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Manzanar: An American Story
The objective of Manzanar: An American Story is to express, via the Japanese American internment camp experience, the evolution of civil liberty in America. The arts express human emotions in a way no other form of communication can and, therefore, are uniquely suited for this objective. Manzanar provides the opportunity to reflect upon the historical processes, human emotions, personal sacrifices, setbacks and advances in the progression of American freedom – a progression that is continually evolving and never complete. The work also expresses emotions shared by our common humanity, thereby creating an experience with meaning and significance to persons of all backgrounds, ages and ethnicities.
Manzanar: An American Story is a co-production of The Madison Project of Santa Monica College and Artemis Productions, Ltd.
Description
Developed under the artistic direction of Kent Nagano, Music Director of the Los Angeles Opera, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and the Berkeley Symphony, this performance piece will feature original compositions by three composers:
- The award-winning young composer Naomi Sekiya will compose music covering the period of early Japanese immigration to the U.S. until the outbreak of World War II. She will also write for the post-war period and the present. Ms. Sekiya, herself an immigrant to the U.S. from Japan, has been selected by the Meet the Composers Music Alive program for a residency with the Berkeley Symphony for the 2003-2004 season.
- Composer Jean-Pascal Beintus, with whom Maestro Nagano has worked on several recent commissions including the GRAMMY Award-winning Wolf Tracks, will compose music covering the time of the Japanese-American internment during World War II.
- American jazz artist David Benoit will contribute jazz and big band elements that form an integral part of the Japanese-American experience.
The production will feature a full orchestra and a children’s chorus, with several actors and a narrator weaving text through the music. The Berkeley Symphony will premiere the work at UC Santa Cruz May 7, 2005, and Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, May 10, 2005. The American Youth Symphony will perform Manzanar under the auspices of UCLA Live at Royce Hall, UCLA on June 2, 2005. In the Royce Hall production of Manzanar, the Manzanar Youth Choir will perform along side The Santa Monica College Chamber Choir, under the direction of Niké St. Claire, both sponsored by The Madison Project of Santa Monica College.
The original text by acclaimed playwright Philip Kan Gotanda is structured in three parts: Part One explores the immigration and settlement of Japanese Americans up to Pearl Harbor. Part Two covers the Japanese American experience in WW II, the camps, and the post-war years. Part Three is an Epilogue, drawing connections to our contemporary period.
Senator Daniel K. Inouye serves as the project's Honorary Co-Chair, and will be on stage as one of the Narrators. Olympic skating Gold Medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi, respected actress Pat Suzuki, and long-time Gotanda associate actor Sab Shimono, will also participate as Readers. The up and coming young actor, John Cho has joined the cast, as well.
Impact of the Project
While reaching an estimated audience of 6,000 at the initial three performance sites, Manzanar will also reach audiences via broadcast. The radio station KMZT 105.1 FM will record the Royce Hall production of Manzanar for subsequent radio broadcast. Future performances by orchestras and performing arts companies will reach audiences internationally and contribute to the long-lasting cultural impact of Manzanar.
Manzanar has taken on profound significance due to the current debate in the U.S. concerning civil liberties. Perhaps as a result, the project has galvanized interest from within and without the Japanese American community. Manzanar represents a singular opportunity to communicate with all – including the younger generation – about the lessons learned from the World War II internment. It is also a way to cultivate appreciation for the significance of our Constitution and to enliven faith in our political institutions during this time of great challenge.
Educational Components
An event introducing Manzanar: An American Story to the Los Angeles community was held by the Japanese American National Museum in September 2004. Educational forums at UCLA, Antioch University Southern California, Occidental College and Santa Monica College (SMC), are being planned during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May 2005, to share the Manzanar story with students, faculty and community members.
The educational forum at SMC will feature composer Naomi Sekiya and playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, who will be joined by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of the best-selling novel Farewell to Manzanar. In conjunction with the premieres of Manzanar, Antioch University Southern California will host two art exhibits, one at the Santa Barbara campus and the other in Los Angeles, by Issei artist Henry Sugimoto who was interned in Arkansas, titled “Far East of Manzanar: The Internment Camp Art of Henry Sugimoto.” The Antioch Los Angeles Writers Series will bring Trina Mendiola, Amy Uyematsu, and Mitsuye Yamada to campus as well. Design For Sharing, the outreach component of UCLA Live, will provide a free children’s concert and education program in connection with the Royce Hall production. The Manzanar Youth Choir and Santa Monica Chamber Choir will visit the Japanese American National Museum and the National Park Service Manzanar Interpretive Center as part of their educational experience on this project.
Prior to the June 2, Royce Hall performance, The Japanese American National Museum will conduct a pre-performance lecture with Farewell to Manzanar author, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, and Manzanar: An American Story composer, Naomi Sekiya. Karin Higa, National Museum Senior Curator of Art, will be the moderator for the 7:00 p.m. event, at Haines Hall on the UCLA campus.
Funding Sources
The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP), a program of the California State Library, has been the project’s lead funder. George and Sakaye Aratani, the Roth Family Foundation, Mr. Glen S. Fukushima, The James Irvine Foundation, the Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation, the Seavers Foundation, The T. June & Simon Li Charitable Fund, and the Gould Family Foundation have provided additional funding, The National Park Service has provided a Challenge Cost Sharing Grant.‡ The Japanese American National Museum serves as the project’s fiscal agent and provides in-kind support. Artist accommodations will be provided by The Ambrose Hotel, Santa Monica and Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.
Contact Information
Executive Producers:
Dale Franzen
Madison Project
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Tel 310.434.3430
Franzen_dale@smc.edu
Richard Walker
Artemis Productions, Ltd.
1333 North California Blvd, Suite 190
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Tel 925.943.2248
rwalk1@sbcglobal.net
Producer:
Stephanie Solomon
Antioch University Community Fellow
Tel 310.379.6168
stephaniesolomon@mac.com
‡ “The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the artists and should not be seen as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.”