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The Emperor’s New Clothes – Kabuki Style
“Ten thousand greetings and welcome,” begins the Stage Keeper of Master Arts Theatre’s Youth Summer Stock’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, July 22 – 30, 2011.
“Those of you who read many good books,” continues the Stage Keeper, “…know that we have borrowed… a tale by a most honorable and exalted storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen.” Judith B. Kase adapted this wonderful script by taking a well-known classic and transposing it into the style of Japanese Kabuki theater. Kabuki theater has been around since the early 1600’s. “I have enjoyed the research into Kabuki theater. It has given me a number of ideas,” Walter Williams, director of “Emperor.”
One characteristic of Kabuki theater you will experience is called hanamichi. This is a “walkway” into the audience. Williams has arranged the 100-seat auditorium so that the actors can actually walk into and behind the audience during selected scenes. Although the auditorium does not lend itself to a revolving stage, another characteristic of Kabuki theater, there will be revolving sets.
“Watch closely,” says Williams, “or you may miss some classic Kabuki quick costume changes.”
Show times are Fri & Sat evenings at 7:30 PM and Sat. matinees at 2:00 PM, plus Tues – Thurs matinees. Tickets range from $7 to $5. Master Arts is located at 75 77th ST SW, Grand Rapids, MI. Call (616) 455-1001 for reservations or check our web site for more information: www.masterarts.org
or http://www.masterarts.org/showYSS.htm
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