Japanese Style Stand-up! Rakugo Night vol.8 at Balance Arts Center

Detail

This is a traditional Japanese Rakugo performance event featuring two stories.

The program begins with a 15-minute light-hearted short story, followed by a brief intermission (around 5 minutes), and concludes with a touching, heartfelt piece lasting about 30 minutes.

Doors open at 7:30 PM, and the performance begins at 8:00 PM.

Tickets are $40 for the full program, which includes both stories.

Special Rates for Young Learners!

• Teens and young adults (middle school through age 21): Just $10 each

Eligible participants (or their guardians) can either pay the appropriate amount in cash at the venue, or purchase a $40 ticket in advance—the difference will be refunded in cash on the day of the event.

This is a great opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese art of storytelling known as Rakugo!

What's Rakugo?

Rakugis a form of Japanese verbal entertainment, traditionally performed in yose theatre The lone storyteller sits on a raised platform, a kza. Using only a paper fan (sensu) and a small cloth (tenugui) as props,and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical (or sometimes sentimental) story. The story always involves the dialogue of two or more characters. The difference between the characters is depicted only through change in pitch, tone, and a slight turn of the head.