Saturday, June 5th 2010 @ 8pm
Sunday, June 6th 2010 @ 7pm

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Meet the Mighty Mountain Warriors

Want to hear more about the “Mighty Warriors of Comedy” from the warriors themselves? Keep reading!

Featured this week: Michael Hornbuckle and Pearl Wong

Michael Hornbuckle
Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle- one of the group’s founding members, is a late bloomer in theater. He became involved in the performing arts after receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and, as an undeclared graduate student, went through San Francisco State University’s entire Theater Arts acting program in three years. His acting resume includes the role of "Jeff" in Philip Kan Gotanda’s “Day Standing on its Head,” the role of "Ma" in Rainbow Theater’s production of David Henry Hwang’s “The Dance and the Railroad,” and Asian American Theater Company’s world premiere of Harold S. Byun’s “The Butcher’s Burden.” He’s served behind the scenes as Production Manager for Rainbow Theater and Asian American Theater Company, and is now firmly ensconced with the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors as a performer, writer and administrator.  He was honored by AsianWeek in 2001 as the Bay Area’s best API actor. He now lives in Los Angeles and where he pursues writing and performing but actually caters for a living.

1. What or who makes you laugh out loud?
People doing silly things in real life makes me laugh out loud.  Any 18mmw member attempting to try something amusing onstage and failing miserably makes me cackle for hours.

2. Describe the place you most like to spend time.
Hmm. My apartment.

3. What is your pet peeve?
I hate lots of things. Shakespeare, bicyclists, vegetarians, left-handed people, slow people.

4. Who was your childhood hero?
That would be Superman.

5. What item have you owned for the longest time?
My home-made comic books. I created my own superheroes and humor books. It’s great to see my artistic growth over time.

6. Name the skill or talent you would most like to have.
Playing a musical instrument well.

7. Which famous person (living or dead) do you think (or have you been told) you most resemble?
Recently I’ve been told I resemble Lou Diamond Philips, Jackie Chan and Pee Wee Herman.

8. What would the title of your biography be?
“The most stable weird guy you’ll know.”

Pearl Wong
Pearl Wong is Managing Director of the Asian American Theater Company (AATC).  A native San Franciscan, she began volunteering with AATC in 1992 where she first met the many creative members who’ve made up the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors over the years. She has served as producer of AATC’s mainstage productions since 2007, including acclaimed playwright Philip Kan Gotanda’s world premiere of "#5 The Angry Red Drum".  As an actor, she has worked with Impact Theatre, Intersection for the Arts – Campo Santo Theatre, Culture Clash, Latina Theater Lab and Calaveras Repertory Theatre. Thanks to her mum, she is also a 4th generation Canadian and sends her love to her Vancouver family.

1. What or who makes you laugh out loud? 
The utterly ridiculous.

2. Describe the place you most like to spend time.
Snoozing in the sun.

3. What is your pet peeve?
Repetition.

4. Who was your childhood hero?
All the talented, smart, able women and girls I’ve ever met.

5. What item have you owned for the longest time?
I’m a hoarder! I’ve got stuff older than my parents! You think I’m kidding? I’ve got a calendar from 1912.

6. Name the skill or talent you would most like to have.
I really admire people who can make things using their own ability. I’d love to be a craftsman.

7. Which famous person (living or dead) do you think (or have you been told) you most resemble?
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever been likened to anyone. Interesting.

8. What would the title of your biography be?
“Don’t buy this book!”

Want to hear more about the “Mighty Warriors of Comedy” from the warriors themselves? Keep reading!

Featured this week: Greg Watanabe & Peter Wong
Stay tuned for more warriors to come!

Greg Watanabe
Greg’s theatre credits include the world premiere productions of “The Ballad of Yachiyo” (Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Public Theater-New York Shakespeare Festival) , “Butcher’s Burden” (Asian American Theater Company), “The Summer Moon” (A Contemporary Theater, South Coast Repertory Theatre), “10,000 Years” (written and produced by John Ridley), “No-No Boy” (adapted by Ken Narasaki),  and “The Happy Ones” (South Coast Rep.) for which he was nominated for an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Performance. 

His television credits include cast member of the UPN sketch comedy pilot Off Limits, 23 episodes of “Watch Over Me” (MyNetworkTV).  Other appearances include:  Curb Your Enthusiasm, Reno 911!, Criminal Minds, The Proud Family, Hidden Hills, J.A.G., and Nash Bridges. 

Film appearances include “Only The Brave”,  “Americanese”,  “True Love and Mimosa Tea”, “Life Tastes Good”, and “Forgotten Valor”.

Greg has been a company member of the Asian American sketch comedy troupe, the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors since 1994.

1. What or who makes you laugh out loud?
I like Stephen Colbert and the Daily Show a lot. Old Woody Allen films… the West Wing (I know, it’s not really a comedy, but the comic moments in it are excellent).

2. Describe the place you most like to spend time.
Home. There’s a couch, a TV, a bed, a kitchen with a refrigerator, internet access… it’s got it all.  Oh, and my girlfriend lives there, so there’s that too.

3. What is your pet peeve?
I don’t know if this counts as a pet peeve, but I can’t stand Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin… there are more….  But when people like that promote lies and ridiculous slander and then those things make their way into mainstream media and then the mouths of regular people… that saddens and angers me. But I take it as a reminder that the struggle toward truth and justice sometimes is a struggle against the enemies of truth and justice.

4. Who was your childhood hero?
Hm. Not sure if I had one. I remember spending a lot of time imitating Bruce Lee.

5. What item have you owned for the longest time?
Somewhere there’s a picture of me when I was 4 years old; it’s of me and my best friend, with whom I’m still friends.

6. Name the skill or talent you would most like to have.
Wish I knew how to make a lot of money….  Beyond that: musical ability.

7. Which famous person (living or dead) do you think (or have you been told) you most resemble?
Can’t say that I have. Clearly Americans aren’t familiar enough with famous Asian people. 

8. What would the title of your biography be?
“Oh yeah?  Well I’ve never heard of you either.”

Peter Wong
Peter J. Wong has somehow been involved with the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors for over 15 years now (Holy sh*t). He began his acting life in 1991 when he walked into the Asian American Theatre Company and took his very first acting class. Things had never been the same since (My knee!). Some might even say it ruined his professional life (I’m broke b*tches!). While with the warriors he has taking on a variety of challenging roles that includes "the old bald Korean man (Huh?)", "the old bald Japanese man (Huh?)" and his favorite "the old bald Chinese man (Aiyah, huh?)".
 
His approach to acting is similar to his approach to life, come out swinging (Who wants some!). Unfortunately for him, he usually gets his ass handed to him 90% of the time (Goddamn it). BUT when he does hit that magical 10% it’s like being in an all you can eat Korean BBQ restaurant that stays open all night long just for him (Delicious!).
Peter had been known to talk about himself in a third person kind of way (What?) and he continues to do so in this Bio (Fine!). Please forgive him if he says anything stupid (Goddamn hillbillies) or does anything that might offend you (Tea bagging baby!). He doesn’t mean it; he was ignored when he was a child. Enjoy the show!

1. What or who makes you laugh out loud?
I love laughing, I pretty much laugh at anything. I’m easy that way.
 
2. Describe the place you most like to spend time.
In an all you can eat Korean BBQ restaurant.

3. What is your pet peeve?
Self centered people.

4. Who was your childhood hero?
Jackie Chan from the 80’s not so much Jackie Chan of the 2000

5. What item have you owned for the longest time?
Probably my Journey CD collection. I’m actually not very sentimental and don’t keep many things.

6. Name the skill or talent you would most like to have.
Sing like Steve Perry.

7. Which famous person (living or dead) do you think (or have you been told) you most resemble?
Nobody has told me I resemble anyone famous.

8. What would the title of your biography be?
“Just a small town boy.”

Congratulations are in order!
Our very own Joyce Lam, VACT’s Artistic Producer, President and Founder, is among the forty-five outstanding British Columbians named as recipients of the seventh annual BC Community Achievement Awards by Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

"Together, British Columbians have built a stronger province and we gather confidence from those who have consistently and honourably created safe and caring communities," said Premier Campbell. "I applaud the outstanding contribution these individuals have made to regions throughout British Columbia and their commitment to making our province the best place on earth."

"The initiative, impact and inspiration to others demonstrated by this year’s award recipients warrants public affirmation," added Mitchell. "We’re privileged to showcase and celebrate the contributions of these exceptional British Columbians."

For more information and a full list of recipients, go to http://www.bcachievement.com/community/recipients.php.

Photo:  LtoR
Honourable Steven Point, Joyce Lam, Premier Gordon Campbell

Joyce is the volunteer founder, president and artistic producer of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, she has created a unique theatre environment that allows Asian Canadian audiences to identify more closely with stories that connect with their own backgrounds. At the same time, mainstream audiences have access through her theatre to authentic Asian Canadian experiences. Joyce has launched a thriving company of Asian Canadian actors through more than 35 productions in ten years. The impact of her work is profound and cannot be understated; it nurtures us all to be connected and tolerant as a community of neighbours. She leads by example every day.