Ken Narasaki's adaptation of the novel by Japanese American author John Okada is set during the aftermath of the US government’s incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese descent during World War II and the resettlement of Japanese Americans to the West Coast. In the play, Ichiro returns to Seattle, where he struggles to transition into post-war life.
Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood, in January 2021.
No-No Boy is sponsored in part by the California Civil Liberties Program from the California State Library. Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson. Producing director: Susan Albert Loewenberg.
Featuring:
Kurt Kanazawa as Taro
Emily Kuroda as Mrs. Kanno and Mrs. Kumasaka
John Miyasaki as Freddie and others
Ken Narasaki as Kenji, Kumasaka-san, and others
Sharon Omi as Ma
Joy Osmanski as Emi, 2A
Sab Shimono as Pa
Greg Watanabe as Ichiro
Paul Yen as Eto, Jun, and others
Senior producer: Anna Lyse Erikson. Prepared for audio by Mark Holden. Sound design by Mark Holden and Neil Wogenson. Recording engineers: Charles Carroll and Neil Wogenson. Mixed by Charles Carroll and Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood. Senior radio producer: Ronn Lipkin. Foley artist: Jeff Gardner. Editor: Neil Wogenson.
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“Greg Watanabe, Kurt Kanazawa, and Joy Osmanski give riveting, emotional performances in this L.A. Theatre Works adaptation…Watanabe's voice deftly captures the pain and confusion of a young man of color who finds that he has no job prospects, his delusional mother believes Japan won the war, and the girl he loved is already married. Still, like so many American tales, there is the sound of hope. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
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AudioFile