Categorized | Education, Entertainment, Featured

Rakugo Japanese Storytelling Performance at three Big Island Public Libraries

Bento Rakugo, a dynamic group led by artistic director Yasu Ishida, will perform in the traditional Rakugo storytelling style with a modern twist to the Japanese comedy.

Bento Rakugo, a dynamic group led by artistic director Yasu Ishida, will perform in the traditional Rakugo storytelling style with a modern twist to the Japanese comedy.

MEDIA RELEASE

Bento Rakugo will be featured performers for “Fizz, Boom, Read,” the 2014 HSPLS Children’s Summer Reading Program, at eight selected public libraries on the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu, from June 14 to July 2. Admission is free.

Bento Rakugo, a dynamic group led by artistic director Yasu Ishida, will perform in the traditional Rakugo (Japanese translation: “fallen words”) storytelling style with a modern twist to the Japanese comedy. Rakugo is one of the most popular forms of Japanese theatre, with a tradition spanning more than 300 years. In Rakugo, the performer presents a comic story while sitting on a Japanese cushion throughout the entire performance, speaking all of the voices in both the first person and third person. All stories will be spoken in English.

Experience Rakugo traditional-style Japanese storytelling with Bento Rakugo at these libraries:

Oahu –

  • June 14, 10 a.m. – Waialua Public Library (tel. 637-8286)
  • June 15, 3 p.m. – Kaneohe Public Library (tel. 233-5676)
  • June 27, 10:30 a.m. – Ewa Beach Public & School Library (tel. 689-1204)
  • July 1, 1:30 p.m. – Liliha Public Library (tel. 587-7577)

Maui –

  • June 16, 1:30 p.m. – Wailuku Public Library (tel. 243-5766)

Big Island –

  • June 25, 10 a.m. – Honokaa Public Library (tel. 775-8881)
  • June 25, 1 p.m. – Laupahoehoe Public & School Library (tel. 962-2229)
  • July 2, 10 a.m. – Mountain View Public & School Library (tel. 968-2322)

The event schedule is subject to change. Contact the hosting library as soon as possible if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.

This year’s Children’s Summer Reading Program theme “Fizz, Boom, Read” will allow children – preschool-age to those entering grade 6 this fall – to experiment with building lava lamps, launching rockets and creating a solar system mobile.

Sponsors for the 2014 HSPLS Summer Reading Programs include the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, Atherton Family Foundation, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, HEI Charitable Foundation, Meadow Gold Dairies, HMS Host, Hansen Distribution Group, Armstrong Produce, DFS Hawaii, Roberts Hawaii, Toshiba Business Solutions, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, National Football League Charities, Aloha United Way, Annie Sinclair Knudsen Memorial Fund through the Hawaii Community Foundation, and local Friends Chapters.

Corporate sponsors include McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii, Hawaii Pizza Hut, Frito-Lay of Hawaii, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Region, HouseMart Ace Hardware and HouseMart Ben Franklin Crafts, HONOLULU Family, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Thinker Toys Kahala Mall. Performance programs are made possible through generous grants and donations, and are sponsored in part by the University of Hawaii’s Outreach College, Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about the Bento Rakugo performances or about the 2014 HSPLS Children’s, Teen, or Adult Summer Reading Programs, please visit www.librarieshawaii.org, like us at www.facebook.com/HSPLSHIgov, follow us on www.twitter.com/HSPLSHIgov, or call the hosting library.

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