Nick Ishimaru's guest appearances

Nick Ishimaru

Green Room On Air with Ray Renati

The Marc Guzman Experience

The Hyndsyte Project

Martha Stoumen

David Rosen

Sara Moore

Elizabeth Warren

Roseanne Barr

John Fisher

John Prine

Keith Robinson

Harry Dean Stanton

Italina Kirknis

Bonnie Raitt

Jennifer Marshall

Arthur Miller

Sam Shepard

Spike Jonze

OwlTail

Playwright Ai Aida (they/them), director Keiko Carreiro (she/they), co-director and actor Nick Ishimaru (he/him) sit with the Hyndsyte Project to discuss their gender expansiveness and fluidity in the context of Japanese culture, exploration of gender and activism through theatre, and the process of creating a diversely-cast, online theatre production with multidisciplinary art forms to both honor and deconstruct Japanese folktale tropes and stereotypes in The True Tale of Princess Kaguya (written by Aida, directed by Carreiro, co-directed by and starring Ishimaru), as part of SF Playground's 2020 Innovators Showcase.  Free tickets with options for donation available here for 11/20 (Fri), 11/21 (Sat), and  11/22 (Sun). More information on the production can be found here.

Playwright Ai Aida (they/them), director Keiko Carreiro (she/they), co-director and actor Nick Ishimaru (he/him) sit with the Hyndsyte Project to discuss their gender expansiveness and fluidity in the context of Japanese culture, exploration of gender and activism through theatre, and the process of creating a diversely-cast, online theatre production with multidisciplinary art forms to both honor and deconstruct Japanese folktale tropes and stereotypes in The True Tale of Princess Kaguya (written by Aida, directed by Carreiro, co-directed by and starring Ishimaru), as part of SF Playground's 2020 Innovators Showcase.  Free tickets with options for donation available here for <a href="https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?performance=963" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">11/20 (Fri)</a>, <a href="https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?performance=964" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">11/21 (Sat)</a>, and  <a href="https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?performance=965" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">11/22 (Sun).</a> More information on the production can be found <a href="https://www.kunoichiproductions.org/upcoming-production?fbclid=IwAR2CM2elWdt9INQuBiJJ-1RshD4ZS-FywfaR_-0QRnQ8TjEYPAH4LwrSPco" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here.</a>

The Hyndsyte Project with Ai Aida, Keiko Carreiro, and Nick Ishimaru: Reimagining a Traditional Japanese Folktale as a Genderqueer, Feminist, Absurdist Comedy of Manners

Shannon Davis

Theatre of Yugen Web Site http://www.theatreofyugen.org/ Puppets &amp; Poe Directed by Shannon R. Davis Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, devised by Theatre of Yugen, enacted with post-consumer material puppets. BE VERY AFRAID October 3 - November 2, 2019 Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 PM $15 STUDENTS, $35 GENERAL ADMISSION, $45 VIP (INCLUDES FREE DRINKS) Preview on October 3: Use Code “PREVIEW” at checkout for $20 Tickets Featuring: Ella Cooley, Alan Coyne, Shannon R. Davis, Steven Flores, Nick Ishimaru, and Jamin Jollo CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS or Go to http://www.theatreofyugen.org/poe   NICK ISHIMARU - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Nick Ishimaru was trained originally as a musical theatre performer and started exploring Japanese theatre while studying at Colorado State University (BA, 2005), where he directed a kabuki adaptation of MacBeth. He went on to study at San Francisco State University, (MA, 2009). His work explores a combination of Western and traditional Asian performance techniques for original creations, along with work in conventional musical theatre and Shakespeare.  In October 2016, he opened his debut as Theatre of Yugen’s Artistic Director, The Red Demon by Noda Hideki.  Previous directing work includes It Ain’t Me by Claire Rice (original), Land of Infants by Meghan O’Patry (original), and Kaguya (original adaptation).  Other recent production work includes A Minor Cycle by Greg Giovanni (original; actor and fight choreographer), This Lingering Life by Chiori Miyagawa (original; actor), and several traditional kyogen plays with the Theatre of Yugen (actor). SHANNON DAVIS - ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE Descendant of the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Saami people, Shannon R. Davis (Bay area director, actor, and educator) is 2018 Phil Killian Directing Fellow at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Credits: Othello (associate director, American Repertory Theatre); Othello &amp; Manahatta (assistant director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Adulting for Beginners (Musical Café/Ashby Stage); Religomania (Exit Theatre/San Francisco Fringe Festival); Monsters &amp; Wild Things (Brava Theater Center).   ________ Music by Carly Ozard - CarlyOzard.com Find all my podcasts at RaysGreenRoom.com  

