LOS ANGELES – Ensemble Tenshi, a production company that previously produced the award-winning Epic period play “Shizuka – 静” (Broadway World Regional Award – Los Angeles) and “Castles in the Crimson Flame,” delivers “Prostitute Investigator” by a legendary popular Japanese playwright, Kohei Tsuka at The Broadwater Second Stage in Hollywood in June.
Prostitute Investigator is a Theatrical Phenomenon! – Lost innocence, Love, Hatred and Desire intertwine around a murder case
A Female Chief Detective Denbei Kimura at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is notorious for her fearlessness. She will do anything to get justice served even if it means losing the love of her life.
Denbei’s loyal subordinate Sadayuki Toda has not yet to find the courage to go back his home in a small village to confide his parents that he is gay. Denbei and Toda are assigned to solve the murder case committed by Kintaro Oyama, who killed his childhood girlfriend, Aiko Yamaguchi from far South Island called Goto.
Just before the murder, the pride of Goto Islands, Daizen Lee, took his own life. Detective Tomekichi Kumada is transferred to Denbei’s investigation room. The two were lovers in the past.
Kumada is desperately trying to protect the mystery of the murder. Behind the murder lies the secret of small Islands, Goto of Nagasaki. Denbei is determined to make Kintaro Oyama to be “the first-class criminal” however it takes…
Tomoko Karina (“Captain America” (Marvel/ Disney), ”Cobra Kai” (Netflix)) will play the dynamic popular role of Denbei Kimura. Tomoko also directs the play with LA Theatre’s favorite, Carla Valentine (“Lady Bird” – Dir: Greta Gerwig, “S.W.A.T”- CBS) and Dan Pousson as artistic supervisors. They adopt this popular Japanese play sophisticatedly and accurately cater to English speaking audience.
“Prostitute Investigator” (90min)
– a timeless masterpiece by the acclaimed playwright Kohei Tsuka –
Written by Kohei Tsuka
Directed by Tomoko Karina
Artistic Director: Carla Valentine
Artistic/ Cultural Consultant: Dan Pousson
English Translation by Tomoko Karina
Pictured by Christianne Manzano
Starring: Tomoko Karina, Christian Lowery, Thomas McKean, and Quinn Vu
Produced and presented by Ensemble Tenshi, Kuro Productions NPO and LoBeauH Entertainment
Ensemble Tenshi Official Website: https://ensembletenshi.org/
The Broadwater Second Stage ENSEMBLE TENSHI
6320 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038
Date/ Time:
Sunday, June 8th at 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 14th at 6:30 pm
Saturday, June 21st at 5:00 pm
Ticket: $25
Purchase Ticket at Hollywood Fringe Festival Website
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/12122
Contact: info@ensembletenshi.org
Ensemble Tenshi Official Website: https://ensembletenshi.org/
About the Playwright
Kōhei Tsuka (1948 – 2010) a Korean Japanese playwright, theater director, novelist and screenwriter. He was one of Japan’s most influential theater figures, has had a major impact on modern theatre since the 1970s.
Tsuka’s plays have gained overwhelming popularity, sparked a “Tsuka boom.” At the age of 25, he was the youngest person ever to win the Kishida Kunio Drama Award (for “Atami Murder Case”), Naoki Literary Prize laureate, Winner of Japan Academy Award the Best Screenplay (“Fall Guy”) and the Yomiuri Literature Prize (for the play “Hiryuden ’90: Autumn of Slaughter”).
With his poisonous aggressive dialogues and passionate fast-paced style, he uncovered the emotions swirling within people in weaker positions. Even now, more than a decade after his death, Tsuka’s works are performed every year all over Japan, attracting many actors and audiences.