Theatre Rice
Encyclopedia
Theatre Rice is an ASUC sponsored theater group that conducts dedicated shows on the University of California, Berkeley
campus regularly, performs externally throughout the San Francisco Bay area
, and tours throughout California
. Shows traditionally include improvisation
, sketch comedy
, drama
, film
s, live music
, adaptations, musicals, dances, and duologues
. Other forms of performance have been featured as well.
group at Berkeley, was started in the autumn of 1998. Since its conception, Theatre Rice has grown considerably, both artistically and physically. In the past several years, the group has begun to attract an increasingly larger audience and a greater membership. Theatre Rice has emerged from a relatively unknown group to a group whose performances have become an anticipated community event.
, write
, sing
, direct, dance
, and learn behind-the-stage
techniques. What sets Theatre Rice apart from other dramatic groups is its open and unintimidating environment, and the basic ethic that effort and commitment are more important than experience or innate talent. Because the group contains both seasoned and fledgling actors, there exists a healthy dynamic within which members can share their experiences and learn from each other.
The Asian American aspect of Theatre Rice is important because it is a step towards combating the misrepresentation, as well as the lack of representation, of the Asian American community in popular culture. By its mere existence, Theatre Rice is fulfilling its purpose of putting forth ideas that stem from the minds of Asian Americans, and therefore addressing the Asian American population as well as the greater community within Berkeley and beyond.
. The fall 2007 shows raised $1000 for AYPAL, the Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership. Proceeds from Spring 2007's shows donated $650 to YFAT (Youth For Asian Theatre) and another $650 to NAWHO (National Asian Women's Health Organization). In the 2010-2011 academic year, Theatre Rice donated funds to Theatre Rhinoceros
, a LGBT theatre group based in San Francisco, and the Japanese Red Cross in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
.
Spring 2011 Showcase - Don't Touch That!
Spring 2011 Midsemester Show - Instant Gratification!
Fall 2010 Showcase - Checkmate!
Fall 2010 Midsemester Show - Right Angle
Spring 2010 Showcase - Aged to Perfection
Spring 2010 Midsemester Show - Spacebar
Fall 2009 Showcase - Apocalypse: Later
Fall 2009 Midsemester Show - Local Warming
Spring 2009 Showcase - Lucky You
Spring 2009 Midsemester Show - Stimulus Package
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
campus regularly, performs externally throughout the San Francisco Bay area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, and tours throughout California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Shows traditionally include improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
, sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, live music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, adaptations, musicals, dances, and duologues
Duo Interpretation
Duo Interpretation, or often simply called Duo Interp, or just Duo, is an official speech event of the National Forensic League, the National Catholic Forensics League, National Christian Forensics and Communications Association, American Forensics Association, and the National Forensics Association...
. Other forms of performance have been featured as well.
History
Theatre Rice, the first modern Asian American theatreAsian American theatre
Asian American theater is theater written, directed or acted by Asian Americans.- Background :Asian American theater emerged in the 1960s and the 1970s with the foundation of four theatre companies: East West Players in Los Angeles, Asian American Theatre Workshop in San Francisco, Theatrical...
group at Berkeley, was started in the autumn of 1998. Since its conception, Theatre Rice has grown considerably, both artistically and physically. In the past several years, the group has begun to attract an increasingly larger audience and a greater membership. Theatre Rice has emerged from a relatively unknown group to a group whose performances have become an anticipated community event.
Mission
Theatre Rice was conceived to provide people (particularly, but not exclusively, Asian Americans) who might not otherwise have a chance to participate in theatrical arts the opportunity to actActing
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
, write
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
, sing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, direct, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, and learn behind-the-stage
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
techniques. What sets Theatre Rice apart from other dramatic groups is its open and unintimidating environment, and the basic ethic that effort and commitment are more important than experience or innate talent. Because the group contains both seasoned and fledgling actors, there exists a healthy dynamic within which members can share their experiences and learn from each other.
The Asian American aspect of Theatre Rice is important because it is a step towards combating the misrepresentation, as well as the lack of representation, of the Asian American community in popular culture. By its mere existence, Theatre Rice is fulfilling its purpose of putting forth ideas that stem from the minds of Asian Americans, and therefore addressing the Asian American population as well as the greater community within Berkeley and beyond.
