RASHOMON

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by Fay and Michael Kanin

PAN ASIAN REP'S acclaimed RASHOMON to Havana Theatre Festival 
Sept 18-28, 2003. 

PAN ASIAN REPERTORY THEATRE , the first major Asian American Theatre company, is invited to perform the modern American classic RASHOMON by Fay and Michael Kanin, directed by Tisa Chang, to the 11th Havana Theatre Festival Sept 18-28, 2003.
 
The New York Times said " Few works of fiction have explored the relative an elusive nature of truth with such force as "Rashomon", a tale of sex and death first told in stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, made into a classic film by Akira Kurosawa in 1950 and turned into a Broadway play in 1959 by Fay and Michael Kanin. Under the taunt direction of Tisa Chang, the Pan Asian Repertory has mounted a commendable revival that is all the more striking for its simplicity."


The company of 14 cast and crew will include Rosanne Ma as the " Wife " , Marcus Ho as the "Samaurai" and Kenneth Park in the role of the " Bandit ". They will give two performances at the famed Juan Antonio Mella Theatre venue on September 23 and 24th with a simplified set design, period costumes and acoustic musical instruments. 

Festival de Teatro de la Habana was founded in 1980 to promote the arts of Cuba and international companies in artistic dialogue. 

RASHOMON, seen as a film in 1950 by director- extraordinaire Akira Kurosawa, premiered on Broadway in 1959 starring Rod Steiger and Claire Bloom. Set around 1000 A.D., at the height of the Heian period, RASHOMON tells how a samurai and his wife encounter a bandit, by chance, in a bamboo forest. There is a killing and 3 different versions are given in court probing the question of - what is truth, what is perception, what is illusion ?

Tisa Chang's production will be guided by the concepts of "miyabi" (refined elegance) and "sabi" (elegant simplicity) - so emblematic of Japanese art. A cast of 8 and original music will re-create this timeless tale of lust, revenge, and honor.

Set Design by Kaori Akazawa, Light Design by Victor En Yu Tan, Fight Choreography by Michael G. Chin, Costume Design by Molly Reynolds, & Stage Managers - James Carringer & Elis Arroyo

Cast: Marcus Ho, Rosanne Ma, Tom Matsusaka, Ron Nakahara, Ken Park, Keong Sim, Shigeko Suga and Bertrand Wang

 

SidebyS2_small.JPG (2743 bytes) "What sets "Rashomon" 

apart from a routine murder and rape is the psychology of those involved. Each witness's description of what transpired is colored by his or her social background." -Wilborn Hampton- New York Times. March 5, 2001-

 

 

upfront1_small.JPG (1842 bytes)

 "Ms Chang has put together a solid cast with first -rate performances by Rosanne Ma as the wife and Ken Park as the Bandit....Mr. Park keeps his boastful, amoral bandit within rein and real sparks fly in an exciting sword fight with Marcus Ho,...Ron Nakahara is convincing as the Woodcutter...Les J.N. Mau is coarsely funny and knowing as the Wigmaker...Original music by Shigeko Suga and Tom Matsusaka successfully evoke the haunting mood of the play...",

-Wilborn Hampton- The New York Times. March 5, 2001-

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This tour is supported by Fund for US Artists at International Festivals / Arts International.

Pan Asian programs are supported by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and many corporations and foundations.

                                                                                                  

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