OMT SHOW HISTORY

2006 – Heiwa no Tori: Hiroshima no Issan (Birds of Peace: Hiroshima's Legacy) 

A revival of our 1999 musical, this is the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a 12-year-old girl who died of leukemia ten years after the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. During her illness she began folding paper cranes because of the legend that the gods would grant the wish of anyone who folded 1,000 cranes. Since then, people all over the world have been folding cranes as a mission of peace. 39 performances in Japan and the USA, including at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian Institution’s Discovery Theater in Washington, DC, and La Crosse Community Theatre, Wisconsin. Professionally filmed video available. 

 2005 – Mangetsu no Itazura (Moonlight Mischief) 

 A resetting of our 1998 show, with several new songs. The kyogen plays “Busu” and Fukitori” are combined and set in the American 1950’s. The scenes take place alternately (and sometimes simultaneously) on the left and right sides of the stage. There are fourteen songs in the musical, some the original kyogen songs set to new music, others newly created for the show. 12 performances in Osugi, Yamanaka, and Hakusan. 

Click here for a sample of our illustrated storybook edition.

 2004 – Yokubari Tengu II: Modotta Zo! (The Greedy Goblin II: I'm Back!) 

The Tengu story continues as the stone statue comes back to life – along with his fellow statues, which include Oni, Turtle, and the Dragon Twins. Can Hachibei and his animal friends defeat the greedy villain once again? 12 performances in Osugi, Komatsu, and Yamanaka. 

2003-2004 - The Greedy Goblin 

A revival of our 1997 “new folktale” inspired by the tengu statue in Osugi. The cast includes Yuki Otoko (Bigfoot), Tanuki (raccoon dog), a singing chicken, Kaminari (the thunder god), Tengu (a long-nosed, red-faced goblin), and a fellow named Hachibei. Can Hachibei and his new friends defeat the Tengu and help end the drought? 17 performances in Osugi, Komatsu, Yamanaka , Yamashiro, and Toyama. 

2002 – Lucky !?

 This show is based on an old tale of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, but reset in the Wild West. Lucky sets off from home to seek his fortune, and arrives in Cedar City, where the town is up in arms because Miser Madison is about to repossess his mansion, which for 75 years has served as the local orphanage. Villain Zack, meanwhile, has robbed a stagecoach of its gold, only to have it lost. Can there be a happy end?! 12 performances at Osugi Nakamachi Theater. 

2001-2004 Kimodameshi (The Haunted Forest) 

An adaptation of the kyogen play Yumiya Taro. One evening, a group of friends tells ghost stories. Taro, who always boasts about being strong and brave, is frightened after the first story, and faints after the second story. Everyone laughs at him, but he says he simply fell asleep. So his friends dare him to go to deep into the forest at midnight… Will he meet the dreaded forest demon?! 30 performances in Austria , Osugi, Komatsu, Kaga, Toyama. 

2000 – Radio Osugi 

Set in the early days of radio, this show recreates an old-time live radio show. The first half features news, sports, weather, commercials, and special live music performances by guests (not our actors). After intermission, the radio operetta “Meyo and the Pirate Adventure” is featured, as the studio stage gives way to a pirate ship and later a village square. Eight performances in Osugi Nakamachi Theater. 

1999 – Heiwa no Tori: Hiroshima no Issan (Birds of Peace: Hiroshima's Legacy)

See 2006 above. 

1998 – Mangetsu no Itazura (Moonlight Mischief) 

The kyogen plays Busu and Fukitori are combined and reset in medieval Italy. See 2005 above. 12 performances in Osugi and Toyama. 

1997 - Yokubari Tengu (The Greedy Goblin) 

See 2003-4 above. Fifteen performances in Osugi, Kanazawa, Toyama, and England. 

1996 - Komatsu Internet Love Story 

Characters and situations from Komatsu history are fast-forwarded to the present. Matsuo Basho, the famous haiku poet who actually visited Komatsu in 1689, designs a home page to publicize his verse. Hotoke Gozen, a noble dancer of local renown who lived in the 12th century, stumbles upon the page and strikes up an e-mail correspondence with Basho. A screen onstage allows the audience to share the couple's love letters and other computer fun. New music to old haiku is featured. Ten performances in Komatsu and Osugi. 

1995 – Osugi Okuku: Uta no Sato (Osugi Kingdom: Land of Song)

Our first musical. In this new legend, the king of Osugi holds a contest to choose a new Singer Royal, and the jilted Myna plots to win through treachery. Story written around an actual old song of Osugi. Nine performances in Osugi.