Introducing Japanese Theater: a New Digital Anthology in Four Parts :
a. Introduction to Kabuki by Samuel L. Leiter (Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, Emeritus).
b. Introduction to Noh by John Oglevee (Nohgaku Theater, Tokyo).
c. Introduction to Modern Theater (19th – 21st centuries) by David Jortner (Baylor University)
Duration of lectures: approximately 70-90 minutes each, split into short sections (10-15 min. each).
Lectures include:images, clips of performances, and archival materials (such as production photos, sketches, and more).
Supplementary materials: summaries, glossaries, bibliographies, and “further reading” lists.
Short videos (5-10 minutes each) providing practical demonstrations of various aspects of Noh given by shite actors Teruhisa Oshima and Kinue Oshima (Kita School) and kotsuzumi player Kayu Omura (Ko School).
Videos include:
A series of workshops for learning basic movement patterns and techniques.
a. Nihon Buyō by Kaya Yamazaki: 10 video tutorials (5-7 minutes each), and a special short dance recital at the end.
b. Noh Kata by Kinue Oshima: the basics of eight different kata (in Japanese with English translation): Kamae, Suriashi, Hakobi, Shikake, Hiraki, Sashi, Mawashi, Shiori.
Four interviews, each 15-25 minutes long (the first three are in Japanese with English subtitles).
a. Female shite actor Kinue Oshima discusses her art and practice in a still widely male-dominated art form.
b. Shite actor Teruhisa Oshima discusses his journey in the world of Noh.
c. Female kotsuzumi player Kayu Omura discusses her life and work as a Noh musician.
d. Japanese expatriate director Izumi Ashizawa (State University of New York, Stony Brook), who uses traditional Japanese concepts in her productions.
1. We plan to continue and expand the anthology, to include Kyogen, Bunraku, and a special focus on contemporary 21st century theater.
2. All the content is in HD video format, non-downloadable, exclusively on Theater.Academy.