<a href="http://www.theatreofyugen.org/poe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Theatre of Yugen Web Site</a> <a href="http://www.theatreofyugen.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.theatreofyugen.org/</a> Puppets &amp; Poe Directed by Shannon R. Davis Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, devised by Theatre of Yugen, enacted with post-consumer material puppets. BE VERY AFRAID October 3 - November 2, 2019 Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 PM $15 STUDENTS, $35 GENERAL ADMISSION, $45 VIP (INCLUDES FREE DRINKS) Preview on October 3: Use Code “PREVIEW” at checkout for $20 Tickets Featuring: Ella Cooley, Alan Coyne, Shannon R. Davis, Steven Flores, Nick Ishimaru, and Jamin Jollo <a href="/rayrenati/episode/update/id/bit.ly/tickets_puppetsandpoe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS</a> or Go to <a href="http://www.theatreofyugen.org/poe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.theatreofyugen.org/poe</a> NICK ISHIMARU - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Nick Ishimaru was trained originally as a musical theatre performer and started exploring Japanese theatre while studying at Colorado State University (BA, 2005), where he directed a kabuki adaptation of MacBeth. He went on to study at San Francisco State University, (MA, 2009). His work explores a combination of Western and traditional Asian performance techniques for original creations, along with work in conventional musical theatre and Shakespeare. In October 2016, he opened his debut as Theatre of Yugen’s Artistic Director, The Red Demon by Noda Hideki.  Previous directing work includes It Ain’t Me by Claire Rice (original), Land of Infants by Meghan O’Patry (original), and Kaguya (original adaptation).  Other recent production work includes A Minor Cycle by Greg Giovanni (original; actor and fight choreographer), This Lingering Life by Chiori Miyagawa (original; actor), and several traditional kyogen plays with the Theatre of Yugen (actor). SHANNON DAVIS - ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE Descendant of the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Saami people, Shannon R. Davis (Bay area director, actor, and educator) is 2018 Phil Killian Directing Fellow at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Credits: Othello (associate director, American Repertory Theatre); Othello &amp; Manahatta (assistant director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Adulting for Beginners (Musical Café/Ashby Stage); Religomania (Exit Theatre/San Francisco Fringe Festival); Monsters &amp; Wild Things (Brava Theater Center). ________ Music by Carly Ozard - <a href="/rayrenati/episode/CarlyOzard.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CarlyOzard.com</a> Find all my podcasts at <a href="/rayrenati/episode/RaysGreenRoom.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RaysGreenRoom.com</a>

Interview -  Shannon Davis and Nick Ishimaru of Theatre of Yugen

Everyone is familiar with the story of “A Christmas Carol,” where Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. My guest today, Nick Ishimaru, is the artistic director of “A Noh Christmas Carol,” a Japanese spin on the timeless Charles Dickens classic. Mixing in tradition styles of kabuki theater, “A Noh Christmas Carol” takes us to 19th century Japan as Sukurooji Ebezo is introduced to the 3 ghosts of Christmas. Make sure to catch the production this holiday season. Website: http://bit.ly/2z4bQSr             Tickets: http://bit.ly/2jTeVgp Background  Got into theater at age 12, going to theater school Went to Colorado State, majored in theater, minor in Japanese  Artistic Director  2nd full production 2012, began doing small productions Learning how to use words  Production Planning  Begins 8 to 18 months before show open Need to acquire grants for funding, budget early on, assemble production team Watching it come together in the last few days, always the most hectic Tech work is most difficult, have a few rehearsals  Show night  Don’t make tweaks to show as performance goes on Actors will adjust their performance Director is busy doing other things during the show  Theater of Yugen  Founded in 1987, Located on Mariposa St. in San Francisco Part of Project Artaud Complex, not a founding member Founded by Yuriko Doi, came to U.S. to develop theater career Started with Japanese comedy, Kyogen  Noh Theater  One of the oldest forms of theater/ history Ceremonial purposes, can be slow paced, performers wear masks Yugen means profound elegance, deep levity  Noh Christmas Carol  Using Noh aspects to tell the story Similar lessons, but more Buddhist centric Create a reconnection to the community  Style  Japanese theater usually done by men, Yugen uses women Kabuki Theater very corporate on professional level Noh allows women in performances, Kyogen does not Yugen has very heavy female casts/ audience Actors playing multiple roles/ train their voices  Vocal Training  Air and breathing exercises Many cast members have background in singing Work with performers, teach them the history if Japanese Theater  Kabuki Training  Voice training, how to walk and move, all very physical forms of theater Noh Theater uses fans to point/ gesture Training classes for public as well  Makeup  Only Kabuki Theater uses make up, Noh and Kyogen use masks Specific designs w/personal touches for Christmas theme Lots of costume changes during the show  Opening Night  Great reviews and receptions Show runs through Christmas Eve Theater does four shows per year Need Grant and donor supports  Wrap up/ Contact info

