May 24, 2014, Saturday, we arrived at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at 4 pm and were anxious to get on the stage to start our tech rehearsal.  We hung the Chinese lantern, set up the benches and other got the other props into position.  We worked with technicians to get the projector video set while the dancers were in the dressing room getting into costumes and warming up.  We got things rolling quickly!  We proceeded to set all the lighting cues and complete the sound checks.  Then moved straight into a dress rehearsal.  By 6 pm we had finished tech and the dress rehearsal and were ready!  Other performers were starting to arrive and began taking turns to get on stage for their rehearsals & sound checks.  We headed back to the dressing room where there were sushi dinner boxes waiting for us.  What a treat!

At 6:30 pm the House opened… and it’s a Full House!!  Soon, it was curtain time (7 pm)!  We were the opening act for the evening.  Before the curtain opened, the Chairman/President of Taiwan Culture Center of Greater Washington (TCC), Tai L Huang made his opening remarks.  He thanked the event sponsors and gave a warm welcome to all the guests.  Then the curtain opened and it was show time!!  GDC performed ‘The Teller’, it was well received by an enthusiastic audience.  Following ‘The Teller’ (Act I), there was a 15 minute intermission.  Before the 2nd Act started, TCC presented the Taiwanese American Community Scholarship Awards (TACSA) to 11 award recipients (note, these awards are open to high school Seniors from all ethnic groups).  Big congrats to all the winners!!  Then the curtain opened for Act II.  The 2nd Act was filled with incredibly talented musicians including world renowned leading violist Hsin-Yun Huang, violinist Shu-Ting Yao, Soprano solo Lucy Lu-Hsuan Chen, pianist Yi-Fang Huang, and The Greater Washington Taiwanese American Chorus.  It was an exquisite musical performance, one after the other.

After the show, we joined many of the performers for a post performance snack at Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge (Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae for me!).  We celebrated the success of this special evening and shared our life long journey of pursuing our dreams as artists.  We talked about our busy lives, we even talked about some of our funny performance experiences.  We chatted the remainder of the evening away!  Well after midnight, the party finally came to an end.  What a memorable evening!  Gary and I truly cherished this moment and are so grateful for Tai, Huai-En, and everyone at TCC for brining us together.   Big congrats to TCC and all the performers for this spectacular performance and a great success!  Bravo!!

Taiwan Night 2014 Concert Program

Shu-Chen Working with Lighting Designer for The Teller

Sushi for Dinner

GDC Dancers Getter Ready

Tai Huang, Chairman/President of Taiwan Culture Center of Greater Washington

The 2014 Taiwanese American Community Scholarship Award Recipients

Violist Hsin-Yun Huang

Violist Hsin-Yun Huang and Pianist Yi-Fang Huang

Violist Hsin-Yun Huang and Violinist Shu-Ting Yao

Performers with Composer Sarana Chou on the far left

Post Performance Celebration at Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge