"Francisco's Fire" runs November 10-December 16 at Santa Monica's Dorie Theatre at The Complex.

L.A.-based playwright/director Keith Watabayashi has adapted Georg Buchner's "Woyzeck," hailed as the first German literary work with a working class protagonist. Buchner, then declared a traitor by the ruling class, fled imprisonment before dying of typhus at 23. He is today one of Germany's most revered literary figures. Watabayashi has adapted Buchner's tale to contemporary Los Angeles, with Latinos at its focus. Its story of shameful exploitation of the working class, economic and even sexual, and its warning of potentially explosive repercussions to come in the absence of change, seems as timely today as when Watabayashi's predecessor imagined his narrative nearly two centuries ago. "Francisco's Fire" runs November 10-December 16 at Santa Monica's Dorie Theatre at The Complex
www.Plays411.com/franciscosfire.

Finishing the Game director Justin Lin wants you.

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Supporters:

FINISHING THE GAME , our new independent film, has been an opportunity to revisit our indie roots and reunite with many in the BETTER LUCK TOMMOROW family . The challenges of making a no-budget film are harsh and demanding, but at the same time, it is filmmaking in its purest form. Clearly, passion on the part of the cast and crew made this film possible. Now we are hoping to share FINISHING THE GAME with you as it comes out in theaters and into your homes.

When BETTER LUCK TOMORROW was released, we showed Hollywood that we are a viable audience. In an industry governed by box office receipts, there is strength in numbers. The turnout for the film sent a clear message that we demand to see ourselves on screen as multi-dimensional characters. Five years later, we are asking for your support again. At this point, we need to demonstrate that BETTER LUCK TOMORROW was not a fluke; we are a vital consumer community that will no longer be ignored. However, out of respect for your time, energy and taste, we don't want you to come see the film simply because it's an "Asian American" project. Rather, we want you to connect to the work itself and let the film stand on its own. We welcome you to take a look at the on our website:

FINISHING THE GAME WEBSITE

Among other things, it features a behind-the-scenes look at our journey from BLT to

Actor Kal Penn, designer Willa Kim and music exec Eric Wong to be Honored at the Asian American Arts Alliance's 25th Anniversary Gala in New York.

The Asian American Arts Alliance celebrates its 25th Anniversary on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 with a gala entitled "GALAXXY" at the TriBeCa Rooftop. This silver anniversary marks a quarter century of commitment to helping hundreds of local Asian American artists and arts groups in the performing and visual arts to access more funding and visibility for their work. In commemorating this milestone year, the Alliance will honor three outstanding industry leaders, actor Kal Penn, costume designer Willa Kim and music executive Eric Kim, all of whom have made strides for Asian Americans in the art.

"I'm honored to be recognized by the Alliance at their 25th anniversary event," says honoree Kal Penn. "Opportunities for artists are rare in any walk of life, so it's particularly encouraging to see the growth of the organization over the years, and their service to the community. Thank you for all of the support and for creating even more opportunities in the arts." Kal Penn is the most visible Asian American actor in Hollywood today with roles in The Namesake , Superman Returns , and the upcoming sequel to