Charity Work
A percentage of every show's profits goes to charity. In Fall 2008, the show raised money for Kearney Street Workshop. In Spring 2008, the shows raised $1500 for AATC, Asian American Theater CompanyAsian American Theater Company
Asian American Theater Company is a non-profit theatre performance company based in San Francisco.-Background:The Asian American Theater Company was established in 1973 by playwright Frank Chin to develop and present original works of theatre about Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent...
. The fall 2007 shows raised $1000 for AYPAL, the Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership. Proceeds from Spring 2007's shows donated $650 to YFAT (Youth For Asian Theatre) and another $650 to NAWHO (National Asian Women's Health Organization). In the 2010-2011 academic year, Theatre Rice donated funds to Theatre Rhinoceros
Theatre Rhinoceros
Theatre Rhinoceros or Theatre Rhino is a gay and lesbian theatre based in San Francisco. It was founded in the spring of 1977 by Lanny Baugniet and his partner Allan B. Estes, Jr....
, a LGBT theatre group based in San Francisco, and the Japanese Red Cross in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
.
Awards and Recognitions
Theatre Rice was voted Best On-Campus Acting Group by the Daily Cal's Best of Berkeley 2009 and Best Performance Group in the Best of Berkeley 2011.Show History
Fall 2011 Midsemester Show - Spellcheck- "Shaboomba!" directed by Paul Huang
- Duologues directed by Abby Panares and Chris Tong
- - "Peter & Wendy" based on the novel by J.M. Barrie
- - "White OleanderWhite OleanderWhite Oleander is a 1999 novel by American author Janet Fitch. It is a coming-of-age story about a child who is separated from her mother and placed in a series of foster homes. The book was a selection by Oprah's Book Club in May 1999 and became a 2002 film.-Plot summary:Astrid Magnussen is a...
" based on the novel by Janet FinchJanet FinchDame Janet Valerie Finch DBE, DL, AcSS is a British sociologist and academic administrator. She was Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Social Relations at Keele University, and has held a number of other public appointments in the UK... - - "The Last Days of Judas IscariotThe Last Days of Judas IscariotThe Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a 2005 play by American playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis first staged off-Broadway at The Public Theater on 2 March 2005 directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman.-Plot summary:...
" by Stephen Adly GuirgisStephen Adly GuirgisStephen Adly Guirgis is an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He is a member and co-artistic director of New York City's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced on five continents and throughout the United States....
- "The Art of Theatre Rice: A Docu-ART-ary" directed by Aileen Ma and William Tran
- "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" by Christopher DurangChristopher DurangChristopher Ferdinand Durang is an American playwright known for works of outrageous and often absurd comedy. His work was especially popular in the 1980s.- Life :...
directed by Isaac Long, assitant directed by Jess Ju - General Meeting (Tech & Transitions) directed by Tiffany Chiao and Lindsey Tee
Spring 2011 Showcase - Don't Touch That!
- "Murder Mystery" Troupe directed by Mark Lee and Aileen Ma
- "Awesome Troupe" (Monologues & One-Act) directed by Joy Regullano and Alan Uy
- One-Act Troupe directed by Kelly Ngai
- - 4AM (Open All Night) by Bob Krakower
- - Devil in the Details
- Short-Form Comedy Troupe directed by Rosa Ma
- General Meeting (Tech & Transitions) directed by Anne Chen and Chihiro Hirai
- Short-Form Comedy Troupe directed by Rosa Ma
Spring 2011 Midsemester Show - Instant Gratification!
- Musical Improv directed by Mark Lee and Jordy Rose
- David IvesDavid IvesDavid Ives is a contemporary American playwright. A native of South Chicago, Ives attended a minor Catholic seminary and Northwestern University and, after some years' interval, Yale School of Drama, where he received an MFA in playwriting...
Troupe directed by Jonathan Gu and Chihiro Hirai
- English Made Simple
- Sure Thing
- Music Video Troupe directed by Jerry Lee and Jonathan Lee
- American Born ChineseAmerican Born ChineseAmerican Born Chinese is a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. Released in 2006 by First Second Books, it was a finalist for the 2006 National Book Awards in the category of Young People's Literature. It won the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award and the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New. It...
: based on the graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang directed by Jess Ju and Tom Liu - General Meeting (Tech & Transitions) directed by Alan Uy
- Music Video Troupe directed by Jerry Lee and Jonathan Lee
Fall 2010 Showcase - Checkmate!
