Momotaro:InSearchofaHero An intercultural touring theater production with live music for young audiences and families.

Conceived, co-written and directed by Sonoko Kawahara / Co-written by: Leah Nanako Winkler

NewYorkCity-basedtheatercompanyCrossingJamaicaAvenue(CJA),knownforitsseamlessblendingofEasternandWesterntheatricalelements,presentsMomotaro:InSearchofaHero,auniquetakeonJapan’sfamedtale“Momotaro,”or“PeachBoy”aboutanadventurousherowhobravelytravelstoanislandfilledwithdangerousogrestosafehistown.InCJA’sinnovaPveproducPon,thefourwomencast-featuringataiko/pianoplayer,singer/dancer,andactors-retelltheadventuresof“PeachBoy”Momotaroinagender-bendingproducPon.ThishighlyinteracPveproducPontellsthestorythroughlivemusicandsonganddance,allcleverlynarratedthroughtheJapanesetheatertechniqueknownas“tayu”whereoneperformernarrateswhiletheothersperform.TheproducPonaimstobridgetogetheroneofJapan’smostpopulartradiPonalheroqueststorieswithissuesincontemporaryAmericansocietyinordertohighlightlessonsofculturaldiversity,empowerment,andinclusion. VideoLinksfromthe2018version(Note:The2019versionvideowillreadyinmid-May)FullVersion(Wideangle):Password:MOMOTARO2-1FullVersion(Closeup):Password:MOMOTARO2-2

Momotaro:InSearchofaHero:visitwww.crossingjamaicaavenue.orgfordetails.ForquesPonsormoreinformaPon,pleasecontactCrossingJamaicaAvenueArPsPcDirectorSonokoKawaharaatskawahara@crossingjamaicaavenue.org

TourFactDetails

DatesfortheTour:Opentoworkingwiththescheduleofthevenue

Performancefee:$2,000for1performance;$2,500for2performancesinoneday(feeisnegoPable)

Technicalrequirements:- Piano- TheatricalspacewithlighPngequipment- Technicaldirector/staffwhorunsthelighPngboardScheduleon-site:Pacern1:(2days)TwoshowsonthesamedayDay1:- Adernoontoevening:Load-inanddressrehearsalDay2:- -Twoperformancesintheadernoontoearlyevening

Pacern2:(1day)Oneshow- Morningtoadernoon:Load-inanddressrehearsal- Oneperformanceintheevening

Other:PresentercoverstransportaPonforTaikodrums

Forout-of-town(non-NewYorkCity)venues:- PresentercoverstransportaPonfor4performers,1ArPsPcDirectorand1ProducPonManagerinaddiPontoluggage

andtaikodrums.- Presentercoversperdiemof$35ortheprovisionofmealsfor4performers,1ArPsPcDirectorand1ProducPon

Managerforeachdayofthetour.- Presentercoverslodgingfor4performers,1ArPsPcDirector,and1ProducPonManagerfortheduraPonofthetour

CrossingJamaicaAvenue(CJA)isamulPdisciplinaryarPstcollecPvedevotedtoinfusingcuhng-edgecontemporaryAmericantheaterwithPme-honoredJapanesetheatricalaesthePcs.CJAproducesnewplays,re-imaginingsofclassics,andhybridtheaterformsthatmergestoriesandpoetrywithmusicandmovement.CJA’smissionistobringaudiencesoriginaltheaterexperiencesusingWesternandEasternaesthePcs.

Throughoutits18yearhistory,CJAhascollaboratedwithplaywrightsRuthMargraff,LynnNocage,KarenHeartman,TanyaBarfield;lyricistMarkCampbell;directorsAnneDorsen,AnneKaufman;musiciansFredHo,BruceOdland,andDuYun.Thecompanyhasproducedplaysbyco-Founder/formerco-ArPsPcDirectorChioriMiyagawaincludingAWAKENING,WOMANKILLER,BROKENMORNING,andTHOUSANDYEARSWAITINGfeaturinganOtomeBunrakupuppeteerfromJapan,alongwithoriginalexperimentalpiecessuchasFANMACBETH.

