They’re not just good at math and chemistry. They’re
not always in the library studying atomic physics, and no,
they’re not always playing the violin or video games. These
kinds of stereotypes identifying Asian Americans are what
UCLA’s Lapu, the Coyote that Cares Theatre Company looks to
debunk in hopes of increasing visibility in a place where the
troupe feels Asian Americans are rarely seen: on stage. The troupe
can be seen Tuesday and Wednesday on the stage of the Northwest
Campus Auditorium in its variety show “LCC Gone Wild,”
which will incorporate short scenes, improv and video. “I
joined the group because the first time I saw them perform was the
first time I saw Asian Americans performing on a stage,” said
Ray Lai, a UCLA sociology alumnus and LCC member. “Asians get
a bum rap in entertainment ““ they aren’t seen regularly
in music, TV or movies, and this group gives them a chance to
perform and break out of the mold.” Now in its eighth year,
LCC has made a tradition of performing dramas and comedies based on
pertinent issues to Asian Americans. Addressing issues such as the
relationship between first generation children and their parents to
tackling stereotypes of the “Korean grocer” and the
“martial arts man,” the performances aim to show a
different side of their abilities. “In every performance, we
try to tell the story of the Asian American,” said Jenni
Trang Le, a fifth-year anthropology student and staffer for the
production. “It’s about showing our problems and
concerns while also defining a new creative energy that people
didn’t think we possessed.” As opposed to other theater
groups that perform plays by Western playwrights like Shakespeare
or Tennessee Williams, members of LCC use the Asian American voice
by writing all of their own work. Most of the group’s shows
are comedic compilations of different scenes as well as musical,
video and improvisation scene-breakers, but there have been serious
performances and a few full-length plays. “Every performance
differs in content,” said Victoria Hoang, a fourth-year
business economics student and a staff member for the production.
“We have writers for the performance who can change the focus
of the performance and make it more serious or more comedic.”
In “LCC Gone Wild,” as in past shows, there will be an
abundance of variety in the program including a video about an
Asian singer titled “Asian American Idol” and a piece
“TV or not TV” dealing with the obsessions people have
with the lives of people on TV, instead of realizing they have
lives of their own. The pieces aim to sew together a new Asian
American identity and to incite audience members to walk out
feeling inspired, educated and of course entertained, according to
LCC members. The pieces are created not only to apply to Asian
Americans, but other ethnic groups that are misrepresented and
stereotyped. From the dramatic scenes about relationships to
comedies about a dragon fly lady and a fortuneteller, this
performance hopes to open the eyes of audience members and let them
realize that they can change the perceptions people have of them,
according to Le. “This show is a mélange of a little bit
of everything,” Lai said. “It’s an attempt for
the audience to get to know us, through musicals, comedies and
improv ““ it’s a little bit of ourselves.”
They’re not just good at math and chemistry. They’re
not always in the library studying atomic physics, and no,
they’re not always playing the violin or video games. These
kinds of stereotypes identifying Asian Americans are what
UCLA’s Lapu, the Coyote that Cares Theatre Company looks to
debunk in hopes of increasing visibility in a place where the
troupe feels Asian Americans are rarely seen: on stage. The troupe
can be seen Tuesday and Wednesday on the stage of the Northwest
Campus Auditorium in its variety show “LCC Gone Wild,”
which will incorporate short scenes, improv and video. “I
joined the group because the first time I saw them perform was the
first time I saw Asian Americans performing on a stage,” said
Ray Lai, a UCLA sociology alumnus and LCC member. “Asians get
a bum rap in entertainment ““ they aren’t seen regularly
in music, TV or movies, and this group gives them a chance to
perform and break out of the mold.” Now in its eighth year,
LCC has made a tradition of performing dramas and comedies based on
pertinent issues to Asian Americans. Addressing issues such as the
relationship between first generation children and their parents to
tackling stereotypes of the “Korean grocer” and the
“martial arts man,” the performances aim to show a
different side of their abilities. “In every performance, we
try to tell the story of the Asian American,” said Jenni
Trang Le, a fifth-year anthropology student and staffer for the
production. “It’s about showing our problems and
concerns while also defining a new creative energy that people
didn’t think we possessed.” As opposed to other theater
groups that perform plays by Western playwrights like Shakespeare
or Tennessee Williams, members of LCC use the Asian American voice
by writing all of their own work. Most of the group’s shows
are comedic compilations of different scenes as well as musical,
video and improvisation scene-breakers, but there have been serious
performances and a few full-length plays. “Every performance
differs in content,” said Victoria Hoang, a fourth-year
business economics student and a staff member for the production.
“We have writers for the performance who can change the focus
of the performance and make it more serious or more comedic.”
In “LCC Gone Wild,” as in past shows, there will be an
abundance of variety in the program including a video about an
Asian singer titled “Asian American Idol” and a piece
“TV or not TV” dealing with the obsessions people have
with the lives of people on TV, instead of realizing they have
lives of their own. The pieces aim to sew together a new Asian
American identity and to incite audience members to walk out
feeling inspired, educated and of course entertained, according to
LCC members. The pieces are created not only to apply to Asian
Americans, but other ethnic groups that are misrepresented and
stereotyped. From the dramatic scenes about relationships to
comedies about a dragon fly lady and a fortuneteller, this
performance hopes to open the eyes of audience members and let them
realize that they can change the perceptions people have of them,
according to Le. “This show is a mélange of a little bit
of everything,” Lai said. “It’s an attempt for
the audience to get to know us, through musicals, comedies and
improv ““ it’s a little bit of ourselves.”
THEATER: “LCC Gone Wild” will be at the
Northwest Campus Auditorium (by Sproul Hall) today and Wednesday at
8 p.m., doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Auditions to be
a cast member of LCC will be held this Thursday through Saturday.
For more info, visit www.lcctheatre.com or e-mail
lcc@ucla.edu.