Untitled - Cal VSA Culture Show

T H E C U LT U R E S H O W E X P E R I E N C E
With Ảo Ảnh: Between the Lines, we’re celebrating 35 years of Cal VSA Culture
Show. Since the creation of the Vietnamese Student Association at UC Berkeley in
1978, we have brought together many talented individuals to express their talent on
and off stage through our Culture Show.
Culture Show is a space for students to produce and perform a unique theatrical
PRODUCER’S MESSAGE
show composed of music, art, dance, drama, and prose. It is a process through
which new friendships are built and through which Vietnamese culture is explored
I’ve written many things for Culture Show, from the script to social media
and learned. It is a culmination of many practices, late-night work parties, and
posts, and from emails to press releases, but this note is the most difficult. It
priceless bonding. It is an unforgettable and rewarding experience.
is more than a message to welcome you to our show.
Cal VSA invites anybody and everybody to join us in this annual celebration of the
It is not often that anyone takes on the role of Producer two years in a row,
unique Vietnamese spirit, history, and culture.
but that is what I have done, and I would not have survived this past year
without my three minions, Linhtern, Gabby, and pAnhĐào. I’ve dedicated 3
years to this space, learning and growing as a scriptwriter, a director, and a
producer, and now it’s time to say good-bye.
I will always be proud that I have made it possible for others to participate in
a production like this, but now I look forward to being a part of the audience.
The amount of time, effort, and hard work that each cast and crew member
puts into Culture Show each year never ceases to amaze me. Even though
sometimes it is easier to do things by oneself, this is not something that one
person can single-handedly achieve. The beauty of the Culture Show space
lies in the fact that we all rely on each other to achieve something that is
bigger than us. I hope that you’ll find this beauty in Ảo Ảnh: Between the Lines.
Welcome to Culture Show!
Jennifer N. Ho
PRODUCTION
TECHNICAL
PRODUCER - Jennifer N. Ho
STAGE MANAGER - Hoang Tran
ASSISTANT PRODUCER - Linh Pham
STAGE MANAGER - Victor Kong
ASSISTANT PRODUCER - Anh Dao Huynh
STAGE MANAGER - Hung Nguyen
ASSISTANT PRODUCER - Gabby Luu
SOUND TECHNICIAN - Kenny Chen
LIGHTING DESIGNER - Theresa Nguyen
STORY
DIRECTOR - Andre T. Nghiem
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Rebecca Shirsat
SCRIPTWRITER - Umeet Sajjan
SCRIPTWRITER - Michael Pham
SCRIPTWRITER - Nate Butler
DESIGN
SET DESIGNER - Nickki Nguyen
SET DESIGNER- Lina Nguyen
SET DESIGNER- Chrissy Curl
PROP MASTER - Rebecca Shirsat
COSTUME DESIGNER - Christine Nguyen
ASSISTANT SCRIPTWRITER - Christine Nguyen
P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S
PERFORMANCE
COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER -
GUARD COORDINATOR - Celestine Pham
Nghia-Piotr Trong Le
GUARD ASSISTANT COORDINATOR - Sally Le
FINANCE MANAGER - Lannie Trieu
LION DANCE COORDINATOR - Patrick Sysiong
MARKETING MANAGER - Nicole Nguyen
TRADITIONAL COORDINATOR - Tram Nguyen
MARKETING & FUNDRAISING MANAGER -
TRADITIONAL COORDINATOR - Tu Tran
Matt Cline
SRIRACHA COORDINATOR - Nhan Thanh Vu
HISTORIAN - Da Vinci Lam
SRIRACHA COORDINATOR - Kenneth Perng
WEB ADMINISTRATOR - Brandon Chau
VOCALS COORDINATOR - Minh-Thy Nguyen
PUBLICATIONS MANAGER - Khoa Vu
VOCALS COORDINATOR - Thao Tran
PUBLICATIONS MANAGER - Lenna Nguyen
MUSIC DIRECTOR - Lannie Trieu
DIRECTORS’ MESSAGES
As a graduating senior, I am honored and excited to be
able to close out my time in VSA as Director of Ảo Ảnh:
SCRIPTWRITERS’ NOTE
It is hard for anyone to simply talk about mental
illness, much less write a story about it. No story, on its
own, can fully capture the challenges of mental illness
Between the Lines. Over the span of three productions,
and no story can capture the struggles people with
I’ve been involved in almost everything possible from
mental illness must face every day. In the Vietnamese
design to production to acting and even dancing (which I
community, mental illness is a very sensitive subject,
never envisioned myself doing in front of a large crowd)!
