Being Asian in America can be a...

Being Asian in America can be a puzzling, frustrating, invigorating experience. Stereotypes, racism, cultural enlightenment--you can experience it all in a single day, Asian-Americans say.

“A Slice Of Rice” is a biting interpretation of that varied experience by a group of performance artists. The show is composed of individual performances that include a Japanese-American’s memory of internment during World War II, an East Indian’s monologue on culture shock and a Vietnamese dancer’s representation of forced acculturation in America.

Each of the cast members has created his or her own one-person show. A performance at Cal Poly Pomona at 8 p.m. Tuesday will include Amy Hill, Shishir Kurup, Louise Mita, Nobuko Miyamoto and Long Nguyen.

The performance artists have been performing the show to sold-out audiences at California colleges for two years. Tuesday’s performance will be the last in

the state before the group travels to Seattle and then to Southeast Asia.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for seniors and children under 12, $6 for students. Group rates are available. The Cal Poly Theater is on the campus at 3801 W. Temple Ave. Information: (714) 869-3900.

For lovers of Italian food, there is Marinara Madness at the 5th annual Pizza and Italian Festival, today between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.

Event organizers promise 150 varieties of pizza and pasta dishes from 35 Los Angeles-area restaurants.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $13 at the door. A four-ticket family pack is $35. Information: (818) 577-5817.