Dust Storm February 16, 2008

A dust storm is headed for the Concord Senior Center on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 2 p.m. There's no need to panic, though, because the storm happens to be Rick Foster's one-man play called "Dust Storm."

The play is about art and survival in a time of xenophobia and tells the story of the WWII internment of Japanese Americans. Actor Zachary Drake is Seiji, a Berkeley High School student radicalized by his internment experience. Paintings by famed artist Chiura Obata enhance the scenes Seiji describes. Obata was an art professor at the University of California, Berkeley when the U.S. was drawn to war. He and his family were relocated to an internment camp in the barren Utah desert where dust storms were common.

Co-hosting the play are the Concord Senior Center and the Diablo Valley Chapter of JACL (Japanese American Citizens League). "The timing of the play is significant," says Jack Nakashima, a Diablo Valley JACL member. "The riveting and fast-paced play serves to commemorate the February 1942 signing of Executive Order 9066 which authorized the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans."

In addition to the play, a lively Japanese Minyo (folk) dance group from Hawaii will perform after "Dust Storm."

A portion of the event's proceeds will benefit the Concord Senior Center's scholarship program. "The Center offers enriching educational and specialized instructional classes in addition to day trips for seniors," says Avis Connolly, Concord Senior Center Program Manager.

"Dust Storm" begins at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.

To purchase tickets or for information, call the Concord Senior Center at 925-671-3320 or go to http://cityofconcord.org/duststorm. We strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets sooner rather than later since there will be reserved seating on a strict first-come, first-served basis.

Advance-Purchase Tickets:

A seating chart can be found at http://cityofconcord.org/duststorm

Directions can be found here

Only The Brave March 1, 2008

"Only the Brave" is a searing portrait of war and prejudice. This movie will take you on a haunting journey into the hearts and minds of the Japanese-American 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team and their families during WW II. Members of the 100th/442nd RCT volunteered from the fields of Hawaii and the internment camps on the mainland to become, the most decorated United States Army unit of its size. This movie tells of their most famous exploit as they break through German forces in southern France to save more than 200 soldiers of the Texas "Lost Battalion."

Written, produced, and directed by Lane Nishikawa, it stars Lane Nishikawa, Jason Scott Lee, Mark Dacascos, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, Jeff Fahey, and Pat Noriyuki Morita.

The Diablo Valley JACL is honored to join Mission From Buddha Productions LLC and KYOCERA Corporation to bring this educational and emotion-filled movie to the San Francisco East Bay.

Movie time is at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 1, 2008, in The Auctions By The Bay Theater. The theater is located in the former Alameda Naval Air Station movie house that has been transformed into an exciting, opulent, and highly comfortable venue. There are 450 luxurious rocking chair loge seats, a huge theater-size projection screen, and unlimited free parking. Did we mention that it is fully heated?

Before the movie, writer, producer, director, and actor Lane Nishikawa will give a short talk about the movie. After the movie he will autograph DVDs that will be available for purchase.

Click HERE for the registration form and directions.