Great Leap Brings Stories of Relocation, Repatriation and Deportation to Life
LOS ANGELES – Great Leap presents three performances of “To All Relations: Sacred Moon Songs” at the David Henry Hwang Theater from July 30-August 1. This theater performance is drawn from stories, relationships and spiritual experiences shared in the TO ALL RELATIONS community residency.
From the middle passage of Africans, relocation of Japanese Americans, repatriation of Mexican Americans, to the deportation of Muslim Americans since 9/11, this cross-cultural odyssey weaves a ritual of unity from a world in chaos.
Since the Fall 2003, co-directors of the project, Nobuko Miyamoto and Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara have been working in residency with a core group of 12 artists, poets, teachers, healers, from the Muslim, Japanese, Mexican communities, exploring the profound links in their personal and collective histories.
Miyamoto says, “Experiencing relocation as a child, and having a son who is a Muslim, pushes me to use our stories to make sure what happened with Japanese Americans is not repeated.” Guevara sees the piece as “a meditation on immigration, dislocation, war and peace.”
In one of the stories, Jo Anna Mixpe Ley portrays the “Angel of Borders,” witnessing the migrations and manipulation of Mexican Americans since the imposition of the US borders; repatriation, the bracero program, “Operation Wetback,” and current INS raids in the Southland.
Tomomi Kanemaru, a painter who emigrated from Japan 13 years ago, shares the emotions she experienced while living in Brooklyn Heights, watching the World Trade Center burn on September 11 with her diverse neighbors: “They all had the same face. They were not angry or thinking of revenge. We had one wish…that even one person, could be saved.”
Another story comes from Nader Elmakawi, who fears Muslims will be sent to camp as Japanese Americans were during World War II. But on the day of a recent protest, the Japanese Americans, the victims of camp, “were with us, in the rain, till dark…standing united.”
“Voices of Muslim Women” shows the diversity of the Muslim experience from the women’s point of view with Dima Hilal, Albena Dodeva, Karima Kylberg, KT Thangavelu, and Malika Ayubbi.
Woven throughout the performance, two spiritual seekers: Masanori Shobo Ishihara, a Buddhist monk and Kamau Ayubbi, a Sufi Muslim, share their different practices and find the commonalities of their spiritual paths.
Poet Ariel Robello brings together Latinos and Muslims in Cuba in her piece. It is there that they all hear the “call to prayer” for peace.
Other ensemble performers include Victoria Bernal, Mitsuko Cannon, Vincent Kobelt, Hiroshi Murakawa, and Michael Yanagita.
Special guest artists, poet and co-founder of the World Stage, Kamau Daàood, and choreographer Young-Ae Park, join “Sacred Moon Songs” with a collaboration called, “Angel of Scissors.” Featured guest musicians include Derek Nakamoto, Kevin Higa, Brad Cummings, and singer/composer Nobuko Miyamoto.
“We hope to bring together the diverse communities of Los Angeles with these special performances during the full moon at the end of July. We see this as Great Leap’s offering of peace, woven from stories of some really remarkable, yet everyday people,” said Jennifer Kuida, Managing Director of Great Leap.
Great Leap is a 26-year old Los Angeles-based multicultural performing arts organization dedicated to creating and presenting original works in theater, music and dance. Since 1998, Great Leap has led “To All Relations” community residencies in Watts, Phoenix, San Jose, Detroit and Boyle Heights.
Phase 3.0 of this project is supported in part by National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Leadership for a Changing World – Ford Foundation, California Community Foundation, Japanese American Community Services, Hitachi, Ltd., and Aaroe Associates Charitable Foundation. Co-sponsored by Muslim Public Affairs Council, Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress, Senshin Buddhist Temple, and the Multicultural Collaborative.
The limited engagement runs from Friday, July 30 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, July 31 at 7:30 pm; to Sunday, August 1 at 2:00 pm at the David Henry Hwang Theater (East West Players), 120 N. Judge John Aiso Street, in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.
Ticket prices are $50 VIP donor tickets (includes Opening Night reception and reserved seating), $20 general admission, and $15 discount tickets for children under 12, students with ID, seniors (65+) and groups of 10 or more.
To purchase tickets to the performances, email vidhya@greatleap.org or call (213) 250-8800.
Credit card purchases are available online, click here!
Updated: 7/16/04
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