Traditional Japanese theater celebrated

Katayama Shingo (c)Kashu-juku Noh Theater

From March 24-26, Japan Society--in conjunction with Carnegie Hall's JapanNYC Festival--will present the New York debut of Kyoto's Kashu-juku Noh Theater in a special program offering "a rare opportunity to experience the 600-year-old tradition of noh and kyogen performed in one exceptional evening."

Performed in Japanese with English subtitles along with live music, the two-hour program will include:

MAI-BAYASHI: Literally translated as "dance and music," a mai-bayashi is a form of noh theater in which a principal character appears and performs a solo dance without a mask or costume and is accompanied by a group of chanters and musicians. A furious dance depicting the climactic battle scene from the famous noh play Yashima will be presented.

KYOGEN: Boshibari (Tied to a Pole) is one of the most popular plays in the kyogen repertoire. Two servants are tied up by their master in a cunning scheme to keep them from drinking his sake while he is away. They soon thirst for his wine. How will the two obtain their beloved beverage again?

NOH: Aoi no Ue (Lady Aoi). One of the most famous noh plays, Lady Aoi is an adaptation of a chapter from the classic Japanese novel, The Tale of Genji. The story follows Lady Rokujo (the jealous former-mistress of Genji), who sent an evil spirit to possess Genji's wife Lady Aoi, as she is confronted in combat by a Buddhist monk intent on saving her soul.

For complete information on this and related programming, as well as ticketing, click here.

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