NGEC Organization Fellow [MN]: Mu Performing Arts

Mu Performing Arts has been the premier Asian American performing arts organization in the Midwest for over fifteen years. The third largest Asian American Theater company in the nation, they define their target audience as the Asian-Pacific population of the greater Twin Cities area as well as the non-Asian community. 

Through their main stage performances, festivals, taiko classes, and outreach programs, they reach over 40,000 audience members annually in the Twin Cities area, greater Minnesota, and as far away as Alaska. 

Through their exciting theater productions and our dynamic taiko performances, Mu Performing Arts shapes the cultural landscape of the Twin Cities by giving voice to the Asian American experience. their vision is to fill every seat and transform every heart through the power of theater and taiko.

Mu Performing Arts' NGEC leadership team includes:

Rick Shiomi has been one of the leaders of the Asian American theater movement over the past twenty years. He is a playwright with over twenty plays to his credit including Yellow Fever, Rosie's Cafe, Uncle Tadao, Mask Dance and Journey of the Drum. He has also directed many plays for Mu. He is a founding member of Theater Mu (1992) and has been the artistic director since 1993.

Don Eitel, Managing Director of Mu since August 2007 has been involved in the Twin Cities theater community since 1993. Starting as an actor, Don later became Managing Artistic Director and Founder of Starting Gate Productions, a small theater company that appeared in many end of year top critic picks. He also worked as Development Associate for Park Square Theater.

Iris Shiraishi is currently the Taiko Programs Director and a performing member of Mu Daiko. She has been affiliated with Mu for 12 years and has a background in music, music therapy and arts administration.