FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 23, 2019

written by Kristine Haruna Lee
directed by Aya Ogawa
presented in association with Ma-Yi Theater Company

Suicide Forest is a bilingual nightmare play excavating the Japanese-American consciousness and its looming relationship with sex, suicide, and identity. In 1990’s Japan, a teenage girl grapples with her sexuality in a nightmarish, male-defined society as a salaryman desperately tries to escape his masochistic psyche. Both are clawing for their self-worth. When their two journeys collide, they expose their darkest desires fueled by shame as they now confront life and death with the notorious Suicide Forest looming over their imagination. Performed by a Japanese heritage cast, Suicide Forest examines the role of community and the inner struggles of emotional, psychic and social suicide through the playwright’s lived stories and inner landscape.

Featuring: Akiko Aizawa*, Yuki Kawahisa*, Keizo Kaji, Aoi Lee, Kristine Haruna Lee*, Eddy Toru Ohno, and Dawn Akemi Saito*

Creative Team: Jian Jung (Scenic Design), Alice Tavener (Costume Design), Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew (Lighting & Video Design), Fan Zhang (Original Music & Sound Design), Jen Goma (Song Composition & Arrangement), Brian Bernhard (Assistant Scenic Design & Props Master), Raphael Regan (Assistant Costume Design), Christina Tang (Assistant Lighting Design & Master Electrician), Mariko Takizawa (Production Stage Manager), Kiyo Kamisawa (Assistant Director), Patrick Murphy (Production Manager), Jay Maury (Technical Director), Padra Crisafulli (Production Intern), and Denise Shu Mei & John Del Gaudio (Co-Producers)

*Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association. Equity Approved Showcase.

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and The MAP Fund, supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation., 2019

ENGAGEMENT SERIES:

Sept 30, 2018:
The Asian WTFNB (Women/Trans/Femme/NonBinary) Performancemakers Potluck with community partner La MaMa ETC (*invite only)

January 23rd, 7:30pm:
Suicide Culture & its Influences on Artists (Lecture) - Organized and Hosted by Japan Society; a panel featuring playwright Kristine Haruna Lee

February 10th, 2:30-4pm:
The Intergenerational Potluck with community Partner BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchangek at Theater Mitu in conjunction with BAX Artist Services Day

March 7th:
Post-Show Conversation moderated by Diep Tran

March 8th:
Asian Theater Night + post-show hang across the street w/ theatre maker, dancer, and cultural worker Riti Sachdev and co-producer Denise Shu Mei

March 14th:
Official Suicide Forest publication launch! Books will be on sale on-site ($12/book)

Photos by Maria Baranova, taken at the Studio Visit at 2018 Prelude Festival