National Asian Artists Project (NAAP) held their inaugural Gala entitled “The Corner of Chinatown and Broadway” on December 2nd at The Golden Unicorn in New York’s Chinatown in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song, and to honor Alvin Ing and Yuriko Kikuchi.
Susan Kikuchi, who accepted the award for her mother Yuriko Kikuchi and honoree Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Susan Kikuchi and Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Susan Kikuchi and her daughter Cassie Kivnick. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing, Ted Chapin and Yuka Takara. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing and Baayork Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing and Alan Ariano. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee and Alvin Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, the evening featured performances by honoree Alvin Ing, Broadway’s Jose Llana (The King and I) and Yuka Takara (A Chorus Line), the award-winning Theatre Club from P.S. 124, alumni and NAAP kids, the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus, and members from the original casts of the Broadway and 2002 revival productions of Flower Drum Song.
Ted Chapin, Richard Jay Alexander, Baayork Lee and David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Tony Award winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) was the Honorary Chairman of the evening with Viet Vo, a longtime NAAP member and the President of the NAAP Community Chorus, serving as emcee for the evening and Yan Li as Musical Director. Möet-Hennessy was the Official Sponsor of the Gala.
Baayork Lee, Nina Zoie Lam, Donn McKechnie, Lori Tan Chinn and Steven Eng. Photo by lia Chang
Baayork Lee and David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
NAAP co-founders Nina Zoie Lam, Baayork Lee and Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
NAAP co-founders Baayork Lee, Steven Eng and Nina Zoie Lam. Photo by Lia Chang
Steven Eng and Nina Zoie Lam. Photo by Lia Chang
Steven Eng and Nina Zoie Lam. Photo by Lia Chang
National Asian Artists Project (NAAP) is a community of artists, educators, administrators, community leaders, and professionals. It is a not-for-profit organization that recognizes the need to build bridges between the work of artists of Asian descent, and the many communities that the work can serve, from underserved primary school students to seasoned arts patrons.
Click here for Richie Ridge’s excellent coverage of the night’s festivities and exclusive interviews.
NAAP co-founders Nina Zoie Lam, Baayork Lee and Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Alvin Ing was one of the performers in Flower Drum Song. His work in the theatre, film and television industries pushed social and racial boundaries for the Asian American community. Since the 1970’s, he has advocated for increased Asian American representation in the arts, protested against Asian caricatures, stereotypes and practices such as yellow face, raising the consciousness of many.
Alvin Ing, Baayork Lee, David Henry Hwang and Yuka Takara. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Yuriko Kikuchi is an American Japanese pioneer of modern dance. She danced the lead role of ‘Mei Li’ in the original production of Flower Drum Song, and originated the iconic dance role of ‘Eliza’ in Jerome Robbins’ ballet, Small House of Uncle Thomas in the original company of The King and I. During WWII, she taught modern dance to children even as she was interned alongside other Japanese Americans in a relocation camp. In 1943, she moved to New York City and joined the Martha Graham Dance Company where she danced, choreographed, directed and taught for 50 years.
Lori Tan Chinn, Donna McKechnie, Adam Jacobs, Yuka Takara, Alvin Ing, Raymond J. Lee, Baayork Lee, Ali Ewoldt, Jose Llana and Karl Josef Co. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee, Pat Suzuki, Alvin Ing, Virginia Wing and Lori Tan Chinn. Photo by Lia Chang
Stage Door Records Releases Pat Suzuki: ‘The Complete Album Series’ and ‘Singles And Rarities 1958-1967’
Pat Suzuki, Lia Chang, Lainie Sakakura, Ted Chapin. Photo by Lia Chang
Lainie Sakakura, Alvin Ing and Susan Kikuchi, daughter of honoree, Yuriko. Photo by Lia Chang
Yuka Takara and Robert Longbottom. Photo by Lia Chang
Pat Suzuki and Lainie Sakakura. Photo by Lia Chang
Virginia Wing. Photo by Lia Chang
Nobuko Miyamoto, Takayo Fischer and Wai Ching Ho. Photo by Lia Chang
Robert Longbottom, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Jodi Long, David Henry Hwang and Lisa Yuen. Photo by Lia Chang
Rich Ceraulo and Yuka Takara. Photo by Lia Chang
Nobuko Miyamoto and Paula Chin. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn, Jose, Takayo Fischer and Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Lainie Sakakura and Susan Kikuchi. Photo by Lia Chang
Jose Llana and David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Jodi Long and Rich Ceraulo. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang and Ma-Anne Dionisio. Photo by Lia Chang
