No-No Boy (play)
| No-No Boy | |
|---|---|
 World Premiere poster | |
| Written by | Ken Narasaki |
| Characters | Ichiro Ma Pa Kenji Emi Freddie Taro Eto Mrs. Kanno Jun |
| Date premiered | March 2010 |
| Place premiered | Miles Memorial Playhouse Santa Monica, California |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | World War II Draft resistance, Asian American family |
| Genre | Drama, Asian American theatre |
| Setting | 1946 Seattle |
No-No Boy (2010) is a play written by Ken Narasaki adapted from the novel of the same title by John Okada, originally produced at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica, California, in association with Timescape Arts Group. It is a drama in two acts. The play received its world premiere on March 27, 2010, directed by Alberto Isaac.[1] The story follows a Japanese American World War II draft resister as he returns home from prison, in 1946.
Play summary
Set after World War II as Japanese Americans return to the West Coast, the play follows drafter resister Ichiro Yamada after he is released from prison and struggles to come to terms with the consequences of his choices, while the rest of the community tries to get back on its feet after a war that has uprooted them all.[1]
Characters
- Ichiro Yamada
- Nisei draft resister
- Pa
- Ichiro's father, Issei
- Ma
- Ichiro's mother, Issei
- Kenji Kanno
- wounded 442 vet
- Emi
- wife of enlisted soldier
- Freddie
- Ichiro's buddy, also a draft resister
- Eto
- veteran
- Taro
- Ichiro's younger brother
- Mrs. Kanno
- Kenji's mother
- Mr. Kumasaka
- friend of the Yamada family
- Jun
- veteran, friend of the Kumasaka's
- 2-A
- neighbor of Freddie
- Cop
World Premiere company
Miles Memorial Playhouse, Santa Monica, CA; Opened March 27, 2010; Closed April 18, 2010
Original cast
(in order of appearance)
- Ichiro – Robert Wu
- Eto – Chris Tashima
- Taro – Jared Asato
- Pa – Sab Shimono
- Ma – Sharon Omi
- Mr. Kumasaka – Ken Narasaki
- Jun – Chris Tashima
- 2-A – Emily Kuroda
- Freddie – John Miyasaki
- Kenji – Greg Watanabe
- Emi – Keiko Agena
- Cop – Ken Narasaki
- Mrs. Kanno – Emily Kuroda
Production staff
- Director – Alberto Isaac
- Choreographer – Michael Hagiwara
- Fight Choreographer – Aaron Pagel
- Set Design – Alan E. Muraoka
- Costume designer – Ken Takemoto
- Lighting designer – Jeremy Pivnick
- Sound Design/Music Composition – Dave Iwataki
- Projection Design – John J. Flynn
- Property Master – Ken Takemoto
- Stage Manager – Darlene Miyakawa[2]
Reviews
References
- ^ a b "No-No Boy" announcement on Daily News Los Angeles site
- ^ No-No Boy site