- Duologues directed by Patricia Nguyen
- - Captive Audience by David Ives
- - Because I Wanted to Say by Sean O'Donnell
- - Big FishBig FishBig Fish is a 2003 American fantasy adventure film based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace. The film was directed by Tim Burton and stars Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange and Marion Cotillard. Finney plays Edward Bloom, a former traveling salesman from...
, based on the novel by Daniel WallaceDaniel WallaceDaniel Wallace or Danny Wallace may refer to:* Daniel Wallace , American author of the novel Big Fish* Daniel Wallace , U.S. Congressman from South Carolina...
- Stage Combat Troupe directed by Jonathan Lee
- Musical Guest - Kenneth Ronquillo
- Sketch Comedy Film Troupe directed by Alex Ramirez
- From Rejection to Inception directed by Christian Ting and Abigail Panares
- General Meeting (Tech & Transitions) directed by Natalie Friess and Paul Huang
- Stage Combat Troupe directed by Jonathan Lee
Fall 2010 Midsemester Show - Right Angle
- Ba-Bimprov-Bap Improv Troupe directed by Jonathan Lee and Rosa Ma
- Wind-Up (film) directed by Jordy Rose
- Experimental One-Act Troupe directed by Natalie Friess and Ching Ching Liu
- - What Lies Beneath (original piece)
- - Nighthawks (original piece)
- Long-Form Comedy Troupe directed by Anne Chen and Kelly Ngai
- General Meeting (Tech Transitions) directed by Paul Huang
- Long-Form Comedy Troupe directed by Anne Chen and Kelly Ngai
Spring 2010 Showcase - Aged to Perfection
- One-Act Troupe directed by Joy Regullano and Amanda Owyang
- Music Video/Musical Stage Troupe directed by Jonathan Villaluz and Tom Liu
- Strange Territories by Jim Chin directed by Jerry Lee and Ching Ching Liu
- Short-Form Comedy Troupe directed by Jacek Wnuk and Jack Wang
- General Meeting (Tech and Transition) directed by Jonathan Lee
Spring 2010 Midsemester Show - Spacebar
- Improv Troupe directed by Jonathan Lee and Jerry Lee
- One-Act Troupe directed by Chihiro Hirai and Sanket Alekar
- - Monster (original piece)
- - Isolation (original piece)
- Variations on the Death of TrotskyVariations on the Death of TrotskyVariations on the Death of Trotsky is a short one-act comedy written by David Ives for All in the Timing. The play fictionalizes the death of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky at different moments, though all from the same, historically accurate cause: a wound to the head by an ice...
by David IvesDavid IvesDavid Ives is a contemporary American playwright. A native of South Chicago, Ives attended a minor Catholic seminary and Northwestern University and, after some years' interval, Yale School of Drama, where he received an MFA in playwriting...
directed by Jonathan Villaluz and Ching Ching Liu - Long-Form Comedy Troupe directed by Kathleen Mendoza
- General Meeting (Tech & Transitions) directed by Amanda Owyoung
- Variations on the Death of Trotsky
Fall 2009 Showcase - Apocalypse: Later
Fall 2009 Midsemester Show - Local Warming
Spring 2009 Showcase - Lucky You
Spring 2009 Midsemester Show - Stimulus Package
External links
- Theatre Rice Main Website
- UC Berkeley Main Website
- Best of Berkeley 2009: Theatre Rice, Best On-Campus Acting Performance
- Negotiating The Third Space Hardboiled Magazine (pp. 9)
- Theatre Rice: Student Theater Exploring Berkeley
- http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/1933/Breaking cultural barriers through comedy The California AggieThe California AggieThe California Aggie is a daily newspaper distributed in the Davis, California area. It is staffed entirely by UC Davis students and is the official campus newspaper.-History:...
] - http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/engnews/Spring07/EN13S/headlines.htmlSenior moments from Engineering News Engineering NewsEngineering NewsEngineering News may refer to* Engineering News , a weekly publication in South Africa* Engineering News-Record, a weekly magazine published by The McGraw-Hill Companies...
] - http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/engnews/Fall06/EN08F/theatre.htmlEngineers in Theatre Rice discover the joys of being onstage Engineering NewsEngineering NewsEngineering News may refer to* Engineering News , a weekly publication in South Africa* Engineering News-Record, a weekly magazine published by The McGraw-Hill Companies...
] - Rice Up Your Life Daily Cal
- Lifting the Curtain Daily Cal