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.
