Masanari Kawahara

Bodhi Show

Nick — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:24:36 +0000

A version of Bodhi show was performed at For the Love of Puppets Cabaret at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre on February 11, 2012. The show was, privately, dedicated to Rich Wilson who passed away on February 9th. He was a amazingly gentle person, father, puppeteer, illustrator, batik-artist, teacher, and illuminated theater and peoples life. I will miss him.

Bodhi Show is a solo puppet show with an anatomically correct sock-monkey. It is an exploration of a sock-monkey in everyday situation such as birth, love, anger and death. The first installment was performed at Patrick’s Cabaret, Beat Coffee House and Full Moon Puppet Cabaret at Bedlam Theater in 2010 and 2009. Look for another installment in the near future, near you.

Pinocchio directed by Jon Ferguson

Masa — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:21:28 +0000

Thank you for those who came to see the show. It was fun.

Masa is part of this amazing cast, including Noah Bremer of Live Action Set, of Pinocchio. The show is directed by Jon Ferguson. The show will run from September 17 thru October 16, 2011 at Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, MN. Call (507)534-2900 or go to www.jonhasslertheater.org for detail.

a performance of HIROSHIMA at the Playwrights’ Center

Masa — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:07:50 +0000

Thank you so much for those who make it to this event.

でも本当緊張しました。白玉さんが客席にいるんだもん。

I now take a little break from this show, and get back to it around fall.

———————————————————————————–

Thursday June 23rd, I will be performing a slightly tweaked version of HIROSHIMA (work-in-progress) at the playwrights’ Center as a final presentation of the playwrights’ center’s McKnight fellowship.

7pm

free.

HIROSHIMA (work-in-progress), closed for now.

Masa — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:16:28 +0000

Thank you so much for coming to see this brand new show. There was so much love in the house and I was lifted by you all. Thank you. All the comments you gave me are vital. Molly and I will get back to work as soon as we can. Meanwhile, I am going back to Japan to visit my hometown, Hiroshima (and Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Takamatsu) and see things with my adult eyes. I am excited to develop more and dig deeper into this piece. There will be more stories and insights to share. Hope to see you all at Pangea World Theater for the next incarnation of HIROSHIMA.

Till I see you again.

HIROSHIMA is written and performed by Masanari Kawahara

Directed by Molly Van Avery

Performed at Pangea World Theater at 711 West Lake Street Minneapolis

The festival includes Anton Jones, Kathryn Haddad, and Andrea Assaf’s works.

More info on www.pangeaworldtheater.org

Thank you to Pangea World Theater for development and support of this production. Also Thank you to the Playwrights’ Center’s McKnight Theater Artist Fellowship Program, and Mu Performing Arts for their support.

GOJIRA! (or Godzilla)1954

Nick — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:36:44 +0000

Based on the masterpiece movie, Gojira (1954), Masanari created a solo puppet show — funny, poignant, yet faithful to the message of the movie: horror of nuclear warfare and hope to eliminate all the nuclear weapons from the earth. This table top show, utilizing a hand cranked subtitle device (since it was all in Japanese), highly physical performance, is a very entertaining show for young and old. Originally, it was created through Michael Sommers’ puppet workshops through In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, and first performed at Sky Is Blue Cabaret (organized by Masanari ). GOJIRA! was also performed at Patrick’s cabaret and at Center for Independent Artist between 2004 to 2006.

Masanari has been thinking reworking the show with a director and perform it sometime this year.

angel ornaments

Masa — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:06:49 +0000

made by Masa

A Path Home: A Story of Thich Nhat Hanh

Masa — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:21:00 +0000

Director Sandy Spieler

Music Matt Larson

The last performance of A Path Home: A Story of Thich Nhat Hanh was on
May 6, 2010 at

Dreamland Arts

photo by Bruce Silcox

677 Hamline Avenue
St Paul, MN 55104-1921
651-645-5506

A Path Home Gallery

Nick — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 04:01:16 +0000

[Show as slideshow]

Gotama: A Journey to the Buddha (2006)

Masa — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 05:35:52 +0000

photo by Bruce Silcox

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Mask Theatre production

Co-created with director Andrew Kim, designer and performer Masanari Kawahara. Written by Aditi Brennan Kapil. Music by Laura Harada and Tim O’Keefe. Also featuring Julian McFaul, Janaki Ranpura and Sandy Spieler.

Gwacheon Dreams

Nick — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:16:26 +0000

Masanari was in Gwacheon, South Korea in September, 2010, as a team working with many community members creating the opening ceremony for 14th annual Gwacheon Hanmadang Festival led by Beth Peterson.…