Elvehjem demonstration to explore Kabuki theater

Long before “Rent,” cable television or street musicians, Japanese audiences thrilled to the heