Asian Connections - Extended through 8/23- “In Rehearsal” Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Featuring Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, Thom Sesma as Scar in The Lion King Las Vegas

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Passes Away at Age 96

Posted by AC Team - on Sunday, 26 November 2023

When I got married and moved to a Ranch north of Tucson, Arizona, I was still a broadcaster for an ABC TV affiliate Magazine show, but the rest of my life completely changed. I remember when the late First Lady Rosalynn Carter arrived at our Kai Ranch and greeted our family. She was beautiful and very kind. She wrote me a handwritten note wishing me good wishes in happiness and health. I wish I could thank her for her kindness again. Thank you First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

Extended through 8/23- “In Rehearsal” Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Featuring Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, Thom Sesma as Scar in The Lion King Las Vegas

Posted by Lia Chang on Wednesday, 17 August 2011.

Lia Chang in the Asian Reading Room of the Library of Congress where her "In Rehearsal" display of photographs drawn from the Lia Chang Theater Portfolio are on view through August 23, 2011. Photo by Reme Grefalda

From July 20 through August 23, “In Rehearsal”, a display of photographs drawn from the Lia Chang Theater Portfolio in the Library of Congress’ Asian American Pacific Islander Collection, is on view in the Library of Congress’ Asian Division Reading Room, located in Room 150 of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. The hours of the Library of Congress’ Asian Division Reading Room are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The cast of Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Sponsored by the Library of Congress’ Asian Division, the display features photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas and Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, on view Through August 23.

BD Wong in rehearsal for a staged concert of Heading East, a Richard Rodgers Development Award-winning musical by Robert Lee and Leon Ko on May 22, 2010, at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

In May, 2010, actor BD Wong invited me to photo-document his latest theatrical passion project. The staged concert performance of Heading East, a Richard Rodgers Development Award-winning musical by Robert Lee and Leon Ko, which BD was co-producing with Andrew Asnes and starring in, also featured Cindy Cheung, Fay Ann Lee, Manu Narayan, Lydia Gaston, MaryAnn Hu, Ming Chan Lee, Angela Lin, Kelvin Moon Loh, Hazel Anne Raymundo, Jon Norman Schneider and Rodney To at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York. Helmed by Darren Lee, the staged concert performances of Heading East benefitted the Asia Society. Click here to learn more about Heading East.

(1st Row)Rodney To, MaryAnn Hu, Cindy Cheung, Fay Ann Lee, Angela Lin, Hazel Anne Raymundo,(2nd Row) Jon Norman Schneider, Ming Chan Lee, Manu Narayan and Kelvin Moon Loh in rehearsal for a staged concert of Heading East, a Richard Rodgers Development Award-winning musical by Robert Lee and Leon Ko on May 22, 2010, at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

“The historical importance of these rehearsal photographs is in its documentation of Asian American theater in a working and evolving environment. The camera captures the spontaneous interactions among actors, playwright, stage director, choreographer, producer, and musicians before opening night,” said Reme Grefalda, curator of the AAPI Collection at the Library of Congress.

BD Wong, Kelvin Moon Loh, Hazel Anne Raymundo, Manu Narayan rehearse with director Darren Lee at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York.. Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Heading East co-creator Robert Lee rehearses a Peking opera move with actress MaryAnn Hu during a rehearsal at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York.. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Director Darren Lee stages a scene of Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York.. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

The cast of Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York.. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Director Darren Lee stages the curtain call for Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at Asia Society in New York. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Opening night champagne toast for the cast of Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East backstage at the Asia Society in New York on May 24, 2010. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

In August, 2010, I photographed Thom Sesma’s makeup transformation into Scar for The Lion King Las Vegas at The Mandalay Bay Theatre.

Thom Sesma in the makeup chair in his dressing room on August 23, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Theatre, where he is currently starring as Scar in Disney's The Lion King Las Vegas through December, 2011. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Makeup artist Laura Sill transforms Thom Sesma into Scar, in his dressing room at the Mandalay Bay Theatre, where The Lion King Las Vegas has performances through December, 2011. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Thom Sesma, who plays Scar in The Lion King Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay, in his dressing room on August 23, 2010. Photo by Lia Chang Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

The Library of Congress is a central repository for all types of Asian publications that are not broadly available at other locations in the United States. Initiated in 1869 with a gift of 10 works in 934 volumes offered to the United States by the Emperor of China, the Library’s Asian collection of more than 2 million items is the largest and most comprehensive outside of Asia. For more information about the division and its holdings, go to www.loc.gov/rr/asian/.

Thom Sesma with makeup artist Laura Sill in the dressing room on August 23, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Theatre, where he is currently starring as Scar in Disney's The Lion King Las Vegas. Credit: Photo from The Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at the Library of Congress/AAPI Collection

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a personalized website at myLOC.gov.

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

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Extended through 8/23- “In Rehearsal” Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Featuring Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, Thom Sesma as Scar in The Lion King Las Vegas

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