Basil Twist’s Dogugaeshi

Contemporary Puppet Theater

Wednesday, September 11 at 7:30 pm—Followed by a Private Gathering for Artists and Members
Thursday, September 12 at 7:30 pm
Friday, September 13 at 2:30 pm** and 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 14 at 2:30 pm** and 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 15 at 2:30 pm** and 7:30 pm
Tuesday, September 17 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, September 18 at 2:30 pm** and 7:30 pm
Thursday, September 19 at 7:30 pm

Limited to 75 per performance. (Seating: General Admission)

Dogugaeshi, the award-winning phenomenon by genius puppeteer Basil Twist, is back! Born as a Japan Society commission, this ever-innovative piece now celebrates its 20th anniversary. Enter a mystical world, where a mysterious white fox shepherds you through past and present Japan. Inspired by a disappearing traditional stage mechanism from Japan’s Awa region called dogugaeshi, Twist has created fusuma screens with stunning painted imagery that dance, slide, flip, conceal and reveal to pull audiences deeper into a brain-bending optical illusion. Dogugaeshi is a cross-cultural collaboration with master shamisen player and experimental musician Yumiko Tanaka, whose multi-layered music collage embraces everything from traditional tunes to popular songs.

“A gorgeous… cavorting… dance… it will come to you as far as you let it in.”
—The New York Times

**New York-based shamisen musician Yoko Reikano Kimura will perform for the matinee shows. Yumiko Tanaka will perform for all evening shows.

Part of the Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series
September—December 2024

Save 20% when you purchase a ticket to any 3 programs in the Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series (not including workshops). Offer only valid for tickets purchased in the same transaction.

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Images: Dogugaeshi © Richard Termine; Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series: The Love Suicides at Sonezaki © Photo by Tomoko Ogawa.

The Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry series is supported by The Jim Henson Foundation.

Dogugaeshi is supported by Doug and Teresa Peterson. Support for the international travel of Yumiko Tanaka is provided by The Japan Foundation.

2024-25 Performing Arts Season Support

The season is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Additional, major support is generously provided by Doug and Teresa Peterson, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund, John and Miyoko Davey Foundation, and a leadership gift from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Program support is also generously provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; Hisamitsu America, Inc.; Akiko Mikumo; Hiroko Onoyama; Richard and Momona Royce; Dr. and Mrs. Carl F. Taeusch II; Dr. Jeanette C. Takamura; Nancy and Joe Walker; Estate of Alan M. Suhonen; and Performing Arts Circle members.

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is the official airline of the Japan Society Performing Arts Program. Yamaha is the official piano provider of Japan Society.

Japan Society programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.