Honoring Rick Shiomi’s 20 Years as Artistic Director of Mu Performing Arts

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. Among his many awards includes 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.