Momotaro: The Peach Boy of Japan – performance and cultural activities (Read More)
Prior to performances of "Momotaro: The Peach Boy of Japan", there will be a festival of games and cultural activities for families and a presentation on Japanese settlers in Nebraska by Vickie Sakurada Schaepler. The games and cultural activities will be at 6pm on Nov. 22 and 1 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Omaha Jewish Community Center (JCC) - Eisenberg Gallery. The presentation by Vickie Sakurada Schaepler will be in the Omaha Jewish Community Center (JCC) - Alan J. Levine Theater before the performances of "Momotaro" on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $24 at the door. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit https://circletheatreomaha.org/mainstage-season/ . Momotaro is a beloved Japanese folktale about a boy who is miraculously born from a giant peach. An elderly, childless couple discovers the peach floating down the river, and when they try to eat it, it splits open to reveal a baby boy inside. They name him Momotaro, meaning “Peach Boy,” and raise him as their own. As he grows up, Momotaro becomes strong and brave. When he learns about a band of ogres who are terrorizing nearby villages, he sets out on a journey to defeat them. Along the way, he befriends a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant by offering them delicious millet dumplings and they join him on his quest. Together, they travel to Oni Island, work as a team to outsmart and defeat the ogres, and return home victorious, bringing back treasure and peace to the land. The story is narrated in the traditional clown style by beloved Japanese figures, with iconic tricksters bringing chaos and cleverness along the way.
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Momotaro at Legacy of the Plains Museum (Read More)
Circle Theatre invites the Gering and Scottsbluff community to a full day of creativity and cultural exploration with Momotaro at Legacy of the Plains Museum, a hands-on workshop celebrating Japanese arts, folklore, and performance. This engaging event, inspired by the beloved Japanese folktale of Momotaro and led by artists of all abilities, will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, and is free to the public. The daylong series of workshops will immerse participants in traditional and contemporary Japanese art forms. Visitors can fold origami characters, learn Odori (traditional Japanese dance), craft Bunraku-style puppets and Noh theatre masks, sing folk songs such as Teru Bozu and Oni no Pantsu, and conclude with haiku poetry and reflection. The day will culminate in a short performance demonstration of Momotaro: The Peach Boy of Japan by members of Circle Theatre’s ensemble. “This workshop is about connecting culture, creativity, and community,” says Circle Theatre Co-Artistic Director Courtney Stein Cairncross. “It’s a chance for families to explore Japanese art traditions while discovering the joy of storytelling through movement, music, and puppetry.” Circle Theatre’s Momotaro programming is part of a year-long celebration of global folklore and inclusive performance. All activities are designed to be accessible for participants of all ages and abilities.
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Exploring Japanese History and Culture in Nebraska VETERANS HOME AUDIENCE ONLY (Read More)
Curated discussion on the play "Momotaro: The Peach Boy of Japan" with Courtney Cairncross led by Vickie Sakurada Schaepler. This event is for an invited audience only. Momotaro is a beloved Japanese folktale about a boy who is miraculously born from a giant peach. An elderly, childless couple discovers the peach floating down the river, and when they try to eat it, it splits open to reveal a baby boy inside. They name him Momotaro, meaning “Peach Boy,” and raise him as their own. As he grows up, Momotaro becomes strong and brave. When he learns about a band of ogres who are terrorizing nearby villages, he sets out on a journey to defeat them. Along the way, he befriends a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant by offering them delicious millet dumplings and they join him on his quest. Together, they travel to Oni Island, work as a team to outsmart and defeat the ogres, and return home victorious, bringing back treasure and peace to the land. The story is narrated in the traditional clown style by beloved Japanese figures, with iconic tricksters bringing chaos and cleverness along the way.
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A history of Yiddish stories with Barry Berko and “Capture the Moon” (Read More)
Prior to performances of "Capture the Moon", scholar Barry Berko will give a presentation on the history of Yiddish stories, their roots in Jewish tradition, and their relevance today. Event tickets are $20.
The mythical comic town of Chelm is a beloved staple of Yiddish literature. Once upon a time, an angel carrying a sackful of foolish souls back to heaven for repair snagged his sack on a tree growing on top a tall mountain top. The sack tore, and the poor foolish souls rolled down the mountainside into the town of Chelm. “The Wise Men of Chelm”, adapted by Sandra Fenichel Asher, will be performed by a core of Circle Theatre artists. An opening act of “When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw”, adapted by Jenni Castello, will be read by residents from Quality Living Inc. Shtetl, a form of Jewish dance, will be choreographed into both productions. Prior to each performance, scholar Barry Berko will talk about his research on Yiddish fiction writer Isaac Bashevis Singer. Tickets for each of the two performances, Nov 18 at 7:00pm and Nov 19 at 2:00pm, are $20 and may be purchased at https://circletheatreomaha.org/mainstage-season/.
The mythical comic town of Chelm is a beloved staple of Yiddish literature. Once upon a time, an angel carrying a sackful of foolish souls back to heaven for repair snagged his sack on a tree growing on top a tall mountain top. The sack tore, and the poor foolish souls rolled down the mountainside into the town of Chelm. “The Wise Men of Chelm”, adapted by Sandra Fenichel Asher, will be performed by a core of Circle Theatre artists. An opening act of “When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw”, adapted by Jenni Castello, will be read by residents from Quality Living Inc. Shtetl, a form of Jewish dance, will be choreographed into both productions. Prior to each performance, scholar Barry Berko will talk about his research on Yiddish fiction writer Isaac Bashevis Singer. Tickets for each of the two performances, Nov 18 at 7:00pm and Nov 19 at 2:00pm, are $20 and may be purchased at https://circletheatreomaha.org/mainstage-season/.
