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Oct 24, 2019        San Diego Rep Announces REP Xtras Events Schedule For Hold These Truths

Sep 24, 2019        San Diego Repertory Theatre To Present One-Man Show About A True American Hero

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Show description

Shocked by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and driven by fear and prejudice, America shipped its own citizens of Japanese ancestry off to internment camps for forced detention. Hold These Truths tells the inspiring true story of American hero Gordon Hirabayashi, a young man who defied an unjust order. Join Gordon on a 50-year quest to avenge an injustice to his community, restore his faith in the U.S. Constitution and reconcile America's greatness with its shortcomings. Hold These Truths has played to sold-out audiences all over the country and features a tour-de-force performance by stage and screen actor Ryun Yu, who plays Gordon and 37 other characters.

"Surprisingly humorous and openhearted." - The Seattle Times
“Lyrical and quietly forceful.” – San Diego Union-Tribune
“Ryun Yu is an engaging and animated storyteller.” – San Diego Jewish World
“Don’t miss the opportunity to spend 90 delightful, memorable minutes in [Gordon Hirabayashi’s] company.” – Times of San Diego

 

Additional Info

Ryun Yu (Actor): Ryun Yu is the first Korean-American to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and has the first theatre degree ever awarded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His parents still speak to him.  He played Mark in the film adaptation of David Henry Hwang’s Bondage. This was Ryun’s second film collaboration with David Henry Hwang – he played Hwang in Yellow Face, which was the first adaptation of a major play for YouTube.  Other film credits include The Last Tour (which he also directed), Only the Brave, The Brothers Solomon, and The Mikado Project.  His television appearances include The Whole Truth, Bones, Good Luck Charlie, and The Unit.  He played George in the Los Angeles premiere of Julia Cho’s The Language Archive and David in the world premiere of Lloyd Suh’s American Hwangap at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco.  In Los Angeles, he has played Ivan in Art at East West Players, Gene in Sea Change at the Gay and Lesbian Center (Maddy Award, Ovation Award nomination), and all of the characters in Dawn’s Light at East West Players.  He also performed in the west coast premiere of Richard Greenberg’s Tony Award-winning Take Me Out at the Geffen Playhouse.  He is honored to be in this production, a major step in a long journey with playwright Jeanne Sakata and director Jessica Kubzansky.

Jeanne Sakata (Playwright): Jeanne’s acting and writing talents span across theater, film and television, with multiple productions of her acclaimed solo play Hold These Truths (2013 Drama Desk Nomination, Outstanding Solo Performance; 2019 Theatre Bay Awards, Outstanding Production, Direction and Principal Performance) recently produced at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Arena Stage, Hang A Tale, Lyric Stage Company, Pasadena Playhouse, the Guthrie, ACT Seattle, Portland Center Stage, Perseverance Theatre and PlayMakers Repertory Company, among others. Called a “local treasure” by The Los Angeles Times, Jeanne’s screen credits include Jennifer Phang’s internationally acclaimed indie sci-fi film, Advantageous; on TV, guest/recurring roles on “Big Hero 6,” “Dr. Ken,” Bravo’s “True Fiction,” “NCIS Angeles,” “NUMB3RS,” Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Presidio Med,” “ER,” “Threat Matrix,” “Line of Fire,” “American Family,” John Ridley’s “I Got You,” “Hiroshima” and “Sex and Marriage,” a Justin Lin YOMYOMF YouTube webseries. Onstage, Jeanne has performed with the Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, Intiman Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, Portland Center Stage, People’s Light, Syracuse Stage and the Arizona Theatre Company.: Jeanne’s acting and writing talents span across theater, film and television, with multiple productions of her acclaimed solo play Hold These Truths (2013 Drama Desk Nomination, Outstanding Solo Performance; 2019 Theatre Bay Awards, Outstanding Production, Direction and Principal Performance) recently produced at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Arena Stage, Hang A Tale, Lyric Stage Company, Pasadena Playhouse, the Guthrie, ACT Seattle, Portland Center Stage, Perseverance Theatre and PlayMakers Repertory Company, among others. Called a “local treasure” by The Los Angeles Times, Jeanne’s screen credits include Jennifer Phang’s internationally acclaimed indie sci-fi film, Advantageous; on TV, guest/recurring roles on “Big Hero 6,” “Dr. Ken,” Bravo’s “True Fiction,” “NCIS Angeles,” “NUMB3RS,” Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Presidio Med,” “ER,” “Threat Matrix,” “Line of Fire,” “American Family,” John Ridley’s “I Got You,” “Hiroshima” and “Sex and Marriage,” a Justin Lin YOMYOMF YouTube webseries. Onstage, Jeanne has performed with the Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, Intiman Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, Portland Center Stage, People’s Light, Syracuse Stage and the Arizona Theatre Company.