FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LITTLE SAIGON STREET THEATRE

Giving Voice to Our History, Strengthening The Community

Little Saigon, Seattle: Members of the Vietnamese community in the Puget Sound region are proud to present the first ever Vietnamese Street Theatre experience featuring the historical playlet, Tiếng Trống Mê Linh (The Drumbeats of Mê Linh), performed by the Southern Opera Troupe. The program will also include traditional dancing, traditional music, a dramatic performance, and an opportunity to hear from local community members. This free event is a grassroots effort to be held on Friday, June 13, 2008 from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the Asian Plaza Parking Lot located at 1032 S. Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104.

This cải lương excerpt from a Southern ‘renovated’ theater playlet “The Drumbeats of Mê Linh” is about Trưng Sisters—the two first-century national heroines of Vietnam. The Trưng Sisters led the first resistance movement against the occupying Chinese after 247 years of domination. After Trưng Trắc’s husband’s captured death in 40AD, she and her sister, Trưng Nhị–together with her mother’s support–raised the drumbeats to rally their troops to fight against the Chinese and won the battles. Although the Trưng sisters’ ruling Vietnam only for three years , the two are highly revered in and well known beyond Vietnam.

In addition to the various performances, there will also be speakers who are local community members and experts in community development. Updates and information of the rezoning impacts related to the Dearborn/Goodwill Project will also be provided. As for food and refreshments, Tamarind Tree will be hosting a food court with all proceeds donated to help the local Vietnamese community mobilize.

This event is organized by individuals within the Vietnamese community at large in the Puget Sound region whose goal is to build capacity within the community and to support efforts giving voices to the community.

If you would like more information on this event, please contact Quỳnh-Trâm Nguyễn at … or e-mail Quỳnh Trâm at …

Vietnamese Version

Street Theatre: Introduction (Lời giới thiệu trong đêm Sân Khấu Ngoài Trời)