rendering it even more difficult to address. Coming
In addition, I’ve been given the opportunity to meet and
work with so many amazing people. Culture Show has
been a space to develop (and discover) skills, talents, and
together to write the script for Culture Show we were
a bit hesitant. Could we adequately give voice to those
who have mental illness in the community? After hours
of discussion, brainstorming, and interviewing those
passions and then to share them with others. It is truly
who actually have struggled with mental illness, we
more than just a show!
were able to begin to envision and craft a story. After
This year’s story of overcoming mental illness is a
many months, a story was born.
difficult, yet important one. I hope that you will feel the
-Umeet Sajjan, Nate Butler & Michael Pham
impact of our characters and their lives. Please enjoy this
unique experience that our cast and crew have worked
so hard over the past year to bring to life! Then come
back next year to see what we have planned!
- Andre T. Nghiem
STORY SUMMARY
Mental illness is a difficult topic to discuss in many
families and communities, causing it to be downplayed
and ignored. However, ignoring it does not make it go
away. Ảo Ảnh: Between the Lines opens the book on a
Every year after watching Culture Show, I kick myself
woman named Jennifer and her story of mental illness.
for not getting involved. After reading the script this
For years, Jennifer has kept her mental health a secret
year, I wanted to challenge myself artistically, so I
eagerly jumped in as Assistant Director. Since then it
has been pretty wild. Culture Show has been creatively
from everyone besides her father, her sister, and her
husband. Now her secret is affecting her relationship
with her daughter Kasey, who feels her mother’s
increasing distance and neglect. After an incident in
stimulating, given me the chance to form truly unique
the market, Jennifer feels it’s time to tell Kasey the
bonds, and stretched me beyond my comfort zone. I have
truth, but both her father and husband are against it.
grown in so many unexpected ways. I’ve poured myself
Unable to verbalize her struggle, Jennifer turns to pen
into this show and I hope you will fall in love with the
and paper to gather her thoughts and find the strength
story and characters like I have!
- Rebecca Shirsat
to make her own decision. Witness as Jennifer comes
to terms with her past to salvage her future with her
daughter.
A C T O R S - The past
KASEY - Celestine Pham
JENNIFER - Vi Nguyen
A high school student who is a passionate
Over the years of illness, Jennifer has been worn
dancer. She is dedicated and ambitious,
out to some degree, and she is not as strong-willed
but she feels disconnected from her family,
as she was in college. She has accepted the taboo
particularly with her mother. Frustrated
regarding her illness and is unable to talk about
with her mother’s absence in her life, she
it because her father forbids the discussion. Even
she much closer to her father.
so, she is still determined to have her way when
it comes to telling her daughter about her illness.
VU - Kenneth Perng
A supportive husband to Jennifer, he loves
JENNIFER - Vi Nguyen
VU - Kenneth Perng
her but has fallen under Dan’s influence
DR. LEE
Strong-willed and determined to please her
Jennifer’s boyfriend who loves her dearly.
and is afraid to talk about Jennifer’s
Jennifer’s therapist since she was first diagnosed.
dad and be a good daughter, she is focused
He is accepting of Jennifer’s illness and is de-
mental illness with his daughter. To
on her academic achievements and striving
termined to help her.
Kasey, Vu is the “good” parent. He shows
to become a doctor. Her slowly developing
schizophrenia throws her life off course,
PROFESSOR GARRETT & NEWS-
and her stubborn nature causes her to resist
CASTER - Danny Nguyen
treatment initially. An esteemed professor of stem cell research,
he is the instructor for one of Jennifer’s most
NANCY - Eva Maria Nguyen
Both Nancy and Jennifer are pressured
difficult classes. Professor Garrett also dabbles in newscasting work in his free time.
up to her performances and is there for her
NANCY
when she needs him to be.
Jennifer’s sister and Kasey’s aunt.
is Jennifer’s older sister but she is also
DR. LEE - Christine Nguyen
regarded as a mother figure in Jennifer’s life.
The doctor who diagnoses Jennifer.
Kasey’s maternal grandpa who fears that
telling Kasey about Jennifer’s schizophrenia will burden her. He has stuck to his
has been the most active in hiding Jennifer’s illness because he does not want her
Although Nancy is caring and supportive,
to be a victim of the social stigmas sur-
Jennifer is too proud to ask Nancy for help. rounding mental illness.
Special thanks to The Unsettling Breeze
DAN - Patrick Sysiong
(Kasey’s traditional group), Vocals, Anh
Jennifer’s father. He keeps to Vietnamese
Dao Huynh, Andre T. Nghiem, and Rebecca
tradition and only wants the best for his two
Shirsat for acting as extras.
- Eva Maria Nguyen
DAN - Patrick Sysiong
principles throughout his entire life and
by their father to become doctors. Nancy
- Christine Nguyen
ANNOUNCER & CASHIER Danny Nguyen
Upon retirement, this man began a craft-
daughters, even going as far as trying to
ing business at home and sells his prod-
eliminate their weaknesses so that only their
ucts at outdoor markets. On occasion, he
strengths exist. volunteers as an emcee for events due to a
past interest in newscasting.
A C T O R S - The present
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in
L I O N DA N C E
Fierce / fantastical / colorful
T RA D I T I O N A L DA N C E
many Asian cultures, such as Vietnamese
and Chinese, that incorporates martial
arts and some acrobatics to mimic the
mythical
Strong / Creative / Proud
creature’s
movement.
The
lion dance is usually performed around
New Year’s and often at weddings
This year, Cal VSA’s Culture Show includes
because the lion is said to bring good
two traditional dances: ribbon and fan dance.
luck and dispel evil spirits. A tradition
Traditional Fan Dance emphasizes the beauty
spanning thousands of years, lion dance
of Vietnamese women, culture, and ao dai
performances and competitions occur
through playful movements and vibrant colors.
Traditional
Ribbon
dance
attempts
all around the globe. In the act, the lion
dance appears before Jennifer during
to
Tết, and she assumed it was nothing out
highlight various conflicted emotions that
(left to right) Huy Ha, Andy Le, Patrick Sysiong,
many characters are feeling with the song,
Manda Au, An An Chang, Tammy Truong
of the ordinary until afterwards.
“Applause,” which talks about acceptance and
FA N
loving what you do to generate happiness for
others. This is an expressive piece that starts
(left to right) Katherine Ja, Tiffany Le,
out slow and transitions into a powerful ending
Tammy Truong, Kaitlynn Ly, Celestine
to demonstrate how the characters become
Guard uses a combination of lyrical
Pham, Hien Nguyen, Tina Do Tran,
stronger through the performance.
dance and equipment such as flags,
Kimberly Le
rifles, and sabres to perform. This year’s
Not pictured: Tina Lu
Fan dance choreographed by Kimberly and
performance will incorporate all pieces
Tiffany Le
of equipment and dance to represent the
Ribbon dance choreographed by Tram Nguyen
internal struggle that comes with the
acceptance of a mental disease. Featuring
“Slowly Freaking Out” by Skylar Grey, the
guard performers will attempt to express
RIBBON
the confusion and distress associated
with the inability to speak up and face
GUARD
Graceful / Expressive / Emotional
(left to right) Katherine Ja, Adeleine Tran,
the situation. The strength of the family
Tammy Truong, Celestine Pham, Anh Dao
members in dealing with the situation
(left to right) Sally Le, Celestine Pham, Jeffrey
Huynh, Tram Nguyen, Tina Do Tran, Tu
will be showcased as leaps and tosses are
Chan, Lenna Nguyen, Lindsey Campbell
Tran
executed with great control.
Not pictured: Hubert Pham
Sriracha allows students with little to no
dance experience the opportunity to learn
and participate in a hip-hop performance
for the Cal VSA’s Culture Show. This year,
Sriracha’s piece will attempt to convey the
SONG LIST
complex spectrum of emotions that Jennifer
experiences as she has a hallucination. The
PERFORMED BY VOCALS
set takes the audience through feelings
of confusion, anger, and sadness before
we “cover up our ears” to drown out the
SRIRACHA
negative thoughts, emphasizing Jennifer’s
Spicy / Saucy / Sexy
inner strength in the face of adversity.
Star Spangled Banner
Go to Hell, For Heaven’s Sake -
Vietnamese Anthem (Tiếng Gọi Công Dân)
Bring Me the Horizon (Acoustic)
Try - Pink
Who You Are - Jessie J
Lựa Chọn Một Vì Sao - Ngô Quỳnh Anh
Thư Của Mẹ - Thanh Ngọc
(left to right) Back row: Dung Le, Nhan Thanh
Choreographed by: Rachel Wu (Somebody
Vu, Daniel Chau, Christina Vo, Emily Tsai,
TRANSITION INSTRUMENTALS PERFORMED BY LANNIE TRIEU
That I Used To Know – Pentatonix
Tu Tran, Nickki Nguyen, Lina Nguyen, Tram
Xuân Phong Long Hồ - Traditional Huế Imperial
Thư Của Mẹ - Music by Nguyễn Văn Chung
Remix), Andrew Lee (Worldstar – Childish
Nguyen, Tin Ngo
Court Music
Toki Ni Wa Mukashi No Hanashi Wo -
Gambino), Jules Meléndez (Breathe No
Front row: Kenneth Perng, Adeleine Tran, Ja-
Lòng Mẹ - Ý Vân
Hayao Miyazaki
More – Evanescence), and Tommy Nguyen
son Huynh, Gabrielle Luu
Cherry Blossom Serenade - Composed by Do Bao
Home:Word - Magnetic North & Taiyo
Someday My Prince Will Come - Music by Frank
Na ft. Sam Kang
(La La La – Naughty Boy)
Churchill, Arranged by Yoko Kanno
Get ready for an emotional roller coaster,
as this year’s vocal performances send
an empowering message about selfacceptance and self-love, have you going
googly-eyes over young ‘puppy love’ duet
sung by our two outrageously attractive
triple-threat
VOCALS
singers/dancers/actors,
crying waterfalls as a mother expresses
her unconditional love for her daughter,
Dynamic / Passionate / Empowering
and many more! From before the show
(left to right) Anh Dao Huynh, Vi Nguyen, Minh-
even starts to its heartfelt ending, vocals
Thy Nguyen, Thao Tran, Anh Luu, Kenneth
will guide you through every act and
Perng
leave you breathless.
Not pictured: Eva Maria Nguyen, Lannie Trieu
MUSIC DIRECTOR’S NOTE
The đàn tranh (Vietnamese zither) represents the
voice of the mother while the piano represents the
voice of the daughter. The fundamental idea of my
performances is to bridge the eastern and western
instruments as if bridging the gap between the
mother and daughter. Sometimes, we hear the
mother in the daughter’s voice and the daughter
in the mother’s voice. For instance, the song Lòng
Mẹ is a piece dedicated to the mother by her child,
but it is played on the đàn tranh. I also improvise
on my own to capture the feelings of mental illness
and to show how it affects both sides.
T H A N K YO U !
The cast and crew of Ảo Ảnh: Between the Lines would
like to express our gratitude to
SPONSORS
ALL OUR ANONYMOUS DONORS
DIAMOND, $500 +
938 Crawfish
Teriyaki House Chico
Thuan Nguyen from HiMark Loans
The Zellerbach crew & Nicki Harper, our Event Manager
Anhtuan from Toon Pix
GOLD, $250 - $499
Lee’s Sandwiches
ARCHDEKK STUDIO
Sean Bill
SILVER, $100-$249
Thien Van Vu
Kim Trang
Võ Thị Thy Chy
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tuan
Ms. Mai Hân from Little Saigon Radio in San Jose
BRONZE, UP TO $99
Noelle Jung
Kimberly Curl
Lina Nguyen
Beverly Chang
Anh Nguyen
Patrick Hong
Thao Trieu
Thuy Bui of House of
Bui Minh Tran
Pho Sunnyvale
Cassidy Curl
And last but not least, to you, our audience.
cultureshow.calvsa.com