[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING RICK SHIOMI'S 20 YEARS AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF MU PERFORMING 
                                  ARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY MCCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the inspiring career 
of Mr. Rick Shiomi, a leader for Asian-American actors and artists, as 
he retires as Artistic Director from Mu Performing Arts in Saint Paul, 
Minnesota.
  Rick Shiomi co-founded Mu Performing Arts in 1992 and served as 
Artistic Director for the next 20 years. Finding that Asian-American 
theater did not exist in the Twin Cities at the time, Rick worked to 
bring community voices to the stage. He helped form Mu Daiko, a taiko 
drumming ensemble, which later became Mu Performing Arts to reflect the 
broad artistic base of theater, taiko and artistic development. Today, 
because of Rick's extraordinary leadership and energy, Mu is increasing 
the size of Asian-American audiences and the number of Asian-American 
performers who flourish in the Twin Cities.
  Thanks to Rick's vision, Mu Performing Arts has become one of the 
largest pan Asian-American performing arts companies in the United 
States. He has been recognized numerous times for his outstanding work. 
His many awards include a 2012 Ivey Award for Lifetime Achievement in 
Twin Cities theater and a 2007 Sally Award for Vision from the Ordway 
Center for the Performing Arts. Mu is also a leader in the local and 
national development of Asian-American theater and taiko. Rick and Mu 
Performing Arts have helped develop and support the work of local and 
national playwrights, actors, directors, and musicians by premiering 
many new works, fostering a new generation of Asian-American artists. 
Through educational, community and corporate outreach programs the 
company has provided access to Asian-American culture and arts to 
communities who otherwise may not have the opportunity to experience 
it.
  Rick's influence has brought Asian-American actors into 
nontraditional roles in other theaters and helped elevate the 
recognition of the Asian-American community. Mu Performing Arts is a 
Minnesota treasure and the legacy of Rick will live on in Mu Performing 
Arts' work bringing Asian-American voices to the stage in the Twin 
Cities.
  Mr. Speaker, in honor of Mr. Rick Shiomi, a visionary for Asian-
American performing art and artists, I am pleased to submit this 
statement to the Congressional Record in recognition of his retirement 
as Artistic Director from Mu Performing Arts.

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