Yellow Fever at Centerstage

 

Centerstage opens the noir detective thriller Yellow Fever by Rick Shiomi Friday, May 20. This one is set right here in our beloved Pacific Northwest, and told through the lens of the Japanese and Chinese immigrant communities in the 1970s. From the press release: “The shadows of the internment camps linger over a vibrant community as it fights to establish itself just a few decades after losing so much. In the midst of it all is detective Sam Shikaze, a nisei private eye...and he’s got a story to tell.

 

“The show brings exciting new talent to Centerstage, along with a few familiar faces. Tim Takechi, last seen in our livestreamed 2020 venture Theatre Magic, portrays our iconic private eye, Sam Shikaze, who’s every bit as hardboiled and cynical as a good noir detective should be. Takechi has been recognized for his work all around the Puget Sound area, and was recently seen in Lakewood Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol …. His easy style and comedic timing are an ideal match for our hero. Portraying Rosie, a café owner and mother-like figure to Sam, is Aya Hashiguchi, well known in the South Sound as one of the co-founders and owners of Dukesbay Productions, which provides a space for small theatres to produce their shows. Dukesbay also mounts their own shows throughout the year, including their recent God Said This, which also featured the multitalented Hashiguchi onstage. She is also an active member of the Centerstage Advisory Board. Annamaria Guerzon, last seen as both an actor and playwright in Centerstage’s afternoons of New Works, First Impressions, appears as the determined young reporter Nancy Wing. Guerzon is a bright young talent at the very start of her career, and she is one to watch. Van Lang Pham plays Chuck Chan, a lawyer and friend of Sam. His resume includes the critically acclaimed Washer/Dryer at SIS Productions and Pratidhwani in 2019. Minki Bai portrays Captain Kadota, a member of the police force torn between his loyalties to his community and his brothers on the force. Bai has appeared with Jet City Improv productions in Seattle, as well as other local theatres. Graham Arthur Blair is Sargent MacKenzie, a member of the local police who has it in for Sam and doesn’t make a secret of it. Kadota’s supervisor, Superintendent Jameson, is played by Danny Lacker, a local performer who has performed with multiple Puget Sound Theatres, (and made it to Hollywood on American Idol when he was in High School!). Travis Martinez plays the mysterious Goldberg, a man deeply interested in Japanese culture, who seeks to ingratiate himself with the locals in the International District. Finally, Keith Ordonez, recently of First Impressions, is our swing for the show.

 

Yellow Fever is directed by Mimi Katano. Katano is the Executive Artistic Director of Youth Theatre Northwest, with a long list of directing credits to her name and many theatre professionals who consider her their primary mentor.

 

During the many years I was The News Tribune and Weekly Volcano theater critic I often reviewed shows at Centerstage. Their shows were always excellent. For people in Olympia and Tacoma it might be a little off the beaten path, but it is well worth the drive.

 

RUN DATES: May 20^th through June 12^th 

TIMES: Fridays – 7:30 pm;

Saturdays –7:30 pm;

Sundays – 2:00 pm

 

 

TICKET PRICES:

$32 for adults; $28 for seniors/military; $15 for ages 18 – 23;

$12 ages 17 & under. Per ticket Facility Use Fees apply.

Tickets available online at www.CenterstageTheatre.com

or by phone: (253) 661-1444

LOCATION:  Knutzen Family Theatre, 3200 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA