7-01-05 WHITE SNAKE!

"THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE," A MARTIAL ARTS PLAY, TO BE PERFORMED IN AN OUTDOOR PARK SETTING AT THE SYLVAN AMPHITHEATER, EAGLE ROCK

Los Angeles, CA—(June 6, 2005) The popular Chinese mythical drama about a snake that turns into a woman after a thousand years of meditation, “The Legend of the White Snake,” will begin a four week run at the Sylvan Amphitheater in Yosemite Park, 1840 Yosemite Drive in Eagle Rock, starting on Thursday, July 21. The play, performed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Saturday, August 13 at 7 p.m., is presented by the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Written and directed by Henry Ong, “The Legend of the White Snake,” will include elements of Chinese martial arts, tai chi and “movement.” Ong, an eight-time Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department grant recipient, originally developed the story as a play for youth, entitled “Lady White Snake.” He later expanded it to “The Legend of the White Snake,” a version that explores themes relating to the meaning of life, meditation, “inter-species” or “inter-alien” relationships and the nature of love transcending the boundaries of time and space.

Ong is an internationally-produced playwright whose signature play, "Madame Mao's Memories," based on the life of Chairman Mao's widow, was performed at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego as well as in many U.S. and international cities. Other credits include "People Like Me" (to be published in the fall by Norman Maine Publishing), "Fabric," and "Sweet Karma."

Suggested donations (for the performers) are $10. For more information on the production, call the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock at (323) 226-1617; or call (818) 634-8464.

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