In "The Lady Aoi," a Yukio Mishima's adaption from "The Tale of Genji," Yoshi Ando, left, plays Hikaru and Alpha Takahashi takes a role.
Luna Playhouse presents Two Plays by Yukio Mishima at its venue, 3706 San Fernando Road, Glendale, CA 91204, from July 8 though August 8. Performance takes place on Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening plays, and Pay What You Can for Thursday and Sunday matinees.
For reservations, call (818) 500-7200 or log on at www.itsmyseat.com
The program of Two Plays by Yukio Mishima consists of Mishima’s two modern Noh plays Hanjo directed by Aramazd Stepanian and The Lady Aoi directed by Toshi Toda, plus a short supporting program including Hana-Ko, a short comic play directed by Toshi Toda and the traditional Japanese song Oboro Zukiyo.
Kazumi Zatkin and Hiroko Imai in Mishima's "Hanjo"
With Hanjo, directed by Aramazd Stepanian, Mishima takes the theme of pure love into the tortured extreme of the Noh madness play. Jitsuko is a 40-year-old painter who, though she has never found love, has discovered the perfect embodiment of it as a subject for her paintings in Hanako, a beautiful geisha driven insane by the agony of futilely waiting for the return of true love Yoshio.
In The Lady Aoi, Toshi Toda directs Mishima's surreal twist on the vengeful ghost play. Hikaru arrives at a strange clinic to find his sedated young wife, Aoi, tormented by "the ghost of a libido," the still-burning love/hate of Hikaru's jilted former lover, now called Mrs. Rokujo. The plot is adapted from famous The Tale of Genji.
Toshi Toda, right, who directs "The Lady Aoi" and "Hana-Ko" poses with the cast at Luna Playhouse.
EVENT: Luna Playhouse is presenting TWO PLAYS BY YUKIO MISHIMA and a short supporting program
PLAYWRIGHT: Yukio Mishima
PRODUCERS: Aramazd Stepanian and Gabrielle O’Sullivan
DIRECTORS: Toshi Toda and Aramazd Stepanian
CAST: Toshiya Agata, Miho Ando, Yoshi Ando, Tsulan Cooper-One, Fay Kato, Hiroko Imai, Grace Li, Yoko Masuki, Irene Park, Ed Refuerzo, Alpha Takahashi, Yutaka Takeuchi, Toshi Toda, Juzo Yoshida, Kazumi Zatkin.
SET DESIGN: Christopher Edinjikilian
LIGHT DESIGN: Sandy Gabucan
STAGE MANAGER: Austin Grehan,
SCHEDULING MANAGER: Kazumi Zatkin
PERFORMANCES: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Sundays at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM
CLOSING: Sunday, August 8 at 7:00 PM
VENUE: Luna Playhouse
3706 San Fernando Road, Glendale, CA 91204
(Cross Street: Brand Blvd.)
(Free Parking across the street at Harley Davidson- evening performances only)
TICKET PRICES: Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings: $15.00
Thursdays and Sunday matinees: PAY WHAT YOU CAN
RESERVATIONS: (818) 500-7200 or on line at www.itsmyseat.com
Alpha Takahashi sings "Oboro Zukiyo"
CASTING ON EACH PERFORMANCE:
7/15th (Thursday, 8PM)
Hanjo: Grace Li, Irene Park, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
7/16th (Friday 8PM)
Hanjo: Yoko Masuki, Yutaka Takeuchi, Kazumi Zatkin
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Toshi Toda, Yasushi Juzo Iwata, Kazumi Zatkin
The Lady Aoi: Fay Kato, Toshiya Agata, Alpha Takahashi, Kazumi Zatkin
7/17th (Saturday, 8PM)
Hanjo: Hiroko Imai, Yutaka Takeuchi, Miho Ando
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
7/18th (Sunday Matinee 3PM)
Hanjo: Irene Park, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
7/18th (Sunday 7PM)
Hanjo: Hiroko Imai, Yutaka Takeuchi, Miho Ando
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Toshi Toda, Yasushi Juzo Iwata, Miho Ando
The Lady Aoi: Fay Kato, Yoshi Ando, Alpha Takahashi, Miho Ando
7/22nd (Thursday, 8PM)
Hanjo: Irene Park, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
7/23rd (Friday, 8PM)
Hanjo: Yoko Masuki, Yutaka Takeuchi, Kazumi Zatkin
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Toshi Toda, Yasushi Juzo Iwata, Kazumi Zatkin
The Lady Aoi: Fay Kato, Toshiya Agata, Alpha Takahashi, Kazumi Zatkin
7/24th (Saturday, 8PM)
Hanjo: Irene Park, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
7/25th (Sunday Matinee 3PM)
Hanjo: Irene Park, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
7/26th (Sunday 7PM)
Hanjo: Hiroko Imai, Yutaka Takeuchi, Miho Ando
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Toshi Toda, Yasushi Juzo Iwata, Miho Ando
The Lady Aoi: Fay Kato, Yoshi Ando, Alpha Takahashi, Miho Ando
7/29th (Thursday 8PM)
Hanjo: Irene Park, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
7/30th (Friday 8PM)
Hanjo: Hirko Imai, Yutaka Takeuchi, Kazumi Zatkin
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Toshi Toda, Yasushi Juzo Iwata, Kazumi Zatkin
The Lady Aoi: Fay Kato, Toshiya Agata, Alpha Takahashi, Kazumi Zatkin
7/31st (Saturday 8PM)
Hanjo: Irene Park, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
8/1st (Sunday Matinee 3PM)
Hanjo: Irene Park, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo
The Lady Aoi: Tsulan Cooper, Grace Li, Ed Refuerzo, Irene Park
8/1st (Sunday 7PM)
Hanjo: Hirko Imai, Yutaka Takeuchi, Kazumi Zatkin
Song: Alpha Takahashi or Mika Santoh
Hanako: Toshi Toda, Yasushi Juzo Iwata, Kazumi Zatkin
The Lady Aoi: Fay Kato, Yoshi Ando, Alpha Takahashi, Miho Ando
