This weekend is your final chance to catch international star Ako Dachs in OKUNI: The Woman Who Created Kabuki. The Tokyo born writer, director, and choreographer, who was also seen in the Emmy Award winning Hulu series Shogun, brings a true life story to the Off-Broadway stage.
A recent press release describes the play:
“Combining authentic dance, live music, dialogue, and narration, Okuni tells the real-life story of a young woman who, in 1603, defied societal norms and gender roles to create Kabuki, one of Japan’s most iconic art forms. Performing on the riverbanks of Kyoto, Okuni and her all-female troupe captivated audiences by portraying both men and women with flamboyant costumes and swaggering style. Her bold, satirical performances quickly gained popularity, earning her the title “Best in the World” from the government. However, as imitators and concerns about morality grew, women were banned from performing Kabuki, and the tradition became an all-male domain—a practice that continues today. Presented by the bilingual Japanese-English theater company Amaterasu Za, Okuni brings to life the extraordinary journey of the woman who broke barriers and founded a theatrical tradition that has endured for over 400 years.
Ako described her passion and interest in the project: “Okuni is a story of defiance, creativity, and the power of female empowerment. In 1603, Okuni broke societal barriers and gender norms to create an art form that would last over 400 years. I was inspired to write this play because, even today, women are often marginalized in spaces they have helped to build. Okuni’s journey is a reminder that women’s contributions to culture, art, and society aren’t new. Through this production, we celebrate not only Okuni’s legacy but the strength of women everywhere who continue to push boundaries and redefine what is possible.”
Ako will be joined in this two-person play (running 90 minutes with no intermission) by Yasushi Kimura and it will be performed in Japanese with English supertitles,
OKUNI: The Woman Who Created Kabuki runs through Saturday November 23rd at Theatre Row 410 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th, NYC. For more information and tickets, click here .