Lisa Yuen, Jodi Long, Miho Imoto, Lainie Sakakura, Rich Ceraulo, Robert Tatad, Sally Hong. Photo by Lia Chang
Elliott Masie and Cathy Masie. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee and Donna McKechnie. Photo by Lia Chang
Adam Jacobs, Ali Ewoldt and David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Adam Jacobs, Ali Ewoldt and Jose Llana. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Adam Jacobs. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing and Yuka Takara. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee and Richard Skipper. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee, Donna McKechnie and Lori Tan Chinn. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang with Linda and Jack Viertel. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee and Steven Cuevas. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang and Raymond J. Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang, Lori Tan Chinn and Raymond J. Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Arlan Huang and Lillian Ling. Photo by Lia Chang
Arlan Huang, Baayork Lee and Lillian Huang. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee and Larry Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Baayork Lee and Tisa Chang. Photo by Lia Chang
Brian Kim, Tisa Chang and Susan Kikuchi. Photo by Lia Chang
Karl Josef Co, Baayork Lee and Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Jodi Long and Elliott Masie. Photo by Lia Chang
Jose Llana, Ali Ewoldt, Adam Jacobs and Alan Ariano. Photo by Lia Chang
Karen Huie and Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Karl Josef Co, Elena Wang, Matthew Woolf and Nina Zoie Lam. Photo by Lia Chang
Raymond J. Lee and Jose Llana. Photo by Lia Chang
Larry Lee, Baayork Lee, June Jee, Arlan Huang and Lillian Ling. Photo by Lia Chang
Liliian Ling, Arlan Huang, Nobuko Miyamoto, Rocky Chin and May Chen. Photo by Lia Chang
Lillian Ling, David Henry Hwang and Nobuko Miyamoto. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn and Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn and Baayork Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn and Donna McKechnie. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn and Donna McKechnie. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn and Wai-Ching Ho. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn, Jose, Takayo Fischer and Alvin Ing. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn, Nina Zoie Lam and Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Nina Zoie Lam and Richard Jay Alexander. Photo by Lia Chang
Raymond J. Lee and Karl Josef Co. Photo by Lia Chang
Raymond J. Lee, Alan Ariano, Brian Kim. Photo by Lia Chang
Raymond J. Lee, Alan Ariano, Brian Kim and more. Photo by Lia Chang
Raymond J. Lee, Elliott Masie, Lainie Sakakura and Alan Ariano. Photo by Lia Chang
Richard Jay Alexander and Lori Tan Chinn. Photo by Lia Chang
Richard Jay Alexander, Baayork Lee and Richard Skipper. Photo by Lia Chang
Director Richard Jay Alexander, with NAAP co-founders Nina Zoie Lam, Baayork Lee and Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Richie Ridge and Baayork Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Richie Ridge and Pat Suzuki. Photo by Lia Chang
Richie Ridge, Baayork Lee and Richard Hillman. Photo by Lia Chang
Steven Cuevas, Alan Ariano and Viet Vo. Photo by Lia Chang
Steven Eng, Tisa Chang, Ted Chapin , Lori Tan Chinn and Nina Zoie Lam. Photo by Lia Chang
Susan Hum, David Henry Hwang and Pat Suzuki. Photo by Lia Chang
The company on the stage of The New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. Photo by Lia Chang
Ted Chapin, Baayork Lee, David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Ted Chapin, Baayork Lee, David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Yuka Takara, Alvin Ing and Sally Hong. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing, Yuka Takara, Virginia Wing and Jose Llana. Photo by Lia Chang
Donna McKechnie, Robert Longbottom, Susan Kikuchi, Lainie Sakakura and David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Award-winning Theatre Club from P.S. 124, alumni and NAAP kids. Photo by Lia Chang
Karen Huie, Jose Llana, Yuka Takara, Ali Ewoldt, Alvin Ing, Virginia Wing, Adam Jacobs. Photo by Lia Chang
Alvin Ing and Yuriko Kikuchi to be Honored at NAAP Gala 2018 Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of FLOWER DRUM SONG on December 2
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Lainie Sakakura and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lori Tan Chinn and Wai-Ching Ho. Photo by Lia Chang
Lori Tan Chinn and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Jose Llana, Lia Chang, Ali Ewoldt and Adam Jacobs. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lillian Ling, Arlan Huang and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lori Tan Chinn, Virginia Wing, David Henry Hwang and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films with Garth Kravits, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
Lia Chang Photography 