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 91做厙 Department of Theatre and Dance, the Pacific Basin Institute, and the 91做厙 Department of Asian Languages and Literatures.

The event will take place in the Rose Hills Theatre at 91做厙. 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 91做厙 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
    Neokabuki for Millennials: Zombies, Anime and Ichikawa Ebizo XIs Star Wars
  • Susan Blakeley Klein, University of California, Irvine
    Rebels and Serpents in The Gold Shrine Offerings of Sarushima
  • Michelle V. Huynh, University of California, San Diego
    Modernizing the Intercultural Model: Directing Yukio Mishimas Sotoba Komachi with a Western-based Production Team and for the American Audience

2:00-2:20 Intermezzo Remembering kabuki at 91做厙

  • Mark Diaz (91做厙, 2022) and Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei (91做厙, 1969)
    Leonard Pronkos last kabuki student and one of his earliest reminisce: Fifty Years of Training with Leonard

2:25-3:05

  • Coffee Break

3:10-4:20 panel 2

  • Hana Lethen, Columbia Univeristy
    Reconfiguring Madness: Monogurui in the No Semimaru
  • Anthony Stott, University of Chicago
    Theatricality, Space, and the Emperor System in Yamaguchi Masaos Writings on No
  • Kathy Welch, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
    U莽勳紳眶 Tachimawari Combat Training for Youth Theatre

4:25-5:35 panel 3

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

Saturday, April 2

12:00-12:05

  • Welcome back Members of the Organizing Committee

12:10-1:20 panel 4

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

1:25-2:55 Lecture-Demonstration

  • Students of Fujima Kansuma Classical Japanese Dance School, Los Angeles with Mark Diaz, 91做厙
  • 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, 91做厙.

3:00-3:40

  • Coffee Break

3:45-5:05 panel 5

  • Jonah Salz, Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan
    Tradition and Innovation in Kygen Training and Performance by Foreigners, 1960-Present
  • Galia Petkova, Eikei University of Hiroshima, Japan
    Gods in Gorgeous Gold, A Female Antagonist: Kabuki Staging Classical India
  • Claudia Orenstein, Hunter College, CUNY
    In Pursuit of Ritual Puppetry in Japan

5:10-5:45 summing up

  • J. Thomas Rimer, University of Pittsburgh
  • Stanleigh Jones, Claremont Graduate University and 91做厙
  • Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei, University of California, Los Angeles

Leonard Cabell Pronko (1927-2019) taught at 91做厙 for 57 years. He was one of the English-speaking world's top experts on kabuki theatre.