"Almond Eyes," A Love Story from the Chop Suey Circuit

Cal State Hayward (Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA) premieres “Almond Eyes,” an original musical about an generally little-known aspect of the mid-century vaudville circuit that catered primarily to Chinese audiences on the West Coast.

The original musical by Jay Chee and JoAnn Yuen, directed by A. Fajilan, is based on the life of dancer

Dorothy Takahashi and her partner, Paul Wing Jew (shortened to Toy & Wing for marquee appeal), who were known as the Asian Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

Dorothy Toy, now 91, will attend opening night, July 24!

Discrimination on the West Coast during World War II dashed their dreams of fame in Hollywood and their careers concluded with the demise of the famed Chop Suey Circuit in San Francisco where Asian American performers (known as “Orientals”) entertained in elaborate supper clubs during the ‘40s and ‘50s.

Through Broadway-style music, dance and comedy, “Almond Eyes” tells an uplifting story of love, breakups, and reunions that are interwoven with California’s Asian American history.

Several members of the Grand Avenue Follies, who are now aged 60-76, will recreate a number to close CSUEB shows. Toy, now 91, is to attend opening night.

Tickets to the performances at 8 p.m. Friday, July 24 and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, July 25, are $18 general, $15 youth, seniors and alumni, and $10 for CSUEB students with I.D. They may be reserved at http://class.csueastbay.edu/theatre/Ticket_Reservations.php or at 510-885-3118.

This is your chance to see an all-new play, and meet an amazing figure from a past most of us could hardly guess.

http://class.csueastbay.edu/news/almondtoweb.pdf