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Simu Liu has been announced as the host of the 21st Unforgettable Gala (Unfo), the annual awards show honoring the entertainment industry’s Asian Pacific Islander community. The “Barbie” and “Shang Chi” star returns as emcee after serving in the role in 2019.

The Unforgettable Gala, which will take place Dec. 16 at the Beverly Hilton, spotlights Api excellence and representation across entertainment, arts and culture. The black-tie gala will feature a performance from the band Common Kings and a Broadway musical medley celebrating Api Tony award winners performed by Broadway actors Jennifer Paz, Deedee Magno Hall and Joan Almedilla, and arranged by music director Troy Laureta.

“Unforgettable is one of my favorite events of the year, and I’m excited to return to emcee and celebrate with all the incredible talent in the room,” said Liu. “Despite a challenging year for the entertainment industry, Asian creatives in Hollywood are more resilient than ever,...

Everybody loves Abba — and that includes every race, gender, religion and every kind of person under the sun. That said, it’s no wonder that Mamma Mia!, a Broadway show that turned into Universal movie musical and a sequel that garnered box office success and acclaim among the masses. As the nation’s longest-running professional theater of color producing Asian American artistic work., the Los Angeles-based theater group East West Players (Ewp) saw an opportunity to not only put on a production of the popular jukebox musical for their 53rd anniversary season but to switch things up with a majority Asian cast.

In a time when Hollywood sees a craving and demand for inclusive casting, East West Players answered the call to action by doing something that many would be considered bold: cast a musical that traditionally stars white actors with non-white actors. In other words, East West Players Hamilton‘d Mamma Mia!