Paul Lifton, associate professor of theatre arts, will direct the Theatre NDSU production of “Wokashi: A Program of Classic Kyogen Comedies,” Feb. 23-26 and March 1-3, 2012. He has received funding from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, The Japan Foundation and the Japanese Consulate to invite kyogen artist Tokuro Miyake to the NDSU campus.
While on campus, Miyake will work with students, educating them about the Japanese comedic form of kyogen. Miyake became successor to her grandfather's (living national treasure ninth Tokuro Miyake) stage name in 1989, and was announced as the 10th Tokuro Miyake at the National Noh Theatre on May 21, 1989. Following her sister Junko, Miyake has appeared in many official public performances as one of the first female kyogen players in Japan.
The fanciful and earthly world of kyogen is people with dim-witted demons, talking animals, hen-pecked husbands with their domineering wives, and a host of other amusing and memorable character types. Theatre NDSU’s production of this kyogen sampler will feature authentic traditional staging including costumes, masks and props. Tickets for “Wokashi” are on sale at www.ndsu.edu/finearts.