Guest in Residence Sato to Present Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony Oct. 6

Date: 9/26/06
Contact: Marc Lebovitz

Internationally renowned Zen artist Shozo Sato, who is in residence on the Illinois State University campus to direct the School of Theatre and Crossroads Theatre production of "Othello's Passion: A Kabuki Play," will present a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Sato, a professor emeritus of the University of Illinois, is a Master of the Highest Titles of Japanese Tea Ceremony. The tea ceremony is a unique culture that includes visual and performing arts. Most importantly, the ceremony depicts how arts can function in our lives. In the passage of preparing and sharing the bowl of tea, artistic and human love is celebrated. This tea ceremony will present the portable unit tea box style, often performed in outings during the Spring and Autumn seasons.

"Othello's Passion: A Kabuki Play" opens Nov. 8 in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre. There will be 7:30 p.m. performances Nov. 8 through 11 and 2 p.m. matinee performances on Nov. 11 and 12. Tickets can be purchased at the CPA box office at (309) 438-2535 or through Ticketmaster at (309) 454-5500. The box office is open noon to 5 p.m. weekdays.

This rare production of "Othello's Passion" is a combination of ancient Japanese traditions and cutting-edge modern life. Sato is currently working on campus to create a fusion between Shakespeare's "Othello" and Kabuki theatre. This effort is Sato's last academic Kabuki production.