The Flea Theater Presents Kurotama Kikaku’s KUTSUKAKE TOKIJIRO

The Flea Theater presents Kurotama Kikaku's production of KUTSUKAKE TOKIJIRO conceived, adapted, and directed by Jun Kim (The Flea's Obie Award-winning Benten Kozo) based on the popular 1928 Japanese play by Shin Hasegawa. Previews begin November 10, with opening night slated for November 13.

KUTSUKAKE TOKIJIRO is a traditional Japanese gangster story that explores the themes of love, obligation and self-sacrifice. After Kutsukake Tokijiro (a.k.a. Toki) slays rival gangster Sanzo, he promises to take care of Sanzo's pregnant wife and son and, most importantly, free them all from the violent gangster lifestyle. Initially, they live the life of poor artists and all is well. But when they fall on hard times, Toki is offered a high-paying job for the gangster Boss and faces a tough decision that will affect the course of many lives.

Director Jun Kim Transforms this human drama into a theatrical fantasy that combines theater, music, dance, and visual arts. The production draws from diverse cultural influences -- both traditional and modern, Eastern and Western -- to form hybrid J-Pop theatre. This hybrid will incorporate elements of Western movies, Spanish flamenco, Japanese pop culture, anime, manga, Noh, Kabuki and contemporary dance.

KUTSUKAKE TOKIJIRO is one of the most well-known examples of Taishu Engeki theater, a Japanese performing arts style, unlike as Kabuki, Noh or Butoh, that is not widely known to Americans. Most popular from the 1920s to the 1950s in Japan, Taishu Engeki literally means "mass popular theatre." Unlike traditional Kabuki or Noh theatre, it was written using modern language and was performed at small venues by traveling troupes of actors. As a result, it brought theatre to the mass population. Kurotama Kikaku's version of Kutsukake Tokijiro keeps the essence of traditional Taishu Engeki and fuses it with 21st Century's J-pop culture.

The production team for KUTSUKAKE TOKIJIRO is a unique amalgam of International Artists: acclaimed Japanese composer Ryo Yoshimata provides original music; New York-based dancer/choreographer Kayoko Sakoh creates a mix of traditional and contemporary movements; Japanese translator Keiko Tsuneda, who has translated many Broadway musicals, provides the first-ever English translation of the play; and Yoann Trellu, a French artist based in Berlin, provides video.

Jun Kim, a native of Japan with Korean heritage, is an actor, dancer and director. Jun is an original member of the Bat Theater Company at The Flea where he has worked and collaborated with Jim Simpson on productions including the Obie Award-winning Benten Kozo. He attended Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris and Theatre de Complicite in London. His theater credits include Fan Macbeth with Crossing Jamaica Avenue; Heavenly Bento with Post Theater (Japan Society in NYC, Berlin, Bonn, Singapore); Hold the Clock with Yoshiko Chuma; Natsu Matsuri with Nakamura Kanzaburo's Heisei Nakamuraza Kabuki Theater directed by Kazuyoshi Kushida (Lincoln Center Festival), Foreign Exchange with Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, Sake with the Haiku Geisha and more. Jun Kim is a recipient of a grant from the Japan-US Arts Program of Asian Cultural Council in 2003 and studied Kabuki Theater in Japan.

Kurotama Kikaku Theater Company is a performing arts development group based in New York. Under the direction of actor/director Jun Kim, Kurotama Kikaku's aim is to create dynamic theater through the performing arts. Kurotrama Kikaku is associated with the theater ensemble, Theatre de Moon, and the dance group, Kayoko Sakoh Dance and has organized workshops and performances in both New York and Japan.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie and Otto awards, The Flea has presented nearly 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of The Guys; six plays by A.R. Gurney (Post Mortem, O Jerusalem, Screenplay, Mrs. Farnsworth, A Light Lunch and Office Hours); and plays by Mac Wellman, Roger Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Swados, Karen Finley, Adam Rapp, Will Eno, Thomas Bradshaw, Jonathan Reynolds, Bathsheba Doran, Steven Banks, Trista Baldwin, Laurel Haines, Sheila Callaghan and many more.

KUTSUKAKE TOKIJIRO runs November 10-27, performance schedule varies. The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Tickets are $20, available at 212-352-3101 or www.theflea.org. For more information, visit www.kurotamakikaku.com.

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