East West Players (EWP) opens its 47th anniversary season, themed Spirited Away, with the critically acclaimed dance theatre production Encounter. A dance theatre production that unearths various kinds of encounters: with the Divine, the Self, Love, and the military. Encounter explores imageries from history and from around the world—whether it is Native American history or indigenous peoples’ history globally, or a modern day occurrence in Iraq, Afghanistan or Rwanda.
The play is based on a story about an indigenous woman, Dopdi, inspired by Magsaysay award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi’s work and adapted for the stage by SM Raju and Aparna Sindhoor. Veteran Indian actor, Mohan Agashe says, “[Encounter] is a powerful piece. It is gorgeously staged. The dances are beautiful, and the impact of the show makes one think about it for a long time.”
EWP is the nation’s largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theatre of color in the country.n
Through October 7. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. David Henry Hwang Theater, Union Center for the Arts. 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles. Tickets: $26 – $36. (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org.