Tag: Music

High School Musical: The Drowsy Chaperone

David Neale (musical director/producer) writes on this year’s high school musical, a production that introduced the audience to “the woman in the chair,” who led viewers through the show, putting on a record of her favorite musical to deal with “a little self-conscious anxiety resulting in a non-specific sadness.” Her record plays, The Drowsy Chaperone comes to life and the stage is thrust back in time to the 1920s as it filled with student performers.  Continue reading →

Students See Frederik L Schodt Present at the Japan National Press Club

On Friday, October 20, Japan Foundation Award-winner, Japanese Imperial Honor recipient and ASIJ class of ’68 alum Frederik L Schodt delivered a commemorative lecture at the Japan National Press Club titled Cultural Surfing: Riding the Waves of Transnational History, Technology, and Pop Culture. Fred discussed cross-cultural exchange in a wide range of Japan-US pop culture topics with moderator Yukari Shiina,  comic book translator and part-time lecturer at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.

Fred and Yukari shared stories about his first visit to Japan while in high school, his first experience  with Japanese manga and its popularization in the US through the works of artists such as Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki and Yoshiyuki Tomino. Fred also spoke on his own life and work facilitating exchange between Japan and the United States.  Attendees of the lecture included students from our advanced Japanese course. Tenth graders Anna Komisarof and Rona Kitamura write on the trip. Continue reading →