18th Century Opera

By Hannah and Kate

http://prezi.com/zfsawvbknd_v/present/?auth_key=4esu57b&follow=2s5ycrduvewy

Kabuki Theatre.
This is an article that has a quick history of Kabuki theatre. It makes me think of Vaudeville. There are acrobats, songs, dance and acting. The comedy is easy to get, based on the in your face physical comedy that the two theatre types share. The movement is often exaggerated for comedic purposes. Men would play women in Kabuki. In vaudeville, anyone could play any sex but it was quite often seen, again for comedic purposes, women playing men or vise versa. Music and rhythmic beats would play throughout most of the show.

http://www.asianartmall.com/kabukiarticle.htm

Kabuki Theater is pretty sick.

I'm the kind of guy who likes watching a movie with a lot of action in a play or movie. Watching someone shuffle across a floor with some socks at a snails pace can take its toll on me. So, that is why I can appreciate Kabuki theater. Now I know someone has already posted about this but I this is the only one I found interesting.

Here is a Kabuki Fight scene, taken in Osaka. To me, this is so much more entertaining than any other video I've seen like Noh. Fight scenes with a lot of yelling and fighting sure beats a slow shuffling of feet. But of course, that is just my opinion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU66syDUuJ8

Here is also an official Kabuki website.
http://www.kabuki-bito.jp/eng/contents/whats/vol1_broad_range_of_acting_styles.html

Blog 3: Asian Theatre Part 2 VOTE VOTE VOTE

Part 2 OF THE ASIAN THEATRE WEBSITE SEARCH
THIS IS A CONTEST to see who can get the most people to visit their site and comment to their post. 

• Read the pitches and visit a minimum of five websites. 
• Examine the websites 
• Come back to Let's Talk Musicals and VOTE for the best two sites by adding a COMMENT to that post 
• In your comment tell us what you learned from visiting the author's website. Please do not just reply to the quality of their pitch.

PRIZES
The two websites with the most comments will receive a small prize.
The website that I like the most will receive a small prize.



Pitches posted by March 7 
VOTING starts March 8VOTE must be posted by March 15. 


To see the details of Blog 2: Asian Theatre Part 1 click here.

Let's Talk Musicals: Decoration, Costume, And Symbolic Design in Chinese Theatre

Let's Talk Musicals: Decoration, Costume, And Symbolic Design in Chinese http://www.theatrehistory.com/asian/chinese002.html

Decoration, Costume, And Symbolic Design in Chinese Theatre

This website talks about how decoration is considered in chinese drama, how it is filtered, and how scenery is considered "silly and unnecessary." It mentions how scenery only exists in the imagination, talks about the symbolism of their makeup, characters and how animals came to be. They also mention the Theatre God and what they call the "Twelve Ornaments."

1. Sun, in a bank of clouds, with a three-legged bird inside disc

2. Moon, containing a hare and a mortar and pestle

3. Constellation of stars connected by straight lines

4. Five clawed Dragon

etc.

http://www.theatrehistory.com/asian/chinese002.html

  For Henry it’s the stardom, for Sophie it’s a chance, for Theo it’s survival, for Kate it’s the dance. They’ve got nothing in common but a dream, a dream that one day the whole world would know their name, a dream of FAME…ously crafted websites on Chinese theatre history. In a world where the internet has the power, in a school where students sing of sinking ships and open doors, in a time where blogs are used in classroom assignments and a topic must be chosen, one website will rise. A website so rich in knowledge it covers everything from drama throughout the dynasties, to regional operas, to shadow and puppet theatre. A website so legit, it had all it’s, “rights reserved”, in 2010.  When all hope seemed to be lost, when Wikipedia let us down, one website stepped up. “Asian Traditional Theatre and Dance”, coming soon to a blog near you. (This website is not yet rated.)

 

http://www.xip.fi/atd/china/the-early-history-of-chinese-theatre.html

 

 My Dance Group :)

 

MAKE A FACE: Japanese Kabuki Makeup

"I don't think I could live without hair, makeup and styling, let alone be the performer I am. I am a glamour girl through and through. I believe in the glamorous life and I live one. "
-Lady Gaga


Although I don't think this is what mama monster had in mind...

As much as I dislike wearing makeup, I can always appreciate the transformative power it has in theatre. Like a mask, it disguises but leaves the wearer able to present their face with all of its natural expression. Kabuki theatre, featuring specific colourings depicting protagonist and antagonist characters, caught my eye as a piece of art all on its own. It's really interesting comparing modern day theatrical wear to the Kabuki traditional costuming because they are both quite bizarre, but one is simply what we're used to seeing!

So check out the videos I found for DIY Kabuki makeup!

This website gives a little back story on make up of contemporary (of the time) theatre make up in Japan.

http://webforce.nwrain.net/kabuki/Makeup.html

JUST IN CASE, you wake up and want to look like a swan that had a claw fight with a cat, here's a DIY video for your very own Kabuki make-up!!! Enjoy! She's a pretty funny lady...

Thanks all!

BANRAKU: Not your typical puppet show...

Long before the days of Jeff Dunham, Sesame Street, The Muppets, and Avenue Q, Banraku wowed audiences with its beautiful blend of fantastical story telling and the spectacle of the puppets to create a rich universe of Banraku goodness! :)

Hard to believe that with a flip of one mechanism, the beautiful woman above can turn into such  a demon...

