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Archives |
3/28/2007 |
Camp Dance by Soji Koshiwagi |
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Camp Dance features stories, vignettes, song and dance about the Japanese American internment experience Grateful Crane Ensemble, a non-profit theater company whose mission is to create and present meaningful and entertaining bilingual programs for Japanese American seniors, produces a theater experience from the stories of 10 to 15 Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II and participated in camp dances. Project director Soji Kashiwagi said, “It is a story about making the best out of a terrible situation. It is a human story about youth--shy and awkward—in high school, at a camp dance behind barbed wires.” Cast
Keiko Kawashima has been a professional singer, actress and dancer for 19 years. She is a performing member, Director and Music Coordinator for the Grateful Crane Ensemble (GCE), and continues to tour with The Camp Dance: The Music & The Memories. She appeared in Cedar Grove Productions’ Day of Independence as the Mother. Voice-over credits: The Last Samurai, Mattel Barbie commercials (Japan) and others. She has also participated in various recording projects and community events.
Kurt Kuniyoshi’s recent credits include a PartyPoker.com commercial and a Flex Your Power PSA. Theater credits include Little Shop of Horrors, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Follies, Passion, Pacific Overtures, Broken Hearts, A Jive Bombers Christmas. He is also blessed with having been a member of the Grateful Crane Ensemble for the past four plus years.
Mary Kageyama Nomura was 16-years-old when her popularity as a singer of 40s tunes at Manzanar earned her the title, “The Songbird of Manzanar.” A native of Venice, she developed a loyal following in camp where she was frequently featured at dances, weddings and other social functions. Her voice and spirit, say the people who were there, touched their hearts and gave them hope during a time when they needed it most.
Production Team
Soji Kashiwagi (Playwright/ Executive Producer) is a San Francisco native who has been serving as the writer/producer of the Grateful Crane Ensemble (GCE) since July 2001. Writing credits include The Camp Dance: The Music & The Memories for which he recently received the Ruby Yoshino Schaar Playwright Award from the New York/National JACL. He thanks his parents, Hiroshi & Sadako Kashiwagi, his wife, Keiko, his family and friends for all their love and support.
Scott Nagatani (Musical Director/Piano) has worked with the Grateful Crane Ensemble since 2001, playing piano at Keiro Retirement/Nursing homes and musical directing Camp Dance: The Music & The Memories. He is musical director for the Reader’s Theatre Project from the Children’s Museum of Los Angeles, adapting children’s picture books into song and dance and developing music and literacy programs for schools in California and Japan. Film composer credits include: Pawns of the King, Day of Independence, Visas and Virtue.
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