Love! Valour! Compassion!, with All Asian-American Cast, Presented Sept. 14

By Andrew Gans
14 Sep 2009

Francis Jue
Francis Jue

The National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) presents a one-night-only benefit performance of Terrence McNally's Tony-winning Love! Valour! Compassion! — featuring an all Asian-American cast — Sept. 14 at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Alan Muraoka directs.

The evening begins with a 6 PM cocktail reception followed by the 7 PM performance. Joe Mantello, the original director of L! V! C!, and Stephen Bogardus, a member of the play's original cast, are honorary chairs for the NAATCO benefit.

The cast includes Satya Bhabha as Ramon, Joel de la Fuente as Gregory, Francis Jue as John/James, Orville Mendoza as Buzz, Andy Pang as Arthur, Ralph Peña as Perry and James Yaegashi as Bobby.

Avenue Q's Ann Harada will read the stage directions. Musical direction and accompaniment is by Joseph Thalken.

The performance is part of the National Asian American Theatre Company's 20th anniversary season of presenting classical and new works with casts featuring all Asian-American actors and actresses.

Love! Valour! Compassion!, according to press notes, is "Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play about eight gay friends who spend the three major holiday weekends (Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day) of one summer together at a summer vacation house in Dutchess County where they struggle with infidelity, flirtations, soul-searching, AIDS, truth-telling and skinny-dipping."

The Cherry Lane Theatre is located in Manhattan at 38 Commerce Street. Tickets are $125-$1,000 (tax-exempt to the full extent of the law) and are available by contacting NAATCO at (212) 244-0447 or online at www.naatco.org. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 4.