What a year it was. I completely failed to post updates here, so this is a bit of a long one to make up for the year or so! Let's see if I can get all the main events:
Most of my year was spent overseas -- mainly Japan -- working with renowned playwright, director, and actor, Hideki Noda, on a total of three different projects. First, we remounted a play we did in 2012 called EGG after receiving an invitation to perform at the Chaillot National Theater in Paris, France. We've now performed the show to hundreds of thousands of people in theaters across Japan and at the beautiful Chaillot, and my dream of visiting France has come true. I feel truly lucky to work with this director, and EGG, like most every play he writes, is both historical and relevant to current times. Although these roles can feel like an emotional burden at times, it's a burden that I am happy to carry and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to do work that I find fulfilling and important in the world.
As we wrapped up our tour of EGG, I joined the workshop process for our next show: the opera, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. Also directed by Hideki Noda, we toured this opera in various cities throughout Japan this past Spring and Fall. And no, I am not an opera singer! The 8 of us actors were there to help bring the story to life, alongside the soloists and choral ensemble. This was a brand new challenge for me -- learning classical music was a much bigger struggle than learning music and harmonies for musical theatre. I remember learning my part in The Who's TOMMY a few years ago and how tricky those harmonies were for me, but sitting in the first few rehearsals for FIGARO, I doubted whether I would ever learn the music well enough to find my cues. However, with repetition and help from the ever-supportive choral ensemble, we did learn our cues and the music eventually became familiar enough even to the 8 of us. I learned so much, and I cherish the relationships that grew deeper over the course of this production.
In between our Spring and Fall tours of FIGARO, we worked on a very special project called Tokyo Caravan. Described as an "art brigade" or "cultural circus," Tokyo Caravan is scheduled to officially kick off as a part of the 2016 Rio Olympics, with its sights set on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. We presented a workshop performance of our work-in-progress to the public this past October in Tokyo. I felt so honored to share the stage with so many incredible artists, from Noh master Reijiro Tsumura (a designated Living National Treasure) to a troupe of young shamisen players and various traditional dance groups from around the country. With Hideki Noda at the helm as General Supervisor, the creative team is full of immense talent: sculptor Kohei Nawa, artist Katsuhiko Hibino, costume designer Kozue Hibino, musician Marihiko Hara, and so many others. I cannot wait to see where this goes -- literally and figuratively -- and am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get to be a part of it this year! Also, hoping I get to wear this amazing costume/art piece again:
Beautiful balloon dress by DAISY BALLOON
Amidst all this, the short film I was in, A SONG FOR MANZANAR, was accepted into many different film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival! I was still touring in Japan so I was unable to attend, but it was pretty magical just to hear the news. I wish we'd had a dialect coach on set to help me with my Japanese scenes (the Hiroshima dialect was brand new to me), but hopefully audience members will focus on the story, which is an important one in American history. It was an honor to tell this story.
Also, the full-length feature film we shot a year or two ago, I CANNOT GO ON AS I AM, was released a few months ago and is now available for rent or purchase on reelhouse.org. Directed and shot by Edgardo Flores, it's a mysterious, dreamlike, silent film (no dialogue) with a beautiful soundtrack featuring music by Simontronic and Lotte Kestner.
Now that I'm back in the US, I am enjoying being home and getting re-calibrated for life and work here. I'm glad to be back in training with The Actors' Gang, where I am officially a member (woohoo!!!!), anxious to get back in the game with my amazing agents Stephen (Prestige Talent Agency) and Patty (Brand Model and Talent Agency), and looking forward to growth, nature, progress, and joy in 2016. It's going to be a year of peace and action for me -- open hearts coupled with meaningful change.
What's next:
-I've recently joined rehearsals/workshops for a project by the incredible Hannah Chodos. She is an Actors' Gang member whom I look up to in so many ways. If you've ever seen her on stage, you know her depth and her magic and her genius, and I was so excited to join because I am a devout believer of everything I've ever seen her do. For the next month or two, PAM in Highland Park has awarded her a residency -- please follow me here or on Instagram (@emmie_nagata) for updates on possible presentations and open rehearsals!
-It's going to be a big year for the theme of SOCIAL JUSTICE at The Actors' Gang! Please join our mailing list to stay abreast of upcoming productions and events. We're looking at 1984, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Exonerated, and a couple other works right now...So check us out at www.theactorsgang.com for more info! As always, we're a nonprofit theatre company -- that means donations are tax-deductible, and they are crucial in helping us continue our work in the community, in the world, and in our theater. Hope to see you there in 2016!
Thanks for reading. I hope you're feeling positive about 2016, too.