From left, Rick Shiomi, artistic director, Mu Performing Arts, with performers, Katie Bradley and Sun Mee Chomet, discussing the life experience of Korean adoptees in America and how it inspired their theater writing and acting as adults. The two performed as part of the Week of Mu, an open-house series Friday at the Lowry Lab Theater in St. Paul. (AAP Staff photo by Tom LaVenture)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (August 25, 2010) – A week of free performances offered a glimpse of the wealth of talent at Mu Performing Arts, and will likely encourage many to look into the upcoming Mu season of full taiko and theater productions. This past Friday, two Mu actresses performed brief one-act solo performances called “My Story: All American Girl,” on stage in the Lowery Theater – the same building where the new Mu Performing Arts offices are located in downtown St. Paul. The two then joined Mu Artistic Director Rick Shiomi for a post-performance dialogue.

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For the very first time in 30 years, leading Lao American poets, playwrights, rock stars and filmmakers from across the country will gather July 14, 2010 at the historic Loft Literary Center for a one-night-only reading and performance of art, culture, memories and dreams. Seats are limited, but there will be free refreshments and door prizes. This event is free to the public and starts from 7pm to 9pm at 1011 Washington Ave. S, Minneapolis.

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Circus Juventas, North America’s largest youth performing arts circus in the tradition of Cirque du Soleil, will present its 16th summer extravaganza in an all-new production of “Sawdust”, a step back in time to the golden age of the traveling circus. Told through the tale of two young men chasing their dream, Sawdust brings the fame, fortune, glitz and grit of the old circus in performances running July 29 through August 15 at the Circus Juventas Big Top, 1270 Montreal Avenue, St. Paul.

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St. Paul, Minn. (July 2, 2010) – It has been almost 20 years since Circus Juventas coach Chimgee Haltarhuu left her native Mongolia for the United States, but the images are as sharp as if it were yesterday. Many of them are violent, reflecting life for girls and women in a male-dominated society.

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Saint Paul, Minn. (July 6, 2010) – The 2010 Dragon Festival will be held this weekend, July 10-11, 2010, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Phalen Lake Park, 1530 Phalen Drive, St. Paul, MN 55106. The Dragon Festival is a two-day free event to showcase cultural heritage, entertainment and traditions of ethnic Asian Pacific Islander communities within the Twin Cities. This pan-Asian community event is to promote cross-cultural understanding and to keep the cultural heritage alive within the younger Asian population.

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Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai performing one of her new poems, “Kindness Over Genius”, after receiving the 2010 Outstanding Asian American Alumni Award from her alma mater – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on May 3, 2010. (Contributed photo)

Urbana, IL (May 4, 2010) – Nationally renowned spoken word artist and advocate Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai was presented with the 2010 Outstanding Asian American Alumni Award from her alma mater – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on May 3, 2010. Tsai, a 2000 honors graduate in Urban Planning and Comparative Literature, received the award and also performed the spoken word poetry that has made her famous, including “Weapons Of Mass Creation” and “Kindness Over Genius.”

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Deconstructing boundaries between artists and audiences during the artistic development process, the Alternate Visions Festival presents readings, works in progress and a world premiere. Join Pangea World Theater for an aesthetically diverse array of new voices whose work demonstrates the transformations of our culture through a series of events.

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Shades of Yellow, a non-profit organization located in St Paul, MN that serves the Hmong LGBTQ community for Social Justice, will showcase its talent from the community and allies at the Twin Cities Pride Festival, June 26-27, 2010 at Loring Park, 1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403.

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For the eighth year, Minneapolis MOSAIC will celebrate the city’s diverse arts and culture with a FREE arts-packed event on June 5 from 1-10 p.m. New to the 2010 celebration is Minneapolis MOSAIC’s partnership with Twin Cities World Refugee Day. The joint day-long event is an educational experience and “arts sampler” that will feature more than 40 acts performing at featured venues along the avenue, which include the Pantages Theatre, Hennepin Stages, and two outdoor stages just off Hennepin Avenue between 7th & 8th streets.

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The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts released the schedule for its 2010 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival set to run from June 1-6, 2010 with outdoor performances and activities at Rice Park, Landmark Plaza, Hamm Plaza next to the Ordway at 345 Washington Street, St. Paul. This is a signature arts festival for children and families and as a new feature this year, with indoor performances at the Ordway Main Hall and McKnight Theatre. All tickets are $5.

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