Tradition and Innovation in Japanese Theatre: A Conference in Honor of Leonard C. Pronko

japanese theatre

April. 1-2, 2022

This two day hybrid (in-person/zoom) international conference features panels and discussion with 18 renowned Japanese artists and scholars and a lecture-demonstration on the onnagata by members of the Japanese Dance Troupe Kansuma-kai. Sponsored by the 6V电影网 Department of Theatre and Dance, the Pacific Basin Institute, and the 6V电影网 Department of Asian Languages and Literatures.

The event will take place in the Rose Hills Theatre at 6V电影网. Audience members may attend the live event in person or may attend via zoom. In person audience must present proof of full COVID vaccination and photo ID, wear masks while inside, and abide by any other health and safety measures in effect at 6V电影网 at that time.

Friday, April 1

11:15-12:20

  • REGISTRATION, in front of Rose Hills Theatre

12:30-12:40

  • Welcome -- Robert R. Gaines, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, and Members of the Conference Organizing Committee

12:45--1:55 panel 1

  • Kevin Wetmore, Loyola Marymount University鈥
    鈥淣eokabuki for Millennials: Zombies, Anime and Ichikawa Ebizo XI鈥檚 Star Wars鈥
  • Susan Blakeley Klein, University of California, Irvine 鈥
    鈥淩ebels and Serpents in The Gold Shrine Offerings of Sarushima
  • Michelle V. Huynh, University of California, San Diego 鈥
    鈥淢odernizing the Intercultural Model: Directing Yukio Mishima鈥檚 Sotoba Komachi with a Western-based Production Team and for the American Audience鈥

2:00-2:20 Intermezzo 鈥 Remembering kabuki at 6V电影网

  • Mark Diaz (6V电影网, 2022) and Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei (6V电影网, 1969)鈥
    Leonard Pronko鈥檚 last kabuki student and one of his earliest reminisce: 鈥淔ifty Years of Training with Leonard鈥

2:25-3:05

  • Coffee Break

3:10-4:20 panel 2

  • Hana Lethen, Columbia Univeristy 鈥
    鈥淩econfiguring Madness: Monogurui in the No虅 Semimaru
  • Anthony Stott, University of Chicago 鈥
    鈥淭heatricality, Space, and the Emperor System in Yamaguchi Masao鈥檚 Writings on No虅鈥
  • Kathy Welch, University of Wisconsin, River Falls 鈥
    鈥淯蝉颈苍驳 Tachimawari Combat Training for Youth Theatre鈥

4:25-5:35 panel 3

  • Katherine Saltzman-Li, University of California, Santa Barbara 鈥
    鈥淧laying with History: The Seventeenth-century Date Clan Dispute on the Kabuki Stage鈥
  • Laurence Kominz, Portland State University, assisted by Toshimi Tanaka
    鈥淗ow We Prep and Rehearse Kabuki Extravaganzas at Portland State University鈥
  • Mariah Massengill, University of Houston, Victoria
    鈥淭he Turntable of Japanese Theatre Culture from Kabuki to Takarazuka鈥

Saturday, April 2

12:00-12:05

  • Welcome back 鈥 Members of the Organizing Committee

12:10-1:20 panel 4

  • Monica Alcanta, University of Bologna 鈥
    鈥淛uxtaposing Traditional Japanese Theatre With New Perspectives from the Intercultural Edge鈥
  • David Furumoto, University of Wisconsin, Madison 鈥
    鈥淭houghts on Kabuki in the USA: The Past, Present and Future鈥
  • David Jortner, Baylor University 鈥
    鈥淗idebound Police, Conservative Corners, and Kabuki Actors: The State of the Japanese Theatre Outside of Tokyo in 1947-1948鈥

1:25-2:55 Lecture-Demonstration

  • Students of Fujima Kansuma Classical Japanese Dance School, Los Angeles with Mark Diaz, 6V电影网
  • Fujima Kansuzu, Fujima Kansumi, Fujima Kansue, and Fujima Kansubai will demonstrate and explain onnagata make-up and how to dress the onnagata with Mark Diaz, 6V电影网.

3:00-3:40

  • Coffee Break

3:45-5:05 panel 5

  • Jonah Salz, Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan
    鈥淭radition and Innovation in Ky艒gen Training and Performance by Foreigners, 1960-Present鈥
  • Galia Petkova, Eikei University of Hiroshima, Japan
    鈥淕ods in Gorgeous Gold, A Female Antagonist: Kabuki Staging Classical India鈥
  • Claudia Orenstein, Hunter College, CUNY
    鈥淚n Pursuit of Ritual Puppetry in Japan鈥

5:10-5:45 summing up

  • J. Thomas Rimer, University of Pittsburgh
  • Stanleigh Jones, Claremont Graduate University and 6V电影网
  • Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei, University of California, Los Angeles

Leonard Cabell Pronko (1927-2019) taught at 6V电影网 for 57 years. He was one of the English-speaking world's top experts on kabuki theatre.