Nathan Davis News

Japan Society is proud to present Ashita no Ma-Joe: Rocky Macbeth by the Theater Company Kaimaku Pennant Race (KPR).  Director Yu Murai, founder of KPR, cleverly retells Macbeth through the 1960s mega-hit manga Ashita no Joe, centering on the rise and fall of a troubled teenager turned high-ranking professional boxer, echoing the struggles of the Scottish king in the Shakespeare classic.  Interlaced with reimaginings of famous scenes from both works, this production promises to surprise Shakespeare and manga lovers alike.  Murai uses the mythos surrounding the boxer Joe to create an innovative, playful theatrical production in which two worlds fraught with angst and ambition collide.  This production, a North American premiere, will have five performances at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street), playing May 15 - 18.

Loft Ensemble in Sherman Oaks has announced its next production, William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Under the direction of Bree Pavey and Emma Latimer, opening is set for Saturday, April 20, at 8pm and the engagement will continue through Sunday, May 27 only.

Loft Ensemble in Sherman Oaks has announced a Pay What You Want performance of James Baldwin's Blues for Mister Charlie, currently running through April 7. Half of all box office monies from the Sunday, March 31 performance (7pm curtain) will be donated to the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation (ETLF). 

Japan Society presents You Took a Part of Me, a dance production with choreography by "punk ballerina" Karole Armitage, performed by her company Armitage Gone! Dance.  You Took a Part of Me arrives at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street) for two performances only: Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 at 7:30pm.

Japan Society proudly presents Cross Transit, a collaborative multimedia dance work by acclaimed Japanese choreographer/dancer Akiko Kitamura, with video, photos and narration by Cambodian visual artist Kim Hak. 

Loft Ensemble in Sherman Oaks has announced its next production, Blues for Mister Charlie by James Baldwin. Under the direction of Tor Brown, the show is set to open today, March 2, at 8pm and the engagement will continue through Sunday, April 7 only.

Loft Ensemble in Sherman Oaks has announced its next production, Blues for Mister Charlie by James Baldwin. Under the direction of Tor Brown, the show is set to open on Saturday, March 2, at 8pm and the engagement will continue through Sunday, April 7 only.

Japan Society proudly presents Cross Transit, a collaborative multimedia dance work by acclaimed Japanese choreographer/dancer Akiko Kitamura, with video, photos and narration by Cambodian visual artist Kim Hak. Cross Transit arrives at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street) for two performances only: Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 at 7:30pm, as part of a North American tour, produced and organized by Japan Society, that includes stops at Towson University (North American Premiere; March 15; Asian Arts & Culture Center / Stephen Halls Theatre) and The Kennedy Center (March 19).

Flutist Claire Chase, whom The New Yorker describes as "the young star of the modern flute," continues her 23-year project, Density 2036, to commission an entirely new body of repertory for solo flute each year between 2014 and 2036, the 100th Anniversary of Edgard Varese's groundbreaking flute solo Density 21.5. On March 1 & 2, Chase continues these immersive and virtuosic performances with the premiere of part vi at The Kitchen.

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) announces Spring 2019 BAC Residencies, which will provide critical support to 16 artists developing projects and collaborations across disciplines. Three public events with Resident Artists include presentations by 2018-19 Cage Cunningham Fellows Tei Blow and Silas Riener, and a day of Studio Showings by BAC Space Resident Artists at BAC (450 West 37th Street, Manhattan). Tickets and reservations are available at bacnyc.org or 866-811-4111.  

As part of its current 2018-2019 Performing Arts Season, Japan Society presents a staged reading of 100 Years Stray by Japanese playwright SaringROCK, led by New York-based director Taylor Reynolds, taking place Monday, February 4 at 7:30 PM at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street).