CJAco-producedTHEANTIGONEPROJECTwiththeWomen’sProjectandTHEHIROSHIMAPROJECTwithVoice&Vision,whichwasacomposiPonoftheproducPonIHAVEBEENTOHIROSHIMAMONAMOURbyMiyagawa,areadingofJapaneseplaysabouttheatomicbombingsandascreeningofStevenOkazaki'sEmmyAwardwinningdocumentaryWHITELIGHT/BLACKRAIN.CJAalsoco-producedthemanga-music-marPalartspieceDEADLYSHE-WOLFASSASSINATARMAGEDDON!byFredHoandRuthMargraffwhichreceivedravereviewsfromTheNewYorkTimesandothermediaoutlets.(www.deadlyshewolf.org)

Currently,CJAisdevelopinganadaptaPonofVERMONIA,astorybasedonagraphicnovelincollaboraPonwithRosenPublishing,aswellasaW.B.YeatsplaytogetherwithatradiPonalJapanesecomposer/memberofOtome-Bunrakutheater.

SONOKOKAWAHARA(DIRECTOR):OriginallyfromJapan,SonokoKawahara(Director)isNewYorkbasedtheaterdirectorwhohasbeencreaPngoriginaltheaterpiecesthatintegratetext,music,movementandvisualelements,aswellnewplaysandrevisionsofclassics.SheuPlizingvariousartformsincludingBunraku,BeijingOpera,NohandJapaneseswordplay.Kawahara’sworkshavebeenpresentedatNewYorkTheaterWorkshop,Women’sProject,LAMAMA,PS122,MusicTheaterGroup,HERE,DanceTheaterWorkshop,JapanSociety,amongothervenues.

Kawahara’srecentNewYorkcreditsincludingTHECUCHULAINCYCLEbyW.B.YeatsandANON(YMOUS)byNaomiIizuka(FordhamMainStage);andDEADLYSHE-WOLFASSASSINATARMAGEDDON!(LaMama)byFredHoandRuthMargraffwhichreceivedravereviewsformNewYorkTimesandmanyothercriPcs.ShedevelopedanewmusicaltheaterpieceaboutTokyoRosewithObiewinningcomposerDeidreMurrayandisdirecPngSATELLITEbyDinaSonin2019.KawaharaleadworkshopsinTokyoandhasdirected/translatedtheJapanpremiereofshortplaysbySuzan-LoriParksandNaomiIizukafortheJapanPlaywrightAssociaPon.

AsaVisiPngArPst,KawaharahasbeenassociatedwithFordhamUniversity,NYU,GallaPnwhereshehasleddirecPngworkshopclassprojectsanddirectedseveralmainstageseasons.ShewillbeArPst-in-ResidenceatBostonUniversityin2019whereshewilldevelopnewcrossculturaltheaterinfusingJapanese“Kagura"tradiPonandNaPveAmericanandAfricanAmericanculture.

HerworkhasbeensupportedbyMAP,NEA,LMCC,JapanFoundaPon,TheFundforWomenArPsts,NancyQuinnFund,TheJimHensonFoundaPon,AsianCulturalCouncil,andothers.DirecPngFellowshipfromTheDramaLeaguesandNewYorkTheaterWorkshop.MemberofNYTW“UsualSuspects”andLincolnCenter’sDirectorsLab,VisiPngArPstatFordhamUniversityandNYUandformerResidentArPstofMabouMines.MFAindirecPngfromColumbiaUniversitySchoolofArtsandamemberofJapanDirectorsAssociaPon.

LEAHNANAKOWINKLER(TEXT)isaJapanese-AmericanplaywrightfromKamakura,JapanandLexingtonKentucky.HerplayGodSaidThiswontheYaleDramaSeriesPrize,andwasproducedatPrimaryStagesandatthe2018HumanaFesPval.Otherplays:Kentucky(2015KilroysList,WorldPremiere:EnsembleStudioTheatreco-producPonwithPage73andtheRadioDramaNetwork),TwoMileHollow(2017KilroysList,2017-2018SimultaneousWorldPremiereatFirstFloorTheater,MixedBlood/TheaterMu,ArPstsAtPlay,andFerociousLotus),LinusandMurray(EST/Marathon2017)andmore.Sheisthe2018-2019JeromeFellowattheLark,analumnaofYoungblood,a2016-2018TimeWarnerFellowatWPTheater,amemberoftheMa-YiLab,andamemberoftheDorothyStreslinNewAmericanWriter'sGroupatPrimaryStages.Shewasawardedthefirst-everMarkO’DonnellPrizefromTheActorsFundandPlaywrightsHorizonsin2017.LeahisoneoftheinauguralplaywrightstoreceiveacommissionfromAudible'sEmergingPlaywrightsFund.