Yale Bulletin and Calendar

February 13, 2004|Volume 32, Number 18

Japanese puppetry to open
Yale Rep's Special Event series

The Yale Repertory Theatre will open its 2004 Special Events series on Saturday, Feb. 21, with the New England premiere of "Hiroshima Maiden," a theatrical presentation about the victims of the world's first atomic blast performed in style of Japanese Bunraku puppetry.

The season will continue with an appearances by commedian and commentator Lewis Black.

"Hiroshima Maiden"

Written and directed by Dan Hurlin, "Hiroshima Maiden" is centered on the true story of a group of 25 women disfigured by the nuclear blast at Hiroshima and their infamous visit to the U.S. in 1955 to undergo reconstructive surgery. The climax of their odyssey occurred when they met face to face with the pilot of Enola Gay on the television program "This is Your Life."

"Hiroshima Maiden" involves nine puppets and set pieces manipulated by four puppeteers and five dancers. The life-like puppets were created by Hurlin, and Robert Een's original score borrows from Haiku poetry.

The New Haven Advocate has hailed Hurlin's work as "the most caring, big-hearted, open-minded, celebratory theater work imaginable."

This production is supported by the Council on East Asian Studies at the Yale Center for International and Area Studies.

"Hiroshima Maiden" will be presented at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, in the Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St. Tickets are $10-$30.

Lewis Black

Woolsey Hall will also be the venue for "Lewis Black is Back! An Evening with Lewis Black" on Friday, April 9, at 8 p.m.

Black will return to Yale for the first time since graduating from the School of Drama in 1977. Known as "America's Foremost Commentator on Everything," Black has been an actor, playwright and stand-up comedian. As an actor, he had roles in such films as "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Jacob's Ladder," "The Hard Way" and "The Night We Never Met." He has also appeared in numerous theatrical productions and television shows -- including Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," where he is a weekly political commentator. He is the author of over 40 plays that have been produced in theaters across the country. Black spends his summers acting and teaching at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Tickets for "Lewis Black is Back!" are $30 for the general public and $15 for students.

Yale Repertory Theatre's special events series is dedicated to presenting diverse theater performers in their own work. Artists who have appeared in past special events include Mump+Smoot, Reno, Eric Bogosian, Rhodessa Jones, David Sedaris and Heather Woodbury.

To order tickets, or for more information, call (203) 432-1234; visit the box office at 1120 Chapel St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday (10 a.m.-8 p.m. on show nights); or visit the website at www.yalerep.org.

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