Borrowing myth and storytelling from east and west to fuse Japanese Bunraku-inspired puppetry with magical realism, Jen Silverman's odyssey of a Japanese-American girl's quest to rescue her brother's soul from the Land of the Dead, Crane Story directed by Katherine Kovner, will have its world premiere presented by The Playwrights Realm at The Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street, when previews begin Thursday, September 6, at 8:00pm for an opening Thursday, September 15, at 8:00pm.
Unfolding in the space between two worlds, Ms. Silverman's Crane Story centers on a Japanese-American girl, played by
Angela Lin, who is on an odyssey to explore her personal and Japanese identity as she comes to terms with her brother's suicide.
Ms. Silverman borrows the mythology and the values of two traditions to weave a universal story of love, loss and life. The title of the play is derived from the ancient Japanese Myth of The Crane, a mystical creature that can live a thousand years and, to anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes, can grant a wish.
"To support Jen Silverman's fabulously lush and evocative writing, we've worked to cultivate puppetry, soundscape and other visual elements to tell this highly original and visual story," said Ms. Kovner.
Creating the Bunraku-inspired puppets is Puppet Kitchen.
"The play has been such a personal journey for me," said Ms. Silverman, who grew up in a number different countries including Japan and was influenced by a cultural grab-bag of stories like Hansel & Gretel, Norse mythology and The Crane Wife. "I'm also still asking myself questions about all of the different worlds in the playthe underworld, the rainy spirit world, Tokyoand how these worlds build on each other and where they connect."
The
Playwrights Realm (
www.playwrightsrealm.org), under the leadership of Artistic Director
Katherine Kovner and Producing Director
Stephanie Ybarra, is New York's largest theater dedicated solely to supporting early-career playwrights through Off-Broadway productions, new plays and the professional development of playwrights.
Concentrating on emerging young playwrights, The
Playwrights Realm produces only a single full Off Broadway play each year. This year that one full production of this five-year-old developmental theatre company is Crane Story, developed over four years with a series of workshops and readings.
Previous
Playwrights Realm full productions include last season's Gonzalo Rodriguez Risco's Dramatis Personae (2010), Christopher Wall's Dreams of the Washer King (2010),
Anna Ziegler's Dov and Ali (2009) and.
Anton Dudley's Substitution (2008).
In addition to
Angela Lin, the cast includes
Christine Toy Johnson as Crane, Louis Ozawa Changchien,
David Shih,
Susan Hyon,
Jake Manabat and Barret O'Brien.
Scenery is by
Michael Locher, lights by Ji-Youn Chang and costumes by
Moria Clinton. Music and sound is by Nathan Roberts. The production stage manager is
Joanne E. McInerney.
Jen Silverman, American born, was raised in America, Europe and Asia. Her plays have been developed with New Georges, where she is an Affiliated Artist, New York Stage & Film,
Powerhouse Theatre Company at
Vassar College, the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, the hotINK International Festival, The Lark Playwrights Week and Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. Her work has been produced in the NYC International Fringe Festival, in New Mexico, Seattle, D.C. and L.A., and her short play The Education of Macoloco won the 2009 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Play Festival and was published by Samuel French. Ms. Silverman just received a commission for a new play from InterAct Theatre and the NNPN.
Katherine Kovner founded The
Playwrights Realm www.playwrightsrealm.org five years ago. For
Playwrights Realm she has directed Dov and Ali by Anna Zeigler and Substitution by
Anton Dudley. Other directing credits include Roxy Font by Liza Lentini at the New York Fringe Festival (four stars from Time Out magazine) and won the Fringe's Best Ensemble Award, Elliot: A Soldier's Fugue by Quiara Allegra Huades at
Luna Stage, Iphigenia and Other Daughters by
Ellen McLaughlin also at
Luna Stage and Lizardskin by Jen Silverman at The New York Fringe Festival. She has developed work with New York Theater Workshop,
Soho Rep,
New Dramatists, New Georges, EST and
Classic Stage Company where she was an Artistic Associate. Ms. Kovner is a member of the Lincoln Center's Director Lab and an affiliated artist with New Georges.
Crane Story performs Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00pm with an additional performance Monday, September 12, at 8:00pm.
Tickets for Crane Story are $30 and available through TeleCharge at 212-239-6200 or online at
www.playwrightsrealm.org.
