, we’ll be celebrating our fifth birthday at The Old Globe’s production of Since Africa, directed by Mo`olelo’s Artistic Director, Seema Sueko! Many of you may recall that we produced this show to sold out houses in 2006. It’s a nice feather-in-our-cap that The Old Globe decided to include this play in its 2008-2009 winter season after seeing our production. This has offered us a wonderful way to celebrate our birthday! We hope you can join us for the festivities. All the details are here. And if you can’t join us on February 14, please go see the production on another day to support The Old Globe’s decision to produce this play and hire a local director.

 

I’d also like to update you on some new faces on Mo`olelo’s Board of Trustees and Advisory Board. We are honored to welcome San Diego County Superior Court Judge Desiree A. Bruce-Lyle to the Board. And we are privileged that Robert deRose, President of The deRose Foundation and Chairman of the Board of the National Lending Associates, Inc., has joined our Advisory Board. You can see the entire Board and Advisory Board rosters on our website, www.moolelo.net, click on “About Us” then “People.”

 

Again thank you for your continued participation with Mo`olelo. Wishing you and yours a peaceful and prosperous 2009.

 

Sincerely,

 

Clifford D. Sweet, III

President, Board of Trustees