Spring 2007 – Noh NOW!

This season celebrates Japan Society’s centennial and features a range of diverse programs, from traditional noh classics to contemporary works inspired by noh, that explore the evolution and transformation of the 600-year old art form in both the East and West.


February

Big Dance Theater: The Other Here

© Stan Barouh.

This world premiere Japan Society commission weaves stories of Japanese novelist Masuji Ibuse into a surreal quest for purpose in the modern world.


March

Takeshi Kawamura: Aoi/Komachi

© Masaru Miyauchi.

Emulating the surreal tones of Japanese horror movies, the masterful writer/director directs a double-bill of his striking interpretations of classic noh plays by Ze’ami.


April

Benjamin Britten: Curlew River

© heka.

Yoshi Oida directs and David Stern conducts an international cast and musicians from l’orchestre de l’opera de Rouen in this opera based on the classic noh play Sumidagawa.


May

Hanjo & The Lady Aoi

© Laurie Lambrecht.

Two modern noh plays by Yukio Mishima are explored in works-in-progress by two New York-based theater directors – Leon Ingulsrud and The South Wing’s Kameron Steele.

Koosil-ja: mech[a]output

© Pascale Willi.

Dance meets technology in this multimedia performance exploration of the classic noh play Dojoji.


July

Noh & Kyogen in the Park

© Shinji Masakawa.

Enjoy a balmy summer evening with the stars of traditional Japanese theater! Featuring Umewaka Rokuro, Kanze Tetsunojo and Nomura Mansai.