The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts continue their ongoing partnership with an OpenICE Library Festival at the Astor Gallery from November 7-9, 2018. In five free performances featuring inclusive discussions, NYPL and ICE explore collecting and archiving works of living composers.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ravinia's Steans Music Institute (RSMI) last summer, Ravinia launched a competition for composers who could fuse the worlds of jazz and classical music. Due to its success, Ravinia, with the support of DownBeat magazine, is now calling for submissions to the second annual "Bridges" international jazz and classical fusion composition competition, overseen by legendary pianist Billy Childs and double-bassist Rufus Reid, who co-direct the RSMI Jazz Program. Up to three winners will receive the David Baker Prize, named in recognition of the first RSMI Jazz director. The prize includes $2,500 in cash plus the world-premiere performance of the winning piece during Ravinia's 2019 season.

On Friday, October 5 (7:30 pm) at Japan Society, shamisen virtuoso Hidejiro Honjoh joins forces with members of the renowned International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) in 'Shamisen Evolution.' Performing solo and with members of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Hidejiro delivers world premieres by Grammy-nominee and MacArthur "Genius" Award winner Vijay Iyer, ICE's own Nathan Davis, and rising young Japanese composer Yu Kuwabara.

The Neighborhood House program of Christ Church Preservation Trust, a catalyst for the arts at historic Christ Church, presents five free world premiere performances of In Plain Air, a work in multiple movements by composers Nathan Davis and Phyllis Chen that marks the culmination of the International Contemporary Ensemble's year-long residency in celebration of Christ Church's new C.B. Fisk pipe organ, Opus 150. Performances will take place at Christ Church today, September 22 at 1pm, 3:30pm, and 6pm and on Sunday, September 23 at 3:30pm and 6pm. Movements employing Christ Church's historic bells, custom instruments, and itinerant musicians will convey audiences across the entire Christ Church campus before introducing them to Opus 150. Presented in partnership with FringeArts, all performances of In Plain Air will be free. Major support for In Plain Air has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

The Neighborhood House program of Christ Church Preservation Trust, a catalyst for the arts at historic Christ Church, presents five free world premiere performances of In Plain Air, a work in multiple movements by composers Nathan Davis and Phyllis Chen that marks the culmination of the International Contemporary Ensemble's year-long residency in celebration of Christ Church's new C.B. Fisk pipe organ,Opus 150. Performances will take place at Christ Church on Saturday, September 22 at 1pm, 3:30pm, and 6pm and on Sunday, September 23 at 3:30pm and 6pm. Movements employing Christ Church's historic bells, custom instruments, and itinerant musicians will convey audiences across the entire Christ Church campus before introducing them to Opus 150. Presented in partnership with FringeArts, all performances of In Plain Air will be free. Major support for In Plain Air has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

On Friday, September 28, 2018, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun releases her latest collaboration with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Dinosaur Scar, on TUNDRA via New Focus Recordings. With Du Yun's signature chameleonic presence, the album revisits foundational works that showcase their ever-evolving partnership. Du Yun is the 2017 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her opera Angel's Bone.

The Neighborhood House program of Christ Church Preservation Trust, a catalyst for the arts at historic Christ Church, presents five free world premiere performances of In Plain Air, a work in multiple movements by composers Nathan Davis and Phyllis Chen that marks the culmination of the International Contemporary Ensemble's year-long residency in celebration of Christ Church's new C.B. Fisk pipe organ, Opus 150. Performances will take place at Christ Church on Saturday, September 22 at 1pm, 3:30pm, and 6pm and on Sunday, September 23 at 3:30pm and 6pm. Movements employing Christ Church's historic bells, custom instruments, and itinerant musicians will convey audiences across the entire Christ Church campus before introducing them to Opus 150. Presented in partnership with FringeArts, all performances of In Plain Air will be free. Major support for In Plain Air has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) announces their fall 2018 season and the appointment of Executive Director Rebecca Sigel.

Japan Society's music season opens on Friday, September 14 (7:30 pm) with a recital titled 'Hauta Shamisen: Edo-Period Love Songs' by internationally acclaimed shamisen (three-string Japanese banjo) master Hidetaro Honjoh. Known for the skill of his playing and the richness of his singing voice, Hidetaro started playing the shamisen at age 11 and quickly became a professional player under the tutelage of two renowned shamisen masters. He is the founder of the Risougaku style of playing, updating traditional folk songs (minyo) to make them more relevant to contemporary tastes. He has been awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon, Japan's highest honor for artists.