| Behind The Scenes: | |
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Concert of Excellence 2004: Idea & Concept (October 2004) |
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Making Tracks - The Origins (September 2004) |
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Concert of Excellence (November 2003) |
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The Wedding Banquet Premiers in the US (September 2003) |
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The Wedding Banquet - On the Road (August 2003) |
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The Wedding Banquet - An Update! (July 2003) |
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The Wedding Banquet - Writing the Songs (June 2003) |
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The Wedding Banquet - Meet the Principals (May 2003) |
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Creating The Wedding Banquet (April 2003) |
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2g Meets Karaoke in a Comedy of Errors (March 2003) |
| Meet The Artist: | |
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Noriyuki "Pat" Morita - Beyond Mr. Miyagi (October 2004) |
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Woody Pak - Composer Extraordinaire (September 2004) |
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Lou Diamond Phillips - COE Honoree (November 2003) |
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Bai Ling - COE Honoree (November 2003) |
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Devanand Janki - Director, Choreographer, Actor (September 2003) |
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Jadin Wong - Dancer, Comedienne, Agent Extraordinaire (August 2003) |
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Steve Park - Comedian At Large (July 2003) |
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John Tillinger (June 2003) |
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Julie Danao (May 2003) |
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Cindy Cheung - An Actress of Many Talents (and Accents!) (April 2003) |
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Diane Paulus - Director and Co-Creator of The Karaoke Show (March 2003) |
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October 2004 Newsletter : :
Behind The Scenes : :
Meet The Artist : :
FAQ
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At 88 years of age, Jadin Wong just celebrated her retirement from the entertainment world. A legend who was once described in a Theater Week cover story as a "sweet Lotus Blossom with a heart of gold, and a tough Tiger Lady - both living in one woman," Jadin was recognized for her contributions to the cultural enrichment of this country in a proclamation from the Hon. Norman Y. Mineta given before the House of Representatives in 1985. Jadin "was the first American of Chinese ancestry to break the racial barriers that severely limited the opportunities of Asians in the American entertainment industry," Congressman Mineta acknowledged. Her pioneering efforts, along with her unwavering passion to fulfill her dreams to entertain and to help other Asian American artists do the same, have paved the way in this country. For this, Second Generation (2g) is proud to honor her at this year's annual Concert of Excellence (December 1, 2003). For the third year, 2g will recognize deserving leading artists of Asian heritage. It is impossible not to pay tribute to Jadin, whose career embodies so much of 2g's mission of cultivating world-class Asian American stories that spotlight Asian American talents. Even in the multicultural world of today, chances are still remote for an Asian American man to be cast as the love interest of a pretty blonde on a daytime soap opera, even if the same pairing is often seen on the streets of America. Always having had an interest in show business, Jadin, fluent in Cantonese and French, left her hometown of Stockton, California after high school to pursue her Hollywood dreams in San Francisco. The few voice and dance lessons she took while in Stockton did not carve an easy path to fame and fortune. During her initial times in San Francisco, Jadin lived with and did house work for a Russian Ballet teacher in exchange for free lessons. As her talents became apparent, Jadin received a scholarship to train and perform with the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Her dance career then took an unexpected route when she was discovered by Charlie Low. Ignoring cultural conventions, Jadin accepted the offer to dance at his Forbidden City, the first Asian nightclub in San Francisco. "The first eight months, we were ostracized", Jadin recalls. Dancing and showing legs in a club were acts regarded as taboo in the culturally isolated and conservative Chinese communities of the '30s and '40s. Closing her eyes to all criticism, Jadin eventually earned her acceptance and respect from the Chinese community when she was featured on the cover of Life Magazine in 1940. Since her glitzy days at Forbidden City, Jadin has made many more groundbreaking achievements. During World War II, Jadin traveled overseas to entertain American soldiers in Asia, Europe, and the US. She was honored by President Reagan for the 2000-plus hours she spent performing for soldiers. When she returned from the war, Jadin made her way to Broadway. Throughout the '50s and '60s, Jadin appeared in major Broadway shows such as The King and I, World of Suzie Wong, and Flower Drum Song. With the trend in movies and shows changing, Jadin adapted quickly and made another monumental mark by becoming one of the few Chinese comediennes. Always daring to be different, never letting racial or cultural traditions deter her, Jadin toured as the first Asian American female comedienne to Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, as well as in her homeland US. She won the hearts and laughter of thousands. "Show business is a difficult life and full of heartbreaks, but no amount of discouragement will deter someone who was as determined as I was to perform," Jadin shares. It seems that she has lived her life by that motto, "I have done everything they say I shouldn't do." Even in her 70s, Jadin continued to trail blaze and inspire. "I don't have time to grow old," Jadin once commented to a reporter. She became one of the most powerful theatrical agents/managers, representing close to 700 Asian American artists in over 20 years. Even 2g's very own founder/artistic director, Welly Yang, was once taken under her wings. Her list of awards, recognitions, and firsts runs on and on. Her personal story of success and accomplishments is also a story of success for Asian American artists. So much so that both Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Public Library and the Museum of Chinese for the Americas began creating collections of her life's work. It is only fitting that 2g presents her with a special recognition for driving forward and opening up the path for the many Asian Americans who aspire to fulfill their dreams performing. Jadin will appear in person to receive the Remy X.O. Excellence Award at New York State Theater, at Lincoln Center, this December. |