Theatre Nohgaku

24/10/2026

A final opportunity today to see “Chiune: Visas for Life” at Oakton College, Des Plaines, Illinois. Seeing noh of any kind in the US is a rarity. A portion of “Hagoromo” will also be performed in Japanese with Elizabeth Dowd as sh*te. We thank all the project partners for allowing this to be presented, and are appreciative of everyone’s efforts. Good fortune on the final performance of this US premiere!

23/10/2026

The mask of Sugihara in use. John Oglevee is sh*te-kata in Mariko Anno’s “Chiune: Visas for Life”, with its US premiere tonight at Oakton College.

Hideta Kitazawa brings a level of exquisite detail to the mask. He had lots of discussion with Mariko in advance of construction, and included a lot of his own personal research. Making a mask of an historical person is tricky, and requires attention to detail at the highest level. We’ve been extremely fortunate to have worked with him over the years, and it can be said each piece is truly a singular piece of art. We‘re grateful to have such a skilled artisan as a close partner.

21/10/2026

Rehearsals underway at the Footlik Theater on the Oakton College campus, Des Plaines Illinois for “Chiune: Visas for Life.” It‘s so pleasant to be in the company of such artists, and to be part of the process of bringing the piece to life.

Everyone at Oakton has been so kind and generous with their time. They’ve gone out of their way to be helpful, and it makes it so much easier to do. Thank you most sincerely!

20/10/2026

This is the mask of Chiune Sughihara, made by master-artisan Hideta Kitazawa. Mr. Kitazawa once told me that it was his goal to put his spirit in the mask, but it was the actor that brought that spirit to life.

Hand-crafted. This is what makes noh still particular and special. Tabi, hakama, montsuki, mask, and fan. Human beings, wrapped in the handiwork of other humans, telling stories about human thoughts and feelings.

If you're feeling weary about AI and automation, The Algorithm (ironic on a FB post), and the constant assault of modern life on your senses - experience some noh: an armature of music and dance, designed to allow the time and space to digest the poetry of the moment. It's a human thing.

18/10/2026

A piece of paper. That's what they needed to escape. A piece of paper to make the difference between life and death for themselves and their families. Grasped desperately in hand, displayed to indifferent border guards, moving by train through the dark of night to a future uncertain and uncomfortable.

Chiune Sugihara helped them:
“I didn’t do anything special. I just did what I had to do.”
千畝：「大したことをしたわけじゃない。当然のことをしただけです。」

A human being looked at others and saw their desperation, and saw within themselves a moral obligation to do what they felt was right. At risk to themselves and their own family - they did what they felt was right.

Join us at Oakton College in Des Plaines Illinois this weekend (10/23 & 24) to hear and feel more of Sugihara's story. With text by by Mariko Anno, and music by Mariko Anno and Kawauchi Takako.

14/10/2026

We're wrapping up one of our busiest months to date with a US Premiere:

In July through August of 1940, Chiune Sugihara issued over 2000 transit visas for Jewish refugees seeking to escape Lithuania. In his post as vice-consul of the Japanese Consulate in Kaunas he defied his directives and it’s said that he spent up to 20 hours each day hand writing visas with the goal of issuing as many as 300 a day before the consulate was closed. According to Roger Pulvers, Sugihara’s son Hiroki said that “my father continued to pen visas even at the railway station, throwing the last stamped passports out of the window of our train.”

Coming up next week in its US Premiere on Oct 23 & 24, a small portion of Chiune’s story will be told through the armature of noh in “Chiune: Visas for Life” at Oakton College outside Chicago. With libretto and music by Mariko Anno, and featuring John Oglevee as sh*te-kata, this promises to be a singular moment of reflection. Please join us.

Image by Unknown Author, Японский "Шиндлер" - Тиуне Сугихаха (Japanese "Schindler" - Chiune Sugihara)

11/10/2026

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11/10/2026

The BMOM noh stage comes down at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater after our last performance. Crew was fast and efficient, and many thanks to them for their help and expertise: Our part in the Autumn Meteorite Festival is over - but there’s still lots more to see. If you’re in Tokyo; check it out!

10/10/2026

Many thanks to everyone, and congratulations on a good opening night for “Blue Moon Over Memphis“ There are so many people to thank, all the TN members, our Japanese partnering artists, the staff and organizers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater, the Autumn Meteorite Festival, author Deborah Brevoort, mask-maker Hideta Kitazawa, the Audience, and every last human being who helped us get to this place. Our appreciation is boundless, and we feel humble and grateful to have been granted such an opportunity. One more go again today - then we all move on to our separate lives, while carrying these moments in our hearts.

09/10/2026

Opening tonight, in Ikebukuro. Here’s a write up from Japan Times:

Theater Nohgaku is translating the traditional art form to English with original plays that center global cultural and historical figures.