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THE CARP WHO WOULD NOT QUIT
& OTHER ANIMAL STORIES

By Reiko Ho and the HTY Ensemble

Produced by Honolulu Theatre for Youth

From Honolulu, HI

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These retellings of traditional fables and folktales from Japan and Okinawa teach important lessons of persistence, respect and kindness.

 

Japanese and Okinawan music, language and culture are the heart of this performance featuring clever animals, puppetry, live songs, Koto and Taiko instruments, and a whole lot of fun for young audience members and their families.

 

The five stories featured in the performance are part of the tradition of Mukashibanashi, or the "tales of long ago," and include The Carp Who Would Not Quit, The Mice and the Rolling Musubi, the legend of the Rabbits making Mochi in the Moon, and more!

Additional performances also available from the company: The Pa'akai We Bring (live) and (virtual) Stories of Oceania and Duke.

Best for Grades: PreK-2nd

Please contact us to watch the full length performance.

Curriculum

Curriculum Connections

  • Fine Arts: Performance, Film, Puppetry, Multi-media design

  • Language Arts: Oral History Interviews, traditional fables

  • History/Social Studies:  Japanese & Okinawa culture & history; Man’s relationship/connection to Nature; 

  • Social/Emotional Learning Development: Bravery, Resilience, Community, Racism, Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Self Management, and Relationship Skills.

Outreach & Workshops

Please contact us if additional outreach or workshops is something you'd like to explore. A member of the creative team may be available to deliver pre or post show workshops or a live/remote Q&A for participating audiences. Please connect with us about outreach activities that best engage your teachers and schools.  

Workshops

Minimum Tech Specs

Digital Tech Specs

  • Load In Time: Four hours (pre-rig required.)

  • Crew Needs: 1-2 Electricians/Stage Hands and 1 Audio Technician for Load In. 1 crew member to operate lighting during show.

  • Min. Stage Size: 15’ wide x 15’ deep, 12’ high. Two dressing rooms

  • Load Out Time: 1 hour

Artistic Team

Artistic Team

Written by Reiko Ho and the HTY Ensemble

Directed by Reiko Ho

HTY Ensemble: Serina Dunham, Maki’ilei Ishihara, Junior Tesoro

Touring Cast: TBA
 

Design Team:
Sound and Music by Maki’ilei Ishihara
Set and Costumes by Iris Kim
Puppet Design by Eric West
Lighting Design by Kelly Cazinha

Projection Design by Adam Larsen

Original Study Guide by Daniel A. Kelin, II

Critical Acclaim

Critical Acclaim

HTY has been awarded the prestigious 2022 CTFA Corey Medallion presented by the Childrenʻs Theatre Foundation of America and honors recipients for their significant achievements for the enrichment of children in the US and Canada. To learn more about the award, please read the following Broadway World article here

About the Company

About the Company

Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) produces professional theatre and drama education programs that make a difference in the lives of young people, families and educators in the state of Hawai‘i.

HTY believes that drama education and theatre are unique, socially-based education and art forms that help their participants and audiences walk in the shoes of others, allowing them to expand their imaginations, enrich their lives and discover the infinite possibilities in the world. HTY works towards a future for Hawai‘i in which people are culturally literate and imaginative, are critical thinkers and inventive problem solvers, with a respect for history and a sense of place in a complex world.

Founded in 1955, HTY is one of the oldest and most respected children’s theatres in the country. HTY has served over five million people through school and family performances and drama education programs. Over 300 new plays for young audiences have been commissioned by HTY.

HTY has used their talents in new ways during the Covid era and, with a partnership with NMG Network and Hawaii News Now, created a new type of children’s television program. Grounded in their geography and the many diverse cultures that make Hawai‘i special, the program is unlike anything currently available in children’s television and marks the beginning of a hybrid future for HTY as both theatre and digital media creator.  Check out  HTY's television show THE HI WAY as well as other information about the company and their work on their website here.

Other HTY Productions

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