Press Release Tues, August 20, 2013 Contact: Jessica Wolf 310.825.7789 [email protected]
London’s Complicite and Japan’s Setagaya Public Theater Bring ‘Shun-kin’ to CAP UCLA Sept 26-29 at Freud Playhouse Opening-night benefit will support ongoing international theater programming
Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA presents acclaimed London theater company Complicite and performers from Japan’s Setagaya Public Theater in the west coast premiere of “Shun-kin” September 26- 29. Tickets for all performances at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse in Macgowan Hall ($50-$85) as well as the opening-night fundraiser ($150/$500) are available now via cap.ucla.edu , Ticketmaster or the UCLA Central Ticket Office (310.825.210).
Directed by Complicite founder Simon McBurney and performed by an accomplished Japanese cast, including film star Eri Fakatsu, “Shun-kin” is an intense story of the sadomasochistic relationship between a blind musician and her servant/lover in 19th-century Japan. Based on writings by Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, one of Japan’s greatest 20th-century writers, known for his eroticism and wit, “Shun-kin” unveils the darker elements of human nature.
“Shun-kin” was first performed at the Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo in February 2008. It subsequently toured to Barbican London and Setagaya Public Theatre again in 2009, returning to the Barbican in 2010 before touring to Paris, Tokyo, and Tapei. London’s Guardian dubbed the play one of Complicite’s finest achievements--“staged with miraculous delicacy and wit."
Celebrating its 30 th anniversary this season, Complicite returns to Los Angeles for the first time in more than a decade. Its last engagement was on the 2002-2003 UCLA Live season with The Emerson String Quartet for the west coast premiere of “The Noise of Time,” an eclectic multimedia production based on the haunted life of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
In honor of these extraordinary artists and in recognition of the importance of theater performance, CAP UCLA will also hold an opening-night benefit with two donation levels ($150 or $500). Both price levels include tickets to the first-ever west coast performances of “Shun-kin,” as well as entrance to a post- performance cocktail reception with the cast ($150) and/or a pre-performance Japanese street fair ($500) catered by Katsuya beginning at 6 p.m. outside Freud Playhouse on UCLA’s Coral Tree Walk. Proceeds will directly support CAP UCLA’s mission to present contemporary and international theater. For more information: cap.ucla.edu/benefit.
The “Shun-kin” benefit is generously supported by a host committee comprised of: Deedee Dorskind and Brad Tabach-Bank, Fariba Ghaffari, Nicholas Goldsborough and Williston Barr, Deborah Irmas, Diane Kessler, Tim Robbins, Aisha Summers, Union Bank and Joan Kaloustian and support from event partners Amazing Grace Design and Katsuya catering.
This performance of “Shun-kin” is presented in association with Radar L.A., an international festival of contemporary theater. Supported in part by the Royce Center Circle Endowment Fund and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan.
“Shun-kin” is co-produced by Complicite, Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo and the Barbican, London.
TICKET INFORMATION General tickets ($50-$85) are available at cap.ucla.edu, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 310.825.2101 or in person at the UCLA Central Ticket Office located in the southwest corner of the James West Alumni Center. UCLA students may purchase tickets for $20 in advance. Student rush tickets, subject to availability, are offered at the same price one hour before show time to all students with valid ID.
Performances: Thurs. Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. (benefit) 8 p.m. (performance, included with CAP UCLA fundraiser donation). Fri., Sept. 27, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Sat., Sept. 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Sun., Sept. 29, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Location: Freud Playhouse at Macgowan Hall (245 Charles E. Young Drive North, Los Angeles, 90095) Price: $50 - $85 ($20 UCLA Students)
PRESS REVIEW TICKETS/PHOTO PASSES/INTERVIEW REQUESTS Contact Jessica Wolf at [email protected] 310.825.7789
IMAGES Available for download at cap.ucla.edu/press-images. Register for access.
ABOUT CAP UCLA Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (CAP UCLA) is dedicated to the advancement of contemporary performing arts in all disciplines — dance, music, spoken word and theater, as well the emerging digital, collaborative and cross-art platforms inspired by today's leading artists and creators. CAP supports the creation, presentation and critical dialogues vital to the ongoing innovation and expressive potential of artists whose work, whether vibrantly emerging or internationally acclaimed, forms the dynamic and evolving heritage of contemporary performance. Based in UCLA's iconic Royce Hall, CAP UCLA is the university's public center for the presentation of the performing arts and contributes to the cultural life of the campus and greater Los Angeles, promoting civic dialogue and creative inquiry. Through an annual season of performing arts programs and extensive community- engagement events — including artist fellows and residency programs, K–12 arts education (Design for Sharing), student mentorship (Student Committee for the Arts), and art-making and experiential activities (Art in Action) — CAP UCLA advances the importance of art in society by celebrating and deepening the connection between artist and audience. ###