La MaMa, in association with Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and NODA・MAP, presents the U.S. Premiere of One Green Bottle from February 29 through March 8, 2020 at The Ellen Stewart Theatre, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 66 E. 4th Street, NYC.
An absurdist gender-bending farce, One Green Bottle artfully illustrates our current selfie society’s relationship with consumerism and modern technology through one night in the life of a disordered family on the road to ruin: Bo, Boo and Pickle all have plans, but someone must stay home to care for their pregnant dog, Princess. Trivial disputes and slapstick mischief quickly morph into family feuds and also, possibly, to the end of the world. Artistic Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Hideki Noda – renowned Japanese playwright, director and performer – brings One Green Bottle to NYC after the 2018 London premiere. His critically acclaimed production of The Bee was presented in 2012 by Japan Society as part of the Under The Radar Festival. One Green Bottle stars Hideki himself with Lilo Baur and Glyn Pritchard. The English translation is adapted by Will Sharpe and features music based on Japanese Noh and Kabuki traditions, performed by Genichiro Tanaka. Set Design: Yukio Horio, Lighting Design: Christoph Wagner, Costume Design: Kodue Hibino, Composer : Denzaemon Tanaka XIII, Sound Design: Marihiko Hara, Sound: Junko Fujimoto, Traditional Dance Advisor: Kikunojo Onoe, Noh Movement Advisor: Reijiro Tsumura, Video: Shutaro Oku, Hair & Makeup: Eri Akamatsu, Back translation: Keiko Tsuneda & Peter Marsh, Assistant Director: Ragga Dahl Johansen, Production Manager: Ayumu Poe Saegusa, Stage Manager: Toshiko Takihara.
“Enjoyably zany.” – The Telegraph
“Hideki Noda is a master of the theatrical endgame.” – The Guardian
“Strange and delightful… wildly funny.” – What’s On Stage
Hideki NodaMother (Boo) Playwright, Director, and Actor Artistic Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Born in Nagasaki Prefecture in 1955, Noda is a playwright, director, and actor. He became the artistic director of Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre as of July 2009 and is currently professor at Tama Art University. Noda launched his first theatre company, Yume no Yuminsha (Dreaming Bohemian) while still a student at the University of Tokyo, creating many works to much acclaim. In July 1988, the company was invited to the first New York International Art Festival, where it presented one of the Stonehenge trilogy Suisei no Siegfried (A Messenger from the Comet) at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). After disbanding Yume no Yuminsha in 1992, he went to study in London. On his return in 1993, he established a theatre production company called NODA∙MAP. Since then, presented a succession of major hits, including Kill, Pandora no kane (Pandora’s Bell), Oil, Akaoni (Red Demon), THE BEE, THE DIVER, The Character, Egg, Gekirin, Footprint Princess, and In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom. He has collaborated with the Kabuki actor Nakamura Kanzaburo XVIII, adapted Kabuki plays and directed productions of his original versions of the classical Kabuki pieces at Kabuki Theatre, such as Tragedy of Togitatsu, Nezumikozo, and more. Noda is also actively involved in international productions, working with British, Thai and Korean actors. He won most of the major drama awards in Japan, and was awarded the 2009 Asahi Prize. He was appointed an Honorary Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in October 2009 and the Medal with Purple Ribbon (for contributions to education and culture) in June 2011. He toured THE BEE English Version around New York (Under the Radar Festival), London (Soho Theatre), Hong Kong (Hong Kong Arts Festival), Tokyo (Suitengu Pit, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre), Jerusalem (Israel Festival), Seoul (Myong Dong Theatre), Sibiu (Sibiu International Festival), Paris (Theatre National de Chaillot), Luxembourg (Theatre de la Ville) and Recklinghausen (Ruhrfestspiele) in 2012-14. His Egg was invited to the main house of Theatre National de Chaillot in Paris in 2015. Egg was accepted by both media and audience of Paris having left powerful impact to them. In 2018, his legendary masterpiece In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom was invited to Paris again as one of the official participating programs of Japonismes 2018. In 2015, he devised a new movement called Tokyo Caravan, a leading project guiding the cultural program for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This movement pops up in various locations both in Japan and overseas such as Rio de Janeiro, Sendai, Fukushima, Roppongi, and Kyoto, to present a “Grand Cultural Circus.” t is a “traveling culture movement” that continues to create performances with new expressions by realizing “cultural cross-flow” between artists. “Tokyo Caravan” will hold “Tokyo Caravan in Hokkaido” at the Moerenuma Park Glass Pyramid on January 2020. In 2019, his latest production『Q』: A Night At The Kabuki, a theatrical adaptation of the Queen’s 1975 rock masterpiece A Night at the Opera, acquired great attention of Japanese theatregoers as well as abroad. He continues working energetically beyond genres and borders.
