The Repertory Actors Workshop (ReAct) is proud to raise the curtain on its production of Independence by Lee Blessing, presented non-traditionally with an Asian-American cast and directed by David Hsieh.

Blending humor and telling insights, Independence is the powerful, disturbing study of a family divided against itself. Set in the small town of Independence, Iowa, the play centers around a mother and her three daughters, each struggling to free themselves from the binding emotional ties of their family and their past. Independence originally opened to critical and popular acclaim as part of the Human Festival of New American Plays. ReAct's production of Independence features some of the Northwest's finest Asian-American talent, including Caroline Liem, Lisa Marie Nakamura, Kathy Hsieh and Colleen Parker.

ReAct strives to provide quality entertainment using non-traditional casting. Its purpose is to give artists of all skill levels the opportunity to work on mainstream projects that they might not normally have access to due to ethnicity, gender or experience. A not-for-profit philanthropic company, ReAct also works to service our community by doing benefit performances to raise money, awareness and supplies for charitable organizations.

This production of Independence will benefit the Northwest AIDS Foundation, the University of Washington School of Drama, the Northwest Asian American Theatre, the Seattle Fringe Theatre Festival, and several other charities in the Seattle community. Box office proceeds will be donated to each of these organizations and a canned food drive will benefit Northwest Harvest. ($1 off admission with canned food donations.)

Performance dates are July 2-August 2, Fridays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 4:00 p.m. (no show on July 4) and an additional performance on July 3. A gala reception will follow the opening night performance on Wednesday, July 2.

Ticket prices are $12 for general admission, $9 for students/seniors/military/disabled and $6 for children and theatre artists. Special "pay-as-you-can performances are available on Sundays, July 6 and 13 only. All performances will be held at the wheelchair-accessible and air-conditioned Theatre Off Jackson (409 7th Avenue South) in Seattle's historic International District. For more information and ticket reservations, call (206) 364-3283.