La MaMa Blogs: FIRST LOOK: Pele and Kamapua’a by Kiku Sakai

Friday, August 7, 2015

FIRST LOOK: Pele and Kamapua’a by Kiku Sakai


Melding ancient Japanese Kuruma Ningyo puppetry with Hula Ki’i, the indigenous puppet folklore of Hawaii, Japanese artist Kiku Sakai brings a much anticipated workshop production of the story of Pele and Kamapua’a to the The First Floor Theatre at La MaMa Experimental Theatre for one night only. This light-hearted prequel to her much anticipated opus “Pele and Hi’iaka” demonstrates the cultural pluralism of this unique artist. Sakai has merged her two favorite artistic expressions, her love of the historic Kuruma Ningyo puppetry with her second love, that of authentic hula tradition - she is a proud member of the Pua Ali’i ‘Ilima o Nuioka, under the prominent hula master, Vicky Holt Takamine.

La MaMa E.T.C. Artistic Director, Mia Yoo spoke about this workshop, “Kiku Sakai is an artist that exemplifies the mission and tradition of inclusion here at La MaMa by combining her original Japanese artistic sensibilities with authentic Hawaiian puppet culture to bring forth a collaboration of art and artist unlike any other. We are proud to present such a unique and talented creator of World Theatre.”

Ms. Sakai has assembled an impressive team of like-minded artists to join her for this workshop: the prodigiously accomplished musician and composer Yukio Tsuji (Macbeth(Broadway), Salome(Broadway), M. Butterfly(Broadway); the multidisciplinary work of dancer and puppet- theater artist Yoko Myoi (CBS Presents: A New York Christmas to Remember at St. Paul the Apostle); and the guiding hand of overall Project Supervisor, Tom Lee (WAR HORSE, Broadway; Madam Butterfly Met NYC).





La MaMa presents
PELE 
AND 
KAMAPUA'A
workshop presentation
by Kiku Sakai

Thursday, August 27th @ 7pm

The First Floor Theare
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

All Tickets: $10

To Buy Tickets: CLICK HERE

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