Pan Asian Repertory Theatre and the company of SHOGUN MACBETH invites manga, anime, comic and graphic novel enthusiasts to MANGA NIGHT at the Julia Miles Theater (424 W. 55th St. between 9th & 10th Ave) on Thursday, November 6th at 6:30PM. Dress as your favorite character for a pre-show reception and your tickets are $35. The evening will include complimentary snacks and Singha Beer from Thailand and Monsoon Valley Wines. A talk back with Larry Hama, creator of G.I. Joe and Pornsak Pichetshote, editor of DC Comics will take place following the performance. For more information, please visit www.PanAsianRep.org.
Pan Asian Repertory Theatre launches their 32nd season with SHOGUN MACBETH, an adaptation by John R. Briggs from the play by William Shakespeare. Directed by Ernest Abuba (Pacific Overtures, Yellow Fever) with Japanese movement by Sachiyo Ito (2008 Japan Foreign Minister’s Commendation) and fight choreography by Michael G. Chin (Rashomon), SHOGUN MACBETH begins performances at the Julia Miles Theatre (424 W. 55th Street between 9th & 10th Aves) on November 4th with opening night set for November 12th at 7:00 p.m.
A cultural transmutation, SHOGUN MACBETH channels Shakespeare’s tragic tale of power and greed to the feudal military dictatorship of 12th century Japan (Kamakura Period), a time of warring clans. The three witches are “Yojo’s,” obaki creatures with spiritual and supernatural powers. While incorporating the classical Japanese art forms of Noh and Kyogen, SHOGUN MACBETH retains Shakespeare’s language and historical medieval period.
The cast stars Kaipo Schwab from Hawaii, who is making his Pan Asian debut as MacBeth and
Rosanne Ma (CHINA DOLL), along with other veteran artists: Keoni Scott (ALOHA LAS VEGAS), Marcus Ho (RASHOMON),
Tom Matsusaka (THE JOY LUCK CLUB), Ron Nakahara (CAMBODIA AGONISTES), Ken Park (RASHOMON),
Shigeko Suga (KWATZ! The Tibetan Project) as well as the next generation of artists: Calvin Ahn, Claro Austria, Claro de los Reyes, Ariel Estrada, Emi F Jones, Nadia Gan, Yoko Hyun and
Sacha Iskra.
The set design is by Charlie Corcoran (YOHEN) with costumes by Carol Pelletier (THE JOY LUCK CLUB) and lighting design by Victor En Yu Tan (CAMBODIA AGONISTES) and stage managed by
Elis C. Arroyo.
“Pan Asian Rep is honored to continue our Masterpiece Cycle with a new production of SHOGUN MACBETH,” said
Tisa Chang, Artistic Director. “The classic tragedy opens up the world of Japanese culture and history while maintaining the integrity of Shakespeare’s tale. John Briggs’ inspiration came from the parallels of Shakespeare’s tragic characters with the philosophy that guided the samurai way of life.”
SHOGUN MACBETH has performances Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinee’s on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. For tickets, please visit www.telecharge.com or call (212) 239-6200.
Larry Hama is a Japanese American writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s. He is best known as a writer and editor for Marvel Comics, where he wrote the licensed comic book series G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, based on the Hasbro action figures. He has also written for the series Wolverine, Nth Man: the Ultimate Ninja, and Elektra, and he created the character Bucky O’Hare, which was developed into a comic book, a toy line and a television cartoon. During the 1970s, he was seen in minor roles on the TV shows M*A*S*H and Saturday Night Live, and he appeared on Broadway in two roles in the original 1976 production of
Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures.
JOHN R BRIGGS (Adapter) specializes in adaptations of classics: JULIO CESAR, THE COWBOY COMEDY OF ERRORS, and for Pan Asian Rep SHOGUN MACBETH and DOLL’S HOUSE. He has extensive experience as writer and director with original musicals: ROMANCIN’ THE ONE I LOVE, ILLYRIA, DRACULA, A ROCK OPERA and co-wrote CRAZY LOVE. He has directed at major theaters in the nation including: Asolo Theatre, Barter Theater,
Alabama Shakespeare Festival,
Florida Stage Company, and Tennessee Shakespeare Theater. He is the artistic director of OFFSQUARE THEATRE in Jackson, Wyoming.
Ernest Abuba (Director) is a veteran actor, director, and playwright. On Broadway in LOOSE ENDS by
Michael Weller, the original cast of PACIFIC OVERTURES as well as the 1985 revival starring as the Reciter; SHIMADA, ZOYA’S APARTMENT and won an Obie for his role in YELLOW FEVER at Pan Asian Rep where he is a Senior Artist with over 20 shows as actor, director and playwright. Films and TV include: 12 MONKEYS, KING OF NEW YORK, KUNG FU, ADDERLY and is the voice of the Dalai Lama on the audio book THE ART OF HAPPINESS. Directing favorites include: LEIR REX at LaMama, SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER at
Sarah Lawrence College, LEMON SKY at Chen & Dancers, and is delighted to be at the helm of the new production of SHOGUN MACBETH having created the title role in the its world premiere. Abuba has been on the
Sarah Lawrence theatre faculty for 13 years.
Tisa Chang (Artistic Producing Director) celebrates 45 years in the American Theatre as dancer, actress, director, producer, and founded Pan Asian Repertory Theatre to empower Asian American artists. Directing highlights include last season’s THE JOY LUCK CLUB, 2003’s RASHOMON which was invited to the Havana Theatre Festival, CAMBODIA AGONISTES which was invited to arts festivals in Cairo and Johannesburg and had a popular return to New York in 2005. Chang is also active in public service having served on panels for DCA, NEA, NYSCA, FULBRIGHT, and has been recognized with honors for Lifetime Achievement Award from OCA – LI; 2004
Alfred Drake Award from Brooklyn College; 1991 Medal of Distinction from Barnard College and 1988 Special Theatre World Award. She is on the Executive Board of SSDC, the union of stage directors & choreographers.
Founded in 1977, PAN ASIAN REP is the pioneer producer of Asian American theatre east of the Rockies, with a full New York season off-Broadway, training programs, international and national touring. For more than 30 years, Pan Asian Rep has celebrated the artistic expressiveness of Asian American theatre artists with the highest standards of professional theatre. The company encourages new plays with contemporary themes, that draw upon the unique heritage of Asian history, music and movement. Benchmark productions have focused on the historical acmes and nadirs of migration, assimilation, internment, bias killings, joys and celebrations of Asian American society.
It is timely that a 5 year Masterpiece cycle of iconic classics from the repertoire, as well as new works, was launched in 2007 to challenge Pan Asian Rep’s veteran Senior Artists Core, and the next generation of Emerging Artists, in conjunction with a long-range plan to ensure artistic continuity and institutional growth. The Masterpiece Cycle began with the critically acclaimed 2007 new production of THE JOY LUCK CLUB by
Susan Kim and based on the novel by
Amy Tan, and future seasons will include the New York premiere of IMELDA, a new musical in the fall of 2009 and INDIAN INK by
Tom Stoppard in 2010.
