Three Filipino Tenors Emcee the East West Players 42nd Anniversary Visionary Awards

The Three Filipino Tenors. Lito Villareal, Randy Guiaya and Antoine Diel, will be the Masters of Ceremonies of the East West Players Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner on April 28th. The celebration is an award-winning event that salutes artists who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American community through theater, film and television. Proceeds from the evening will benefit East West Players educational and artistic programs.

Antoine Reynaldo Diel is thrilled to return to the East West Players stage and enjoy the celebration. Antoine earned a Master’s degree in Vocal Arts at USC. He recently originated the role of Lupus del Mar in Meryl Friedmans’  TUG OF WAR (Getty Villa) after representing EWP in New York as one of the 3 FILIPINO TENORS at the first National Asian American Theatre Festival. Credits: Romeo Rosales DOGEATERS (Kirk Douglas and SIPA/Playwright’s Arena), Horton the Elephant, Mayor Who and Wickersham Brother SEUSSICAL (Mainstreet Theatre), Bashful and Grumpy SNOW WHITE: AN ENCHANTING MUSICAL (Disneyland) Pirelli SWEENEY TODD and “Ninoy” Aquino in IMELDA: A New Musical (Garland Award Honorable Mention, EWP). Antoine is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Guild of Variety Artists. Antoine can currently be seen performing as George in the Greenway Court Theatre’s production of School House Rock.

Randy Guiaya has been an East Westie since 1995. His non-East West credits include: VISIONS (LATC), STEEL: JOHN HENRY AND THE SHAKER ([INSIDE] the Ford), BED, BOYS AND BEYOND (Hudson Theater), GODSPELL (Knightsbridge Theater) and of course the standard Asian tenor role of Lun Tha in THE KING AND I (never telling where). Randy has been invited to sing the National Anthem at Edison Field (1999) and at the Staples Center (2006). He graduated pelle suis dentis from USC, with a dual-degree in Music and something non-entertainment related.

Lito Villareal was born hearing impaired but in 1979 God healed him completely. He is the composer of two of the Philippines’ biggest musical hits: 2001 Aliw Awards winner for Best Musical Little Mermaid and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As an actor Lito has performed in Les Miserables, Passion, Joseph the Dreamer, Chang and Eng, Godspell, The Wiz The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and most recently Sweeney Todd. In 2002 Lito won the Grand Prize for the International Urban Song of the Year Award at the Gospel Music Association’s Seminar in the Rockies. After receiving a personal invitation from Grammy award winning songwriter/producers David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager, Lito decided to make the big move from the Philippines to the United States. The doors are beginning to open for him, and as Carol Bayer Sager said to Lito, “This is YOUR time to push forward on your DREAM!”…and he is doing just that!

East West Players 42nd Anniversary celebrates the “Home” that many Asian Pacific Americans in the entertainment industry have found at East West Players. For 42 years, East West Players has been a place for the Asian Pacific American voice to thrive.

This year’s honorees include celebrated playwright VELINA HASU HOUSTON and television personality CARRIE ANN INABA (ABC’s Dancing with the Stars).

Remember to mark your calendar for great food and the most exuberant crowd you are likely to encounter at any other event!

For more information please call (213) 625-7000.

DATE: April 28, 2008
TIME:
5:30 VIP Reception
6:00 No Host Cocktails and Silent Auction
7:00 Dinner & Awards Show(with a sneak peak of East West Players’upcoming musical production of PIPPIN)
LOCATION: Universal City Hilton

Single Tickets and Sponsorship Forms available now!
Click here to download.

We are seeking outgoing, dedicated volunteers to staff the 42nd Anniversary Visionary Awards. Assignments include silent auction, dinner usher, VIP escort, registration, and set-up. Dress code is black tie optional and dinner will be provided. The evening promises to be filled with great energy.

For more information, contact email info@eastwestplayers.org or (213) 625-7000.

By: Peter Kuo
File Photos from East West Players

East West Players
120 N. Judge John Aiso St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone (213) 625-7000
Fax (213) 625-7111
www.eastwestplayers.org
“The Nation’s Premiere Asian American Theatre”

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