Randy Reyes to lead Mu Performing Arts

Actor and director Randy Reyes will succeed founder Rick Shiomi as artistic director of St. Paul-based Mu Performing Arts.

Mu is one of the largest Asian-American arts groups in the country, and enjoys a national reputation for its theatrical work, and its drumming group Mu Daiko.

Reyes said it will be tough following Shiomi's acclaim, but there is still a lot to do.

"We need to continue to nurture more playwrights and more ways of telling our story and producing, and educating the community about Asian-American theater, and continue to tell our story, because our stories haven't been told nearly as much as other stories," Reyes said.

Shiomi, who founded Mu in 1993, will step down Aug. 31. He will continue to be involved in the organization's productions.

Reyes, who is well-known as an actor and director in the Twin Cities, said he will be meeting with many people in his new role.

"Rick has been the face of this organization for so long and he's built these great deep relationships with so many people," Reyes said. "And to assure them I want to continue that work and take it to another level and not have a radical change in how I see what Mu is going to be doing."