George Takei to Appear at Amdocs Opening Night April 6

The American Documentary Film Festival (Festival Website) opens up with special guest legendary actor and human rights activist George Takei and the film ALLEGIANCE TO BROADWAY, which chronicles the making of an unlikely stage musical out of Takei’s true life experience growing up in WWII Japanese internment camps.  Best known for his starring role in the television series Star Trek, Takei is now one of the most followed and respected advocates for human rights. 
 
“At a time when the ugly echoes of fear and racial prejudice once again grow louder with each passing day, remembering our history becomes critical”, George Takei said. “Pearl Harbor and WWII put our country to the test, and while we as a nation rose up to the challenge and fought out enemies abroad, sadly we also turned against our own at home and inflicted on our fellow citizens an injustice and should never be forgotten. How terrible it is to contemplate, once again, that division. That cannot happen again.”
 
Takei will be presented with the Rozene Supple Humanitarian Award.
 

ALLEGIANCE TO BROADWAY
By Greg VanderVeer
Up against all odds, two novice producers attempt to create a hit Broadway musical out of George Takei’s experience in the WWII internment camps. Allegiance follows Jay Kuo, Lorenzo Thione and their creative team from page to stage as they grapple with the tough subject matter of this shameful period in American history, and their obligation to George’s legacy. Plagued by the fear that people will not buy tickets to see a Japanese internment camp musical, they must decide between commercial appeal and their own creative instincts. From rehearsals to marketing meetings and everywhere in between, the documentary sheds a light on the tough business and creative decisions that all Broadway producers must face when trying to navigate the rough waters of the Great White Way.
 

George Takei
With an acting career spanning six decades, George Takei is known around the world for his founding role in the acclaimed Star Trek, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the Starship Enterprise. But Takei’s story goes where few stories have gone before. From a childhood spent with his family wrongfully imprisoned in Japanese American internment camps during World War II, to becoming one of the country’s leading figures in the fight for social justice, LGBTQ rights, and marriage equality, Takei remains a powerful voice on issues ranging from politics to pop culture. Mashable.com named Takei the number one most influential person on Facebook, with 10.4 million likes and 2.8 million followers on Twitter.

Takei has long been a passionate advocate for social injustice, outspoken supporter of human rights issues and a community activist. He has served as the spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign “Coming Out Project”, and was also chairman emeritus and trustee of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. He was appointed to the Japan-US Friendship Commission by former President Clinton and the government of Japan awarded Takei the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his contribution to the US-Japanese relations. The decoration was conferred by His Majesty, Emperor Akihito, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.