Last weekend, I caught up with BD Wong at the Maravel Arts Center on 445 W. 45th St. in New York, where he was rehearsing a number which will be performed in “Passing It On: An Evening of Mentorship to Benefit Rosie’s Theater Kids,” on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th St. @ 9th Ave in New York.

BD Wong rehearses with Rosie’s Theater Kids at the Maravel Arts Center on 445 W. 45th St. in New York on March 17, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

BD will also be hosting the event, (also honoring Tom Viola, Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids), which features Rosie’s Theater Kids alongside Derick K. Grant, Brandon Victor Dixon, Zakiya Young, and special taped video appearances by Audra McDonald and John Tartaglia. A highlight of the evening is sure to be an original piece conceived and co-written by BD, in which he will perform with 11 of the children from the “Rosie’s Theater Kids” program.

BD Wong rehearses with Rosie’s Theater Kids at the Maravel Arts Center on 445 W. 45th St. in New York on March 17, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Photo by Rick Wong

SIS Productions celebrates the grand finale of its popular hit series! Sex in Seattle 20: Happily Ever After . . . premieres at West of Lenin located at 203 N 36th Street in Seattle. The show runs April 27 – May 26, playing Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm. Tickets are $16 for general admission, $12 for students/seniors/actors. Advance purchase discounts and group rates are also available. Call (206) 323-9443 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloakdcad5401d9dc135698e53cd07b002685').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addydcad5401d9dc135698e53cd07b002685 = 'tickets' + '@'; addydcad5401d9dc135698e53cd07b002685 = addydcad5401d9dc135698e53cd07b002685 + 'sis-productions' + '.' + 'org'; var addy_textdcad5401d9dc135698e53cd07b002685 = 'tickets' + '@' + 'sis-productions' + '.' + 'org';document.getElementById('cloakdcad5401d9dc135698e53cd07b002685').innerHTML += ''+addy_textdcad5401d9dc135698e53cd07b002685+''; for reservations and information or check out the website at www.sexinseattle.org. Advance tickets may be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets ~ call 1-800-838-3006 or go tohttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/233110.

Justin Lin (Photo by Lia Chang)

Filmmaker Justin Lin, who is responsible for Universal’s mega-successful FAST AND FURIOUS franchise has just acquired film rights to David Henry Hwang’s critically acclaimed comedy CHINGLISH hailed by TIME Magazine as the BEST PLAY of 2011.

CHINGLISH, a romantic comedy with a timely, political spin debuted at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and follows its Broadway run with an international tour beginning at Berkeley Repertory Theatre this fall. Lin will direct and produce the film for his company, Barnstorm Pictures.

“As soon as I saw CHINGLISH on Broadway, I began to envision this smart and insightful cross-cultural comedy as a film. I’m excited about working with David to bring this very timely story to the screen, ” said Lin.

Playwright David Henry Hwang in front of the Longacre Theatre in New York, where his new comedy Chinglish played on Broadway through January 29, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

“I’ve loved Justin’s work ever since he burst on the scene with Better Luck Tomorrow, and it feels very right to be collaborating with him on the movie verision of my play, said playwright Hwang, a Tony Award winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. Hwang will write the screenplay and is set to co-produce the film with Bobbi Thompson.

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