Banraku is an art form that depends on 3 puppeteers working in perfect harmony to control life size puppets. It is the epitome of  intricacy and subtlety, and if it's done right then it looks effortless and it's amazing how emotionally connected one can feel with these wooden (but far from stiff) thespians.


This following link is a truly fascinating behind the scenes demonstration of the puppets that make this form of theatre so captivating and the puppeteers that make it all possible:
http://chawedrosin.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/bunraku-puppet-demonstration/

Kutyattam Sanskrit Theatre

Spectacle has played a great part in theatre since its origin. No where is this more evident than in Asian cultures, particularly in the theatre of India. India has what is arguably the largest film industry in the world; a film industry which has, over years, evolved from earlier traditions including Parsi and ancient Sanskrit theatre. The 2200 year old tradition of Sanskrit Theatre, which gave prominence to 'spectacle' in the form of elaborate costumes and makeup, as well as through music and dance, has all but died out. Only five known institutions still offer the necessary training to perform Sanskrit, making the performances rare and all the more spectacular. In this short documentary, we can experience the detailed beauty of the Kutyattam Sanskrit theatre and delve deeper into its roots in Indian Culture.

http://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/index.php?s=films_details&id_page=33&id_film=9

Hey, YOU! Yeah, you!!

     Do you hate tragedies? Do you like shows which calm the mind and massage the soul? Do you want a happy ending for your soul massage at no extra cost? If you answered "yes", then Sanskrit Theatre is the theatre for you! Take a break from the boring age-old tales of good versus evil, and see some not-boring RE-INVENTED tales of good versus evil!
There's love!
Conflict!
Dancing!
Guys who look like this: !!!

VISIT: http://www.culturopedia.com/Theatre/sanskrit_theatre.html

So learn about Sanskrit theatre TODAY! 

Elise Sherwoods Post: Asian American Dance Performances

Asian American Dance Performances! 

This website tells us about how this company wanted to make social changes back in the 70's so that the asian culture could express themselves more freely through dance.  They also mention what trying to diversify there culture was like when trying to relate politics to the arts and the impact it has had on performers in the past 3 decades.  Also lots of other links within the website that lead to other asian dance companies that have been inspired by Asian American Dance Performances.

The Link: http://unboundspirit.wordpress.com/category/introduction/

The Internet Is For Puppets

DO YOU RECOGNIZE TREKKIE?

Well you should. Because puppets are fantastic!

Everyone knows Trekkie Monster and his addiction with the internet. 

Trekkie rose to fame in a fun puppet-filled musical.

But Avenue Q was not the inventor of puppetry.

PUPPETS ARE EVERYWHERE!

Lady Montague

A production of Romeo and Juliet that recently toured the U.K. featured the adult characters portrayed with puppets. 

The Montagues were metal (Lord Montague).

The Capulets were stone (Nurse).

These puppets are similar in style to the types of puppets that are used in the Japenese form of theatre - BUNURAKU THEATRE. 

We can see the similarities in many fashions. Including the fact that the male puppets have legs while the females only have a dress to represent legs.

BUNURAKU THEATRE

Here are some questions you probably have.     Why is the de-zukai seen and the kurogo isn't? Why does it take three operators for one puppet? What are stage clogs? Who wears them and why? What six pieces of costuming do the puppets wear?       You are probably also wondering what is so specific about Bunuraku Theatre that allows it to influence modern day productions like Avenue Q or Romeo and Juliet revivals.   Well for more exciting information, about the puppets, the theatres, the history, the shamisen player and more visit the ONLINE GUIDE TO BUNURAKU THEATRE. 

Friar Laurence was the puppet most similar to the puppets of the Bunuraku theatre as he requires three operators.

      AREN'T PUPPETS AWESOME?

If you missed the link, click here!

The "Romeo and Juliet" production mentioned is that of Night Light Theatre. 

Images taken from their website.

Kabuki Theatre World News!


This is an website that describes elements of Kabuki theatre news and updates. It describes updates in peoples careers, movie and play updates and in some cases give updates of Kabuki actors deaths. Check it out everyone!!!!
http://www.kabuki21.com/

Chinese Theatre

So, I knew very little about Chinese theatre coming into this, which is why I chose to create my blog about its history. I am a very visual learner which is why I love this sight! I basically learned all I need to know about the history of Chinese theatre through the pictures and videos provided on this site (there are so many!). It shows the progression through all of the different dynasties until present day which was really cool. Also, all of the pictures have very informative descriptions. For those of you who like to read, there is oodles of written info. The website is very clearly laid out which always make me very happy! You can also find similar information about the theatre history of several other Asian countries.

I discovered that the origins of Chinese theatre stem back to over 3000 years ago. Thank goodness the Chinese were very history-conscious, because we have been left with a great deal of written evidence about the traditional theatre practices.
A lot of information about the history of dance has been provided by terracotta statues which were made in the Tang-dynasty.
Most of the traditions of Chinese theatre are rooted in storytelling.
The Lion Dance, which is performed during the Chinese New Year, has been a tradition for hundreds of years.
It takes years to master the techniques required in Chinese theatre (acrobatics, long silk sleeves, martial arts).
Spoken theatre started to evolve at the beginning on the 20th century.
The Monkey King is a very popular character in many Chinese operas





 The Monkey King


Hurray for learning about Chinese Theatre history!