About BALDY...
A courageous Japanese woman discovers her father’s love only after she loses her hair and skin. In this fearless, funny and personal show, Yokko brings to life nearly a dozen characters, merging movement and memories into a narrative exploring kinship, cultural expectations and personal identity and weaves the fantastic with the ordinary in her ongoing search for a singular voice.
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ON GOING PROJECT
Yokko wrote this play in 2009 under her teacher Paul Ricciardi at UAlbany as her last project before graduating. Six weeks to write, two weeks to rehearse the show, and one day performance. Another student, Erin Oulette directed it, and Elisa Chariebois stage managed and helped to write the play in Egnlish. On the presentation day, all of the prpfessors came to see it, and few of them advised her to keep working. Two days after the performance, she got in the graduate school, and mover to NYC. Her first year at graduate school changed her perspective to her life, then, in 2010, she workd with one of friends from UAlbany, Joe Bonilla (BASKnickerbocker Entertaiment inc.) to help to produce the show. She revised the play, and the production, "BALDY and the short plays festival" at Dorothy Strelisin Theatre, NYC realized. Amanda Thompson directed it, Brian Kirchner composed the music.Daria Tavana stage managed it. In 2012, BALDY was accepted to International Fringe New York City Festival (FringeNYC). She revised the play dinamicly, because she has changed her perspective to the subject through her MFA in Acting training. So she corporate the element into the play. Kaitlyn Samuel directed it, Gabrielle Sinclair stage managed, and Jordan Rosin (The Ume Group) produced it with Yokko. In 2012 virsion, playwight, Sean Michale Welch join to help her as her script advisor.Baldy recieved a positive review from NYTheatre.com.
In June, 2013, BALDY went to Hollywood Fringe Festival. Kaitlyn Samuel directed it. Sean Michael Welch script advised, and Jordan Rosin (The Ume Group) help to produce it. BALDY was introduced by local TV program, UTB. Los Angels Japanese Daily News Paper, Rafu Simpo interviewed Yokko, and introduce BALDY on thier paper. BALDY was nominated Best International Play at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2013. Now, BALDY will go to United Solo in NYC in this Fall. |