Everyone is familiar with the story of “A Christmas Carol,” where Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. My guest today, Nick Ishimaru, is the artistic director of “A Noh Christmas Carol,” a Japanese spin on the timeless Charles Dickens classic. Mixing in tradition styles of kabuki theater, “A Noh Christmas Carol” takes us to 19th century Japan as Sukurooji Ebezo is introduced to the 3 ghosts of Christmas. Make sure to catch the production this holiday season. Website: <a href="http://bit.ly/2z4bQSr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2z4bQSr</a>             Tickets: <a href="http://bit.ly/2jTeVgp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2jTeVgp</a> Background <ul> <li>Got into theater at age 12, going to theater school</li> <li>Went to Colorado State, majored in theater, minor in Japanese</li> </ul> Artistic Director <ul> <li>2nd full production</li> <li>2012, began doing small productions</li> <li>Learning how to use words</li> </ul> Production Planning <ul> <li>Begins 8 to 18 months before show open</li> <li>Need to acquire grants for funding, budget early on, assemble production team</li> <li>Watching it come together in the last few days, always the most hectic</li> <li>Tech work is most difficult, have a few rehearsals</li> </ul> Show night <ul> <li>Don’t make tweaks to show as performance goes on</li> <li>Actors will adjust their performance</li> <li>Director is busy doing other things during the show</li> </ul> Theater of Yugen <ul> <li>Founded in 1987, Located on Mariposa St. in San Francisco</li> <li>Part of Project Artaud Complex, not a founding member</li> <li>Founded by Yuriko Doi, came to U.S. to develop theater career</li> <li>Started with Japanese comedy, Kyogen</li> </ul> Noh Theater <ul> <li>One of the oldest forms of theater/ history</li> <li>Ceremonial purposes, can be slow paced, performers wear masks</li> <li>Yugen means profound elegance, deep levity</li> </ul> Noh Christmas Carol <ul> <li>Using Noh aspects to tell the story</li> <li>Similar lessons, but more Buddhist centric</li> <li>Create a reconnection to the community</li> </ul> Style <ul> <li>Japanese theater usually done by men, Yugen uses women</li> <li>Kabuki Theater very corporate on professional level</li> <li>Noh allows women in performances, Kyogen does not</li> <li>Yugen has very heavy female casts/ audience</li> <li>Actors playing multiple roles/ train their voices</li> </ul> Vocal Training <ul> <li>Air and breathing exercises</li> <li>Many cast members have background in singing</li> <li>Work with performers, teach them the history if Japanese Theater</li> </ul> Kabuki Training <ul> <li>Voice training, how to walk and move, all very physical forms of theater</li> <li>Noh Theater uses fans to point/ gesture</li> <li>Training classes for public as well</li> </ul> Makeup <ul> <li>Only Kabuki Theater uses make up, Noh and Kyogen use masks</li> <li>Specific designs w/personal touches for Christmas theme</li> <li>Lots of costume changes during the show</li> </ul> Opening Night <ul> <li>Great reviews and receptions</li> <li>Show runs through Christmas Eve</li> <li>Theater does four shows per year</li> <li>Need Grant and donor supports</li> </ul> Wrap up/ Contact info

Ep. 29 | Nick Ishimaru, Director of A Noh Christmas Carol