Georgetown University's Theater and Performance Studies Program Presents Trees and Ghosts

Adapted and Directed by Natsu Onoda, from the Graphic Novels of Osamu Tezuka WORLD PREMIERE!

November 8th - 10th, 14th – 17th at 8 pm; November 11th at 2pm

Trees and Ghosts is a groundbreaking, new play adapted from three short, relatively unknown graphic novels by manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) who is revered in his native Japan as the “God of Manga.” Spirits, elements of nature and memories of World War II haunt each of the stories that make up this highly visual production which employs interactive video, on-stage drawing, and live taiko drums.

The second production in the 2007-2008 Hidden Histories Season of New and Unseen Works, Trees and Ghosts exemplifies the Theater and Performance Studies Program's commitment to the development of new work. According to Professor Derek Goldman, Director of Georgetown University's Theater and Performance Studies Program, “each of the four plays chosen this year – Fabulation, Trees and Ghosts, Wisconsin Death Trip and Stuff Happens - deals explicitly with the relationship between history ‘writ large’ and its more microcosmic, personal, and psychic reverberations.”

Adapter/director Natsu Onoda, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater and Performance Studies, has been a fan of Tezuka since she could read. One of her treasured memories of her childhood is that of meeting Tezuka himself in sixth grade. As a young aspiring cartoonist, she visited Tezuka's studio and showed him her work. Tezuka, known for his generosity for young fans, responded: “This is very good. Come back in three years, and, if you have made a progress, you should become a cartoonist.” Tezuka died two and a half years later. Since then, Onoda has adapted Tezuka's work into live theater, published papers and given lectures on them, and is currently working on the first English-language book on his work, to be published from the University Press of Mississippi in late 2008. The three Tezuka stories Onoda has chosen to adapt to the stage have never before appeared in English translation.

The cast of talented Georgetown undergraduates received a one-week intensive training in taiko drumming by accomplished drummer Yoshihiko Fueki, a Nagoya-based taiko drummer who has been playing the taiko for fourteen years. Also assisting with the production is Belgian video and sound designer Ben Dierckx, a multimedia artist who uses custom interactive software and projection technology to create an altered visual palette that mimics dreams and hallucinations.

Tickets: $15 general, $12 faculty/staff/alumni/seniors, $7 students. To purchase, scroll down or call 202.687.ARTS.

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Nov 8/07—Nov 17/07 Adapted & Dir by Natsu Onoda. A new multimedia production adapted from three short graphic novels by a Japanese cartoonist Tezuka Osamu, who is considered the inventor of manga (contemporary Japanese comics). The stories, all dealing with nature, spirits and World War II, come alive in this highly visual production using interactive video, live on-stage drawing, and live taiko drums. [PLEASE CALL FOR ACCESSIBLE SEATING OR GROUP RATES: 202-687-ARTS] Pic. ID req'd to pick up tix and for verification of purchase. Please arrive 30 minutes early to collect your tickets. The house is general seating.