‘Tales of Clamor’ Cast Announced

The cast of “Tales of Clamor,” playing in the Aratani Theatre Black Box at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) from Feb. 1 to March 3, has been announced. The ensemble cast is well-known in the Asian American theater circles.

Traci kato-kiriyama and Kennedy Kabasares are the narrative anchors of the show, taking on the roles of Kem and Eddy, who debate cultural versus institutionalized silence.

Kato-kiriyama, PULLproject Ensemble principal writer, is an award-winning artist, community organizer, and cultural producer; recipient of recognition from institutions, including CCI, DCA, Durfee Foundation, and Network of Ensemble Theaters; and has presented at hundreds of venues throughout the country. Featured by numerous print and online publications, her forthcoming book will be released by Writ Large Press in 2019. She is the director/co-founder of Tuesday Night Project, presenter of the Tuesday Night Café series – the longest-running Asian American public art series in the country.

Kabasares, PULLproject Ensemble circus choreographer, is an aerial artist and actor. He grew up in San Francisco, where he went to high school at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. He was taught circus arts by Judy Finelli of the Pickle Family Circus and was a theater major at CSU Northridge and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Kabasares has worked with a diverse group of theater companies, including Center Theatre Group, East West Players, Singapore Rep, performance trio Zero 3, The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, and Kinetic Theory Circus Arts. An accomplished aerial artist, he was invited to compete in the 2011 Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival in Denver, where he took first place for static trapeze and went on to perform in the finals.

Takayo Tsubouchi Fischer is Nisei who was incarcerated at Fresno Assembly Center and the War Relocation Authority camps in Jerome and Rohwer, Arkansas. She participated in shamisen, nagauta and odori, and performed in Japanese drama. Her highlights are “The World of Suzie Wong” (in which she originated the role of Gwenny), “Tea” at Manhattan Theatre Club, “Sins of Our Fathers” at Lincoln Center, “The Joy Luck Club” at Long Wharf Theatre, “Sing to the Dawn” at Singapore Rep Theatre,” “The Peony Pavilion” directed by Peter Sellars, “Into the Woods” and “Nisei Widows Club” at East West Players, “The Vagina Monologues” at Apollo Theatre, “The Vagina Monologues,” and “Sayonara” at Alex Theatre.

Kurt Kuniyoshi’s credits includes commercials for Cox Communications, AT&T and Intuit, and an ad for Microsoft Print–Japan. Theater credits include “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Manzanar: A Story of an American Family,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Follies,” “Pacific Overtures,” and “A Jive Bomber’s Christmas.”He is a member of the Grateful Crane Ensemble, whose repertoire includes such hits as “Camp Dance,” “Nihonmachi: The Place to Be,” “Momotaro,” “Natsukashi no Kouhaku Utagassen,” “Nikkei Hit Parade,” “The J-Town Jazz Club,” and most recently, a goodwill tour to the Tohoku region.

Jully Lee is an actor and the artistic director of Cold Tofu, the nation’s first Asian American improv comedy troupe, where she teaches and performs regularly. Her theatre credits include “Joy Luck Club” (national tour), “Tokyo Fish Story” (South Coast Rep), “36 Views” (PCPA), “The Enchanted Nightingale” (Garry Marshall Theater), and “Mexican Day” (Rogue Machine). Recent TV credits include recurring roles on “The Kicks” and “Gang Related” and appearances on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Veep,” “This Is Us,” “Henry Danger,” “Jane the Virgin,” and “The Kominsky Method.” Recent feature films: “The Illegal,” ”Double Mommy,” “Reach,” “Thriller,” and “Return to Zero.”

Sharon Omi works in theatre, film and TV. Recent work includes “This Little Show” with Jason Fong, “Little Women” with Playwrights Arena/Jon Rivera, “The Car Plays” with Moving Arts, “Eat With Me” (as Emma, available on Hulu), “The First” (Hulu), “Forever” (Amazon), and “The Resident” (Fox). Her other TV credits include “This Is Us,” “LA to Vegas,” “The Affair,” “The Fosters,” “The Mick,” “The Real O’Neals,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,” “Bones,” and “How to Get Away with Murder.”

Greg Watanabe recently made his Broadway debut in “Allegiance” and was seen in “Romeo and Juliet” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. His theater credits include the world premiere productions of “The Ballad of Yachiyo” (Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Public Theatre- New York), “The Summer Moon” (A Contemporary Theater, South Coast Repertory Theatre), “The Happy Ones” (South Coast Rep, LA Drama Critics Circle nomination for Best Featured Performance) and “Extraordinary Chambers” (The Geffen Playhouse, Ovation nomination for Best Featured Actor). Television credits include “Madam Secretary,” “Criminal Minds,” “Aquarius,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “Reno 911.”

Dian Kobayashi has performed for theatres across the country. She has performed locally for the Mark Taper, South Coast Rep, International City Theatre, East West Players, JACCC/Artists at Play and the Grateful Crane Ensemble. She has also made numerous appearances on film and TV.

Ticket reservations may be made online at http://JACCC.org/talesofclamor or by calling the box office at (213) 680-3700. Or if you’re in town, walk over to the Aratani Theatre box office at 244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo, adjacent to the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center.