Obon: Tales of Rain and Moonlight

2002–2003
Puppetry, Theater

About the Production

Obon: Tales of Rain and Moonlight weaves together three Japanese ghost stories to create a realm of mystery and strange beauty, a place where dark humor and ancient truths converge. The title refers to the annual Obon festival, in which the Japanese remember and honor the dead, a metaphor that underlies the work. Obon includes tales by Lafcadio Hearn with others drawn from the beloved classic collection of Japanese ghost stories Ugetsu Monogatari, first published in the 18th Century. Obon is the 2nd of Ping Chong's full length puppet theater works. It serves as a sequel to Kwaidan.

Production Team And Cast

Conceived, Written and Directed by

Ping Chong

Stage Manager

Stacey Roberts

Music

Guy Klucevsek

Set and Lighting Design

Randy Ward

Sound Design

David Meschter

Projection Design

Jan Hartley

Prop, Masks and Puppet Design

Atsushi Yamato

Cast

Jodi Eichelberger, Aya T. Kanai, Jennifer Kato, Fred C. Riley III, Sam Word with the recorded voices of Esther Chae, Ping Chong, Brian Hallas, Jennifer Kato, Michael Rohd, Jeffrey Rose, Louise Smith and Ching Valdez

Performance History

Premiere

Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle, WA (December 2001)

Tours

Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, SC (May 2002)

Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle WA (November 2002)

Tokyo, Toyama, Kani, Ritto, and Tsukuba in Japan (Summer 2003)


Partners

Seattle Repertory Theatre

Spoleto Festival USA

Conversation & Company, Tokyo Japan


Funders

Japan-US Partnership for the Performing Arts

The Japan Foundation

Asian Cultural Council

The Jim Henson Foundation.

Japan – US Friendship Commission.