Lilo BaurFather (Bo) Born in Switzerland, Lilo Baur began her career as an actress in London. She appeared at the Royal National Theatre in Orestia directed by Katie Mitchell and at Shakespeare’s Globe in The Merchantof Venice directed by Richard Olivier. For The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol directed by Simon Mc Burney, she won the Dora Award and the Manchester Evening News Award as best actress. As a member of Théâtre de Complicité (director Simon Mc Burney), she appeared in The Visit, Winter’s Tale,The Street of Crocodiles, Help I’mAlive and Light. In France, she interpreted Gertrud in La Tragédie d’Hamlet directed by Peter Brook, the Narrator in Debussy’s St.Sebastien with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Châtelet. She collaborated with Peter Brook on Fragments by Samuel Beckett and Warum Warum. She appeared in such films as Bleakhouse by Justin Chadwick, Don Quixote by Peter Yates, The Devil’s Arithmeti by Donna Deitch, The Way We Live Now by David Yates, Vollmond by Fredi Murer. She also appeared in the movie Bridget Jones by Beeban Kidron. She is also directing opera, Dido and Aeneas by Purcell, Ariane et Barbe Bleue by Paul Dukas at Opera Dijon, La Resurrezione by Hàndel in Paris, Lakmé by Léo Delibes,Opéra Comique in Paris, Le Petit Prince andLaConférence des oiseauxcomposed by Michaël Levinas. For the stage, she directed King stag by C. Gozzi, Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare, Fish love by Chekhov, Le 6éme Continent, a collaboration with Daniel Pennac.For the Comédie Française: Le Mariage by Gogol, La téte des autres by Marcel Aymé (which won the Prix Beaumarchais), La Maison de Bernarda Alba by Lorca, Aprés la pluie by Sergi Belbel andLa Puce à l’oreilleby Feydeau, which just opened this season.
Glyn PritchardDaughter (Pickle) Theatre includes:Y Cylch Sialc /The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), The Kneebone Cadillac (Theatre Royal Plymouth), THE BEE (Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre/Tour), THE DIVER (Soho), One Green Bottle (Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre/Tour) all written and directed by Hideki Noda; The Twits (Royal Court Theatre); Blodeuwedd (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru); The Dark Philosophers (National Theatre Wales); The Black Album, Ghetto, Fuente Ovejuna, Bartholomew Fair (National Theatre); Under Milk Wood, Blue Remembered Hills, A Christmas Carol (Dukes, Lancaster); King Lear (Young Vic); Othello (RSC); The Marriage of Figaro (Royal Exchange, Manchester); A Family Affair (Arcola). Television includes:Anita Series 1 and 2; Albie and Noa; 35 Diwrnod; Inspector George Gently; Critical; Harriet’s Army; Law & Order: UK; Babylon; Hinterland; Stella; Casualty; The Indian Doctor; Pobol Y Cwm; Brookside; Oh Na! Y Morgans; Death of a Son; Famous Five; Coronation Street; A Mind To Kill; Keeping Faith. Film includes:Hunky Dory; Weekenders; Butterflies.
Genichiro Tanaka Musician Genichiro Tanaka has been training under the maestro Denichiro Tanaka the Ⅱ since1989. He has graduated from Tokyo University of Arts and studied Traditional Japanese Music course, practical music course in 2011. In January 2016, he made his debut at Kabuki Theatre in Kuruwa Sanbaso. And in 2017, he succeeded to Genichiro Tanaka. Genichiro has performed for Hideki Noda’s “One Green Bottle” for Sibiu performance in 2019.
About Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre was opened in October1990 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a base to promote art and culture and its globalization among the citizens by presenting quality programs mainly in the fields of music, theatre, opera, and dance. The theatre features a Concert Hall, which is designed exclusively for classical music presentations and boasts one of the world’s largest pipe organs, and a Playhouse, Theatre East and Theatre West for plays and dance performances. The theatre is also equipped with four exhibition spaces, large/small meeting rooms, and rehearsal rooms, and is capable of serving multiple purposes in artistic activities by the citizens in addition to actual performances on stage, from art exhibitions to lectures and workshops. Currently, the theatre is operated under the management of the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture. A variety of unique music programs have continuously been planned by and presented directly at the theatre, including concerts and lectures that feature our beautiful pipe organ, one of the highlights of our facilities. The theatre also regularly offers classical concert programs with a business partnership with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo. “Theatre Opera” is another quality music program that is popular at the theatre, where the audience enjoys “semi-staged” opera programs. With its mission to serve as a core facility of new culture, the theatre has also been actively presenting original theatrical productions as well as cosponsored/tie-up programs with outside organizations known for their outstanding artistic performances. In July 2009, the theatre welcomed Hideki Noda, one of the most successful figures in today’s theatrical communities in Japan, as its first artistic director so as to pursue further advancement in creative activities and to bring about more quality projects at the theatre. Since then, with supervision of Noda, the theatre has been introducing the audience to a wide variety of programs, from modern versions of classical pieces to experimental works that would not be categorized in any conventional theatrical genres. On September 1, 2012, the theatre reopened to the public after completing the major renovation that began in spring of 2011 and is ready to serve again the citizens as Tokyo’s flagship theatre for music and performing arts. Look forward to continued progress to create a theatre where art and culture are born; talents and education are supported; people are invited; and intercultural communication is promoted.
About La MaMa La MaMa is dedicated to the artist and all aspects of the theatre. La MaMa’s 58th Season celebrates the centennial of its founder, Ellen Stewart, whose vision of nurturing new artists and new work remains as strong today as it was when she first opened the doors in 1961. La MaMa has presented more than 5,000 productions by 150,000 artists of all nations, cultures, races and identities. Cultural pluralism and ethnic diversity are inherent in the work created on our stages. Here, artists find a supportive environment for artistic exploration, and audiences are part of the development of an artist’s work over time. A recipient of the 2018 Regional Theater Tony Award, and more than 30 Obie Awards and dozens of Drama Desk, Bessie, and Villager Awards, La MaMa has been a creative home for thousands of artists, many of whom have made lasting contributions to the arts, including Blue Man Group, Ping Chong, André De Shields, Adrienne Kennedy, Harvey Fierstein, Diane Lane, Warren Leight, Michael Mayer, Tadeusz Kantor, Bette Midler, Meredith Monk, Peter Brook, David and Amy Sedaris, Julie Taymor, Kazuo Ohno, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.