Hosted by CARLOS ALAZRAQUI (Reno 911) and JILL MICHELE MELEÁN (MadTV) March 16, Tues, 8pm

Diana Toshiko performs with the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors at the World Famous Improv
8162 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 651-2583 (The Improv number)
(Note: the Improv is $14 admission plus the purchase of 2 items -food or drink- minimum. 18 and over only please!)
Reserve tickets NOW! Or whenever it’s convenient for you, darling.
http://www.symfonee.com/Improv/hollywood/comedians/Bio.aspx?ShowDate=3/16/10&Uid={3ccdad4a-0c1b-40c4-89a0-af0feefbe0da}
featuring 4 of the nation’s BEST sketch comedy troupes!
Hey You Millionaires (from Chicago!)
Projektnewspeak (2009 Champions!)
18 Mighty Mountain Warriors (2006 Champions! With special guest performer Diana Toshiko!)
Kinda Sketchy (AKA Hot Tamales. As seen on Showtime!)
Watch as these 4 sketch comedy groups battle it out in bloodthirsty competition for the Sketch Comedy Crown! Come CHEER 18MMW on, and help us influence the judges and WIN THE CROWN!
remember: THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
March 10th, 2010 | Tags: 18 MMW, Comedy, Events
Events | Comments Off
Pictures added from “The Betrayed” and “Make a Movie Like” in the gallery section.
Thanks to everyone who supported the west coast premiere of “The Betrayed”!

March 1st, 2010 | Tags: New Pictures
Movies, Site Update, Theater | Comments Off
THE BETRAYED

Featuring: Kurt Kuniyoshi, Helen Ota, Brian Takahashi & Diana Toshiko
Award-winning Nisei playwright, poet and author Hiroshi Kashiwagi’s two-act play focuses on a young Nisei couple torn apart over the infamous loyalty questions #27 & #28 imposed upon them at the Tule Lake concentration camp during WWII. Forty years later, we meet Tak and Grace again, and learn how these questions and the decisions they made back then affected them for the rest of their lives.
Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 2 p.m. (SOLD OUT)
Panel presentation featuring Hiroshi Kashiwagi and special guest, Mary Matsuda Gruenewald to take place after the 3 p.m. Saturday show and 2 p.m. Sunday show.
Written by Hiroshi Kashiwagi
Directed by Darrell Kunitomi
Tateuchi Democracy Forum
at the National Center For the Preservation of Democracy
111 N. Central Avenue (at First Street & Central, across from the Japanese American National Museum).
To purchase tickets call 323/769-5503.
http://www.gratefulcrane.com/
General Admission (for all shows) $25; Museum members/ Seniors/Students $23, $20 group rate for groups of ten or more
February 26th, 2010 | Tags: Grateful Crane Ensemble, The Betrayed
Theater | Comments Off
Wrapped on “Make a Movie Like” written and directed by Jamil Walker Smith.
Booked a gig at the Melrose Improv at the Sketch Comedy Championships on March 16 Tuesday with the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, playing this woman:

Tickets for “The Betrayed” are sold on on Sunday Feb. 28th, almost sold out on Saturday Feb. 27th 11am and 3pm performances. At the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Across from the Japanese American National Museum)
Tickets: General Admission: $25.00
JANM Members/Seniors/Students: $23.00
Groups of ten (10) or more: $20.00
For tickets, call the Grateful Crane Ensemble hotline number at 323/769-5503
February 17th, 2010 | Tags: 18 MMW, Comedy, Events
Events, Movies, Theater | Comments Off
Written, directed by, and starring Jamil Walker Smith who also stars in “SGU: Stargate Universe” as “Ronald Greer”. Jamil is joined by Malcolm Goodwin playing the two leading roles.
Synopsis: Two best friends from South Central LA decide to join the Marines as a passage into manhood and an opportunity to start their lives anew. Once in Afghanistan, they soon realize their dreams and promise of a new life mean nothing in a place called War.
Diana plays “Megan”, who spends time with the duo before they leave for Afghanistan.
January 28th, 2010 | Tags: Make a Movie Like
Movies | Comments Off
Diana Toshiko has been cast as the young Grace in the Los Angeles premiere of “The Betrayed.”

Where: Tateuchi Democracy Forum at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Across from the Japanese American National Museum)
When: Saturday, February 27 * 11 AM & 3 PM
Sunday, February 28 * 2 PM
A Play by Hiroshi Kashiwagi
Directed by Darrell Kunitomi
Southern California Premiere
Award-winning Nisei playwright, actor, poet, and author Hiroshi Kashiwagi’s Southern California premiere of his new two-act play about a young Nisei couple torn apart over the infamous loyalty questions #27 & #28.
Forty years later, we meet Tak and Grace again, and learn how these questions and the decisions they made back then affected them for the rest of their lives.
Panel presentation with playwright Hiroshi Kashiwagi and special guest to follow the 3 p.m. Saturday show, and the 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.
Tickets: General Admission: $25.00
JANM Members/Seniors/Students: $23.00
Groups of ten (10) or more: $20.00
For tickets, call the Grateful Crane Ensemble hotline number at 323/769-5503
January 21st, 2010 | Tags: Grateful Crane Ensemble, The Betrayed
Theater | Comments Off
This second informal reading of “Fabric” the new play by Henry Ong brought together a lot of Asian American talent. Company of Angels will produce this play for a July 2010 debut. “Fabric” ties together stories of immigrant Thai woman workers working in a sweat shop in El Monte. The moving piece illustrates the duality of Thai culture, the struggle of slave labor, and the hopes of freedom in America.
January 18th, 2010 | Tags: Fabric
Theater | Comments Off
Happy new year, happy new you! It’s starting off great! Starting the year off fresh with a new blog look.
Booked January 17th is a play reading of Henry Ong’s “Fabric”
Last year Diana performed in the two person show “People Like Me” written by Henry Ong.
January 8th, 2010 | Site Update, Theater | Comments Off

There are lots of things to be thankful for this year:
“People Like Me” written by Henry Ong, starring Diana Toshiko and Giovanni Ortega at Occidental college
“Hell Froze Over” from Misplaced Planet, wrapped season 1,and won the Outside the Box award that the New York Television Festival
“Leads & Misfits” produced by Molly Durand, a showcase of original works had a successful run at the Lyric Theatre.
“Pink Slip” Webisode part 1, 2, and 3 filmed and aired.
“Bow Down to Your Asian Masters” by Emmy winning 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors had sold out shows in its four week run.
“Tuesday Night Cafe” performance with some amazing artists.
Thank you to all those involved in the projects, and all those who came out to support!
December 4th, 2009 | Tags: Comedy, Hell Froze Over
Theater, Webisode | Comments Off
Outside the Box Award: “Hell Froze Over”

Diana Toshiko "Brooke" and Tracy Clifton "Jody"
Created by: Misplaced Planet Productions: J Wilder Konschak, Michael Benni Pierce, Shaun Boyle, and Alli Hartley (Brooklyn, NY)
The Outside the Box Award is given to the most innovative or genre-expanding pilot in competition. This year’s winner “Hell Froze Over” features Jody who decides to go on a date with every man she’s ever turned down in order to prove a point to her roommate, Brooke. The 2008 Outside the Box Award winner, “Food Party,” aired as a series in 2009 on IFC.
Full descriptions of all pilots are available online at www.nytvf.com.
The NYTVF is supported by sponsors including Procter & Gamble Productions, People’s Choice, MSN, and WME Entertainment. Official Network Sponsors for the 2009 NYTVF include ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS and ION Television. The NYTVF works in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of New York City. For tickets or more information on the NYTVF, please visit www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com.
September 27th, 2009 | Tags: Hell Froze Over
Events, Webisode | Comments Off