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The Kendra Plant Variety Hour: Good Things Edition! -with special guests-
By Kendra Plant
Created by the artists. <3
Playing at
Show Description
This variety show brings together music, movement, and story telling to celebrate those messy, funny, and sometimes difficult steps we take on the way to something good.
Genre and Content
Content Warnings
The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 18 and up only
Learn How To Fringe
Seat Reservations and Show Tickets
| Add to Schedule | Date | Time | Ticket Options | Quantity | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 07/31 | 8:30 PM | ||||
| Sun 08/03 BFF | 10:00 PM | ||||
| Thu 08/07 | 7:00 PM | ||||
| Fri 08/08 | 5:30 PM | ||||
| Sat 08/09 | 2:30 PM |
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Video Trailer
Cast and Crew
Chiaki O'Brien
Shishimai - Japanese Lion Dance (TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble)Chiaki (she/her) has been studying the Old Tokyo Festival Songs (Edo Bayashi) and Japanese Lion Dance with a group called TaikoArts Midwest Edo Bayashi Ensemble for several years. She wouldn't have known about Edo Bayashi if she were still living in Japan. She added the Lion Dance to her repertoire after learning the Edo Bayashi music, and she's been taking online lessons from a master teacher in Tokyo to fine-tune her performance.
Emily Boyajian
Emily Boyajian: Original Musical PerformanceEmily Boyajian (she/her) is a composer who uses her strong background in music theory to write music that is intellectually stimulating and emotionally captivating. She has written solo piano works, chamber music, orchestral music, and art songs. She has had her music performed at the 2019 Source Song Festival, the 2021 and 2023 Film Score Fest, the 2023 Cedar Commissions, and in other concerts in the Twin Cities. Her songs focus on topics such as her experiences as a trans woman, contemporary political and social issues, and silly songs about things such as Delta Airlines and arguing with a sock puppet.
Emily Harada
Shishimai - Japanese Lion Dance (TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble)With over 25 years of taiko experience in Chicago (Ho Etsu Taiko), Honolulu (Somei and Taiko Center of the Pacific), and Tokyo (Tawoo), Emily (she/her) is TAM's first employee hired from outside of Minnesota. As TAM's artistic apprentice, she performs, teaches, and produces for the organization. Emily is also part of kaDON/ Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten, an online platform dedicated to empowering the worldwide taiko community since 2014.
Hiroshi Yoshino
Shishimai - Japanese Lion Dance (TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble)Hiroshi Yoshino (he/him) is currently a member of Enso Daiko and the TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble, and he has been playing taiko drums for eight years. He grew up in Japan, where he was surrounded by the sounds of taiko at local festivals. However, it wasn’t until after he moved to Minnesota that he picked up his first pair of bachi (drumsticks). In the Edo Bayashi Ensemble, Hiroshi enjoys playing both the drums and the fue (bamboo flute).
Jolie Meshbesher
Jolie Meshbesher: Dance, Theater, & Burlesque PerformanceJolie Meshbesher (she/her) is a local diverse performer with skills ranging from burlesque to ballet, and aerial acrobatics. Jolie also holds a degree in classical acting, and a masters degree in acupuncture. She will be the finale for the Variety Hour and will grace the Mixed Blood stage with her dance, theater, and burlesque performance!
Kendra Plant
Producer and Variety Hour HostKendra Plant (she/her) is an arts administrator turned technologist who believes in the power of creative community. She enjoys singing karaoke, knitting, board games and seeing lots of performing arts. In this Variety Hour she breaks out of her role as a theater audience member/local theater blogger and is actively bringing together artists to explore the messy, magical process of trying, failing, and growing. Happy Fringing!
Junko Kumamato
Shishimai - Japanese Lion Dance (TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble)Junko Kumamoto (she/her) is a member of Enso Daiko and the TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble. Born in Tokyo. She began studying the intricate rhythms and melodies of traditional Japanese festival music. She later expanded her expertise to include Ryomen Odori (double-masked dance) and Shishimai (lion dance), training under master Kyosuke Suzuki of the Wakayama School in Tokyo. Currently, she is focused on deepening her knowledge of traditional Japanese dance to further broaden her repertoire.
Jeff Ellsworth
Shishimai - Japanese Lion Dance (TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble)Jeff Ellsworth (he/him) has been playing Edobayashi for a number of years. It was introduced to him by former Mu Daiko Artistic director Iris Shiraishi and actually got him to Japan for the first time.
More Information
Variety Hour Special Guests:
TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble's Shishimai - Japanese Lion Dance
(Jeff Ellsworth, Junko Kumamoto, Chiaki O’Brien, Hiroshi Yoshino, and Emily Harada)
Shishimai a traditional Japanese lion dance. While it may appear classical and well-established, for us, it is truly a new challenge. In fact, we’ve been practicing for years but we acquired our lion head just end of last year. Presenting a centuries-old cultural tradition to a contemporary audience in the U.S., outside our familiar cultural context, is a meaningful step beyond our comfort zone.
TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble perform traditional Japanese arts, focusing on Edo Bayashi (traditional festival music), Shishimai (lion dance), and Ryomen Odori (double-faced mask dance), accompanied by traditional instruments such as taiko (drums), fue (flute), and kane (bells). Our goal is to showcase the beauty of the rich cultural heritage of Japan. As a unique group in North America, we incorporate traditional instruments, lion heads, and masks into our performances. We prioritize engaging with our audience, sharing joy and inspiration with people of all ages.
More information about the ensemble: https://www.taikoartsmidwest.org/tam-edobayashi-ensemble
Social Media: @taikoarts (Instagram: @taikoarts)
Emily Boyajian
Emily is a composer, music theorist, and pianist. She recently moved to the Twin Cities after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a master's degree in music theory. Apart from writing and playing music, she enjoys playing board games, biking, reading, and pursuing mathematics.
Instagram: @emily.boyajian
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/emily-boyajian
Jolie Melana Meshbesher
Arial artists, dancer, and storyteller.Instagram: @kineticbuddha
