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Director George Bellah draws on his recent travels to Southeast
Asia to bring the theatre traditions of Asia to the CWU stage.
March 2 and 3 at 7 p.m.
Hertz Auditorium
March 9 at 7 p.m.
Plymouth Congregational Church Hall
1217 6th Avenue Seattle, WA
Central Washington University's Theatre Arts department has been
notified their production of NOH TELLING has been invited to the
regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival to be
held in Laramie, WY February 2008.
A fusion of Eastern and Western theatre styles and sensibilities,
the project was originally commissioned by the Asian Studies Development
Program and presented at the 2007 International Conference in Seattle
on March 10, 2007 it was also presented to the public in Seattle
at a separate performance and on the CWU campus for those who could
not attend the Seattle performances. It was remounted supporting
the World Languages Day held on CWU campus in the Spring of 2007.
The production focuses on two traditional Japanese plays. "Komachi,"
by renowned American playwright Romulus Linney, is based on the
seven Noh plays focusing on various episodes of Komachi's life,
her poetry, as well as the truth, myths and various legends which
grew up around her life.
"Boshibari," wittily translated from the anonymous Kyogen
original by Irish scholar Eileen Kato, is more directly derivative
of the Noh traditions. As the comic counterpart to serious and contemplative
Noh plays, Kyogen enjoys a wide range of interpretations when performed
by the different schools of Noh artists.
Director George Bellah began his research for the production with
two recent research trips to Southeast Asia. The cast also had the
opportunity to work with Japanese movement specialist Masako Hojo
in a series of workshops preparing them for the exacting and traditional
movement style of Noh theatre. Hojo, who studied in the traditional
style in Japan, is now working in New York for a costume company.
Her most recent work was seen in the Broadway production of "Tarzan."
"Through advanced training, research and study, we are attempting
to honor Asian theatre traditions while making the play and its
style understandable and enjoyable for an American audience,"
says Bellah.
Designing costumes for the production is former CWU Theatre Arts
faculty member Cheri Vasek. A professor at the University of Idaho,
Vasek teaches Cheri costume design, mask making, millinery and makeup
and has also focused in advanced research on Asian theatre.
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