Wrap-up on Rodney's benefit at East West Players

Last Friday, my theatre company, Cedar Grove OnStage threw a party... and it was a smash-hit. It certainly helps when you throw a party, to have a hugely popular guest of honor. And, for it to be for a worthy cause.

As I stated in my brief words before the show, my personal thanks go to friend Soji Kashiwagi, for bringing Rodney's plight to my attention and to the community's attention, and for helping to bring them to the event, and to Tim Toyama, whose idea it was to do an event for Rodney, and to him and to Irma Escamilla, who did all the work behind this event.

Thanks for reading,

—CT

RE-POST: Cedar Grove OnStage blog:

Regular visitors to our MySpace will know we recently hosted a benefit performance of "PIPPIN" at East West Players (EWP), for our good friend, actor Rodney Kageyama, who is recovering from a recent bout with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We are happy to report it was a HUGE SUCCESS!

Tim cheers as Rodney closes the evening with some grateful, heartfelt words of thanks (photo by PHIL NEE)

Well over 200 friends, fans and family members were on hand to wish Rodney well, and donate to a fund which exceeded – blew away, really – our initial goal of $4,000 (by close to 50%). Due to Rodney's long history in the community, many organizations were represented in the audience, including the Nisei Week Foundation (over 20!) + the Nisei Week Court, Japanese American Optimists, Grateful Crane Ensemble, Cold Tofu, Visual Communications (VC), Japanese American National Museum, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), and EWP. Notable individuals included Councilwoman Jan Perry, "Songbird of Manzanar" Mary Kageyama Nomura, JANM Founder Bruce Kaji and new CEO Dr. Akemi Kikumura Yano, New VC Executive Director Shinae Yoon and founder Robert Nakamura, CAPE President Adele Yoshioka, and EWP Board President Lynn Fukuhara Arthurs. Among the dozens of actors and artists present were (in no particular order) Ken Narasaki & Sharon Omi, Emily Kuroda, Kim Miyori, Patti Yasutake, Jack Ong, Saachiko & Dom Magwili, Jeanne Sakata, playwrights Nic Cha Kim, Sachi Oyama and Soji Kashiwagi, newscasters Ted Chen (KNBC) and David Ono (KABC), and filmmakers Karen Ishizuka, and Amy Kato & John Esaki (plus many, many more...).

Please check out Chris Tashima's photo album on facebook to view many more great pics taken by Phil Nee.

Special thanks go to Clarence "Koji" Wong, of Japon Bistro in Pasadena for providing some great pupus.

Once again, a huge THANK YOU to all who came out and who pitched in.

Above all, Rodney was thrilled.

—Cedar Grove OnStage