YOUNG SAM OMURA’s world is turned upside down when Japan launches its attack on Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. government decides to intern all persons of Japanese Ancestry, including those like him who were born in America.     Struggling to find his voice and place in a chaotic world, and forever in the shadow of his older brother James, Sam is invited to work for the Heart Mountain Sentinel as an editor, under the guidance of the camp’s administrator and the head of the JACL, Mike Masaoka.  His editorials prove a polarizing force within the camp, until Young Sam must choose between his own beliefs and loyalty to his family. 

Telly was born and raised in New York City. He grew up in a traditional Chinese home in Brooklyn. Telly gained admission into New York’s prestigious math & science specialized high school, Stuyvesant H.S. It was at Stuyvesant that Telly seriously pursued theater as a break from physics and calculus, performing in high school productions of “Pippin”, “Guys & Dolls” and ‘West Side Story.” Telly’s first professional job was as a featured performer in THE WB-TEAM 11, doing live and television promotional work for the WB Channel 11. After high school, Telly was admitted to Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, where he received most of his formal training in acting, singing, and dance. 

It was during the summers off of his college career that Telly gained his Equity card performing at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and The St. Louis MUNY. He had the opportunity to work with some of the nation’s top directors and choreographers like Tony-winner Thommie Walsh, Paul Blake, Larry Fuller, Mitzi Hamilton, Liza Gennaro, Lee Roy Reams, and Mercedes Ellington It was also at CMU that Telly met fellow CMU-alum and Broadway favorite, Billy Porter, who returned to his alma mater to direct the main stage production of Sondheim’s COMPANY. After casting Telly as Bobby in “Company”, Porter made a phone call to his colleagues who were involved in the upcoming Broadway revival of FLOWER DRUM SONG and landed Telly an audition.

In the fall of 2002, Telly made his Broadway debut in the revival of ‘Flower Drum Song”, starring Lea Salonga, as a member of the ensemble and an understudy for Wang Ta. Telly later achieved a Broadway dream by working with Stephen Sondheim in Roundabout’s revival of “Pacific Overtures” in 2005.

After “Pacific Overtures”, Telly originated the role of Boq in the Chicago company of the hit musical “Wicked.” Another Broadway dream was achieved when Telly returned from Chicago, and gained a place in the Broadway company of RENT. He was a member of the final company – and made his film debut in Radical Media / Sony’s “RENT: Filmed Live on Broadway”, which is now available on DVD and Blue Ray. Telly has performed all over the country at Carnegie Hall, Paper Mill Playhouse, Philadelphia Theater Company, Sacramento Music Circus, Fords Theater, North Carolina Theater. Four Seasons Theater, and North Shore Music Theater.

Telly is featured in the recordings of “Flower Drum Song”, “Pacific Overtures”, “Dear Edwina”, and “Wall to Wall Sondheim.” In 2005, Telly released an EP of his original music, “Getaway” on Mopptopp Records. He is also a member of JARADOA THEATER. For more information, go to www.jaradoatheater.org.

Telly has appeared on TV in “Glee”, “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and recently played Kevin in the pilot of ABC’s performing arts drama, “Limelight.”