East West Players and the California Arts Council have announced the creation of a new arts education program. The new initiative, Partners in Education and Arts Collaboration (PEAC), has selected Brightwood School in the Alhambra School District as its first participating school.

Educators and artists at EWP along with faculty, administrators and parents at Brightwood School will actively engage seventh and eighth graders in developing an original, multi-ethnic theatrical work that will be performed by the students. The academic goals of the project include: improving class participation, upgrading proficiency in American English, raising levels of achievement in social studies. An overarching aim is to instill a sense of understanding and pride in each student of his or her own cultural heritage and those of other ethnicities. The cooperative theatrical work will be performed at EWP's David Henry Hwang Theatre in Little Tokyo.

EWP also announced the dates of its eighth Network Showcase. The free performances are Feb. 12 and 13 at 8 PM. Actors scheduled to appear are Esperanza Catubig, Vic Chao, Davis Choh, Mia Crowe, Ben Gonio, Joe Ho, Sachiko Hayashi, Rodney Jao, Connie Kim, Heeli Kim, CeeGee Le, Emil Lin, Emily Liu, Kristen Lui, A.R. Mateo, Derek Mateo, Ian Shen, Janet Song, Beverly Sotelo and Ho-Kwan Tse. Directors include Grace Chung, Alberto Isaac, Radmar Jao, Ming Lo, Dave Moore, Ian Shen, Gedde Watanabe and Ogte Zulueta.

East West Players is located at 120 N. Judge John Aliso St. in downtown L.A. For entertainment industry reservations call Ming Lo at (310) 442- 7667 or email to [email protected]

— By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent