PLAY: Hold These Truths - The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi (Matinee) - CLOSING WEEK!

Date: May 2, 2015

Time: 2 p.m.

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REVIEWS:
"Actor Blake Kushi, who appears in the HOLD THESE TRUTHS, is not yet a household name, but he deserves to become one. In this production, he plays each character from the heart - especially the protagonist. His versatility enables him to perform multiple characters who speak in Japanese and English and whose voices, accents, and facial expressions differ from each other's. The result is a brilliant performance." -- BroadwayWorld.com

"Carrying a show alone that’s nearly two hours long is not easy, especially when the show deals with such heavy duty issues. Thankfully, both Jeanne Sakata’s writing and Blake Kushi’s performance are excellent. The script has many upbeat—and some downright funny—moments. Kushi has a great stage presence, and is very likable, which this role requires. Throughout the play, Kushi also portrays Hirabayashi’s father, mother, college friends and lawyer, as well as several other characters, all with great skill." -- Coachella Valley Independent

"He is portrayed by talented LA-based actor Blake Kushi. It falls to Kushi, who plays multiple roles, to vividly bring to life the events that occurred over a four year time frame, and its aftermath. ... It’s a creative blending of theatrical conventions that lend weight and heft to the captivating, and at times, poignant onstage performance of Blake Kushi." -- Desert Star Weekly

"...a one-man play starring the remarkable Japanese-American actor, Blake Kushi. ... It's a compelling story that will astound most theater-goers." -- The Desert Sun

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT:  Wednesday, April 15 – Sunday, May 3, 2015

HOLD THESE TRUTHS
The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi
A solo play by Jeanne Sakata 

starring Blake Kushi

Hold These Truths is based on the true story of Gordon Hirabayashi, an American sociologist best known for his principled resistance to the Japanese-American internment during WWII.  Jeanne Sakata’s script was inspired by hours of interviews with Mr. Hirabyashi and several of his friends from the 1940s.

“Gordon Hirabayashi should be a household name, like Rosa Parks,” said CVRep Artistic Director, Ron Celona.  “When I saw Hold These Truths several years ago, I knew this was a story that must be told, and that I would one day bring it to the Coachella Valley.  It was the inspiration for this season’s theme of 'The American Melting Pot,'” Celona explains.

In May 2012, Gordon Hirabayashi was posthumously awarded our nation’s highest civilian honor, The Presiential Medal of Freedom.

Show times are 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, with matinees at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre's home page at:   http://cvrep.org/

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