East West Players will present “The Nisei Widows Club: How Tomi Got Her Groove Back” from Nov. 7 to Dec. 8 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre, 120 Judge John Aiso St. in Little Tokyo.
Written by Betty Tokudani and directed by Amy Hill, with choreography by Keali’i Ceballos, this is the third installment of a comic trilogy following the lives of a group of widowed Nisei women who only have each other in the face of loss and the search for love in their golden years.
Tomi loses her only son to a heart attack at the early age of 45, and the other widows gather around her during this time of grief. Hilarity ensues when they embark on an unforgettable trip to Hawaii, which unleashes the cougar in all of them at a hula retreat.
The production brings back the original “Nisei widows” — Takayo Fischer as Sumi, Emily Kuroda as Hana, June Kyoko Lu as Betty, and Jeanne Sakata as Tomi — who last appeared together in “Nisei Widows Club: Holiday on Thin Ice.” EWP introduces Tui Asau as the object of their desire, Kimo the hula teacher.
These plays “have really struck a humorous chord with the community, even though the story centers around loss,” says Tim Dang, producing artistic director of EWP. “This newest story will feature even more laughter, demonstrating the strength of these senior citizen women in times of adversity.”
Preview performances: Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 7-9, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. Tickets: $21 general, $16 for students.
Opening night is Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. and includes a 7 p.m. pre-performance cocktail reception and post-show reception with the cast and creative team (call theater for availability).
Regular performances: Nov. 14 to 29, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Nov. 30 to Dec. 8: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Southern California Edison Community Night is Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Pst-show discussion with the performers and creative team after the show on Sunday, Nov. 24. A special “pay-what-you-can” performance is on Friday, Nov. 29.
Added: Saturday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. No performances on Wednesday, Nov. 27, Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving) and Wednesday, Dec. 4. The Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 performances are sold out.
Wine Down Fridays: A complimentary glass of red or white wine will be served before the Friday show during the regular performance run. Must be 21 or older to drink.
Presented in community partnership with Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Japanese American National Museum, and AARP.
For more information, call (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org.