By Haley Zeller, Arts & Entertainment Editor
There are so many ways to express ourselves through art. Many SU students could tell you that, from creative writers and theater performers to graphic designers and photographers. It can feel daunting to step into such a vast ocean of talent and possibility. But uncertainty isn’t why humans continue to push boundaries and explore such capabilities. Artist David Crandall, who works for Theatre Nohgaku, says of the arts: “They offer us uniquely individualized glimpses into the ‘why’ of life and the miracle of human consciousness. Noh is particularly good at focusing on the shared humanity of performers and audience, creating an opportunity for communion, a slowing down, a sharpening of the sense that ‘we are here together, now.’ Beyond the beauty of the words, music and movement, it’s this sense of immediate, shared awareness that speaks to me most as a performer.”
Six centuries ago, noh developed under the patronage of Japanese shoguns. The practice encompasses aspects of theatre that include dance, music, costume and more. Founded in 2000, Theatre Nohgaku (TN) and its performers bring their passion for classical drama to life. Contemporary audiences can appreciate the demanding dedication and physical discipline required for the art. The Theatre hopes that Susquehanna students, especially those involved in the arts, can find value in the performance happening on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Degenstein Theater.
Founding member Elizabeth Dowd says, “These artists have trained since childhood in this form and are immensely supportive and encouraging of our efforts to share the beauty, power and economy of noh with non-Japanese audiences.” TN is an artist collective-based organization whose largest payoff is the patience and generosity of the performers and Master Teachers who help them in their journey. Though noh is based in Japanese culture, Theatre Nohgaku aims to spread the art and culture of other countries as well. For example, Dowd discusses Italian-originating opera, which became a world theatre over time. Modern composers can use the basic conventions and structures of the art to “tell contemporary stories that reach beyond its origins.” She says, “Theatre Nohgaku is on the vanguard of using our training and deep admiration for classical noh to tell stories from cultures other than Japan.”
Theatre Nohgaku offers a summer workshop to learn classical noh chants (utai) and dance (mai), without needing any experience in Japanese language or theater. They also host a mask making workshop in Tokyo, where participants create handmade masks using blocks of hinoki (Japanese cypress), chisels and watercolor. “You have an inflexible wooden mask that covers the flexibility of the human face behind it—but through the profound skills of the mask carver and the performer, that very masking of human expression reveals something less individual and more essential,” Dowd says.
The members of TN are extremely passionate about breaking the boundaries of language and culture through a love for the arts. Even in a small town like Selinsgrove, they hope to show how powerful and thought-evoking theater can be. To students studying the arts, Dowd advises, “Arts of any kind give us a means to examine more deeply what it means to be human.” As a collective, humanity is reflected in the arts. Without them, we’d have a much harder time expressing the thoughts, emotions and passions that tie us together.