The world premiere benefit performance of East West Players’ 2024-25 Theatre for Youth touring production of “Patsy” by Alison Minami, directed by John Miyasaki, is set for Sunday, Sept. 8, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the David Henry Hwang Theater, Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St. in Little Tokyo.
The play is about Rep. Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaii (1927-2002), the first woman of color to serve in Congress. A member of the House of Representatives from 1965 to 1977 and 1990 to 2002, she was one of the authors and sponsors of the Title IX law, which stated that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Kailani is an 18-year-old senior and star athlete at Maui High School. While anxiously waiting to find out if she’s been accepted into her dream school, Patsy Mink, former valedictorian of Maui High school, appears before her. As Patsy walks Kailani through the many trials and tribulations she faced throughout her political career and life, Kailani realizes that no matter how many setbacks she encounters, she can succeed as long as she perseveres.
The cast: Pauline Yasuda (Patsy Mink); William R. Bremer (John Mink, Principal, Partner Lawyer, Citizen); Kimie Fujioka (Kailani, Gwen, Martha, Citizen)
This fundraiser in support of EWP’s Arts Education programs for youth – Theatre for Youth and Partners in Education & Arts Collaboration – will include a post-show conversation between playwright Minami and Dr. Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, UC Irvine professor and author of “Fierce and Fearless,” a biography of Mink; and a dessert and drinks reception in the courtyard. Long-time EWP artist Clyde Kusatsu will emcee the event.
Minami, a playwright, actress, and educator based in Los Angeles, holds an MFA in creative writing and writing for the performing arts from UC Riverside and a master’s in secondary English education. She is a former student of EWP’s David Henry Hwang Writer’s Institute. Her plays include “Face to the Sun,” “This Is a Banana,” “Sinkhole,” “Shizzy’s Story,” “Urban Scholars Academy” and “Dear Baby X.” Her acting credits include the TV series “Adjunct” and “Tiny Laughs.”
Kusatsu, a prolific character actor with more than 300 film and TV credits, launched his acting career with EWP in 1970 after graduating from Northwestern University. An advocate for union and labor issues, he is secretary of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, having previously served as a four-term president of the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local and national vice president for Los Angeles from 2013 to 2020.
Kusatsu’s film credits include “Midway,” “Black Sunday,” “The Challenge,” “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story,” “Paradise Road,” “The Interpreter” and “Shopgirl.” His early TV work included “M*A*S*H,” “Kung Fu,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Black Sheep Squadron,” “Farewell to Manzanar,” “Hawaii Five-0” and “Dr. Strange.” His recent appearances include “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Blue Eye Samurai,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Hit Monkey,” “Never Have I Ever,” “Dirty John” and “Designated Survivor.”
Tickets are $100 each ($85 tax-deductible). For reservations, go to: eastwestplayers.org/patsy-premiere