La MaMa E.T.C. Presents HITOHILA 2010 2/25-28

"The Last Golden Bat - Hitohira 2010" will have its world premiere February 25-28, 2010 at La MaMa ETC in the First Floor Theatre. This piece is homage to the original production "Golden Bat" created by The Tokyo Kid Brothers at La MaMa in 1970 to honor Artistic Director, Ellen Stewart.

Itsuro Shimoda along with the remaining original members of the Tokyo Kid Brothers create "Hitohira 2010", a continuum of "Golden Bat". The premise behind the production which is lead by Itsuro Shimoda and will combine music, dance, visual images and texts which will create one symphonic poem. Performers will be from Japan and will be joined by Ukrainian-American and Italian-American artist as well as traditional Korean dancer, Ri-hae Kim and dancers who will perform the Chikuho regional traditional "bon-dance". The story begins with the premise of a girl who has grown up hearing the story of "Golden Bat" from her mother and decides to visit New York to fit the pieces of the story together.

"Golden Bat" was a rock musical, created and directed by Yutaka Higashi, composed by Itsuro Shimoda and performed by The Tokyo Kid Brothers. After it's premiere at Café La MaMa this production went on to have a successful 10 month Off-Broadway run at The Sheridan Square Theatre and was the first contemporary Japanese Theatre Company in USA history to do so.

There was a time when this Golden Bat dwelled in people's hearts. It was 1970. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin died by drug overdose and in Japan Yukio Mishima died with a Japanese sword raised overhead. Singing and dancing transform insanity into a festival. The stage shook the land of the living while the loud laughter of the Golden Bat echoed from the land of death. The themes of the original "Golden Bat" were dreams and solidarities. All living creatures on this earth repeat "life" and "death" eternally. Mel Gussow from The New York Times wrote: "Show About Rebels Is Full of Enthusiasm".

This is the last time that the original company members of The Tokyo Kid Brothers will ever perform together, as they Celebrate Ellen during La MaMa's 48th Season, so do not miss this historic event.

February 25 - 28, 2010
Friday & Saturday at 8:00pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
Box Office (212) 475-7710 www.lamama.org
TICKETS: $ 18 Student & Senior tickets are $13 with valid ID
10% discount for Groups of 10 or more. Please call 212-254-6468 for group sales.
La MaMa E.T.C is located at 74A East 4th St. between 2nd Avenue and The Bowery
(F/V to 2nd Avenue, 6 to Astor Place, N/R to 8th St.)

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