"Asian Americans on Broadway" was a one of the unexpected delights of the season. Offering much more than just a medley from "Flower Drum Song" and "Miss Saigon", these five gifted performers took us through 90 minutes of wonderful songs from a variety of Broadway shows, as well as offering their unique perspective of being Asian American Broadway babies in a medium dominated by stereotypical American musical leads (e.g., Harold Hill or Nellie Forbush). Imagine a "West Side Story" where the Puerto Ricans are replaced by Asians. They've been there. Or a Broadway where shear talent outweighs ethnic-specificity. They've been there, too. "Asian Americans on Broadway" includes the phrase "Opening Doors" in its full title. It could just as easily say "Breaking Down Barriers". Not as marketable, perhaps, but an apt description for the end effect of this utterly charming show.

Paul Beutel
Artistic Director
Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston, Texas

A note from Paul Osaki, Executive Director of the
Japanese Cultural Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC)

Hi Everyone,

Words cannot express how much you guys rocked out here!  People are still so blown away by the show, I can hardly go anywhere without someone pulling me aside to tell me how much they enjoyed each and every performance.  People have been dropping by the Center for the past 2 days just too talk about it.  I don't know if you really know, how important the work that you do, really is to people and how in big and small ways you touch and impact our lives.

I got a call from a single mother of a 13 year old girl, who saw the show on Saturday, she said that her daughter had no idea what she was being dragged too, she talked about how her daughter started crying during the show and that she didn't stop until it was over.  On the way home, it was silent until she asked her daughter, if she was ok and enjoyed the show.  Her daughter said in tears that she finally understood what being Asian was all about and that for the first time in her life, she knew what it meant to be proud of her Asian heritage.

Another lady dropped by to say, that 2 months ago she lost her husband after 52 years and that this was the first time that she has gone out to an event without him.  She said that the show was so good that she forgot to be sad and that it was just the thing that she needed to go on with her life.

Powerful statements, from an incredible show about your lives, about our lives and about all our hopes and dreams.

I think for a lot of the audience seeing Asians singing and acting on stage, helped redefine even their own stereotypes of what our possibilities really are.  It was such a pleasure to be part of it and to have worked with all of you.

You guys were so great and worked so, so hard out here, just watching you rehearse got me tired. I wish that you had more time to relax and enjoy the city.  My staff who usually can't wait for one of my events to be over, actually miss you guys and are sad that the whole thing is over.

Thanks again for all the love and songs that you filled our community with.  Please know that you are part of a great big family out here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It will be a weekend long remembered.  I hope that you realize the incredible gift that they gave us and left with us here.

I hope that I have the privilege to work with you again.

Most Sincerely and Truly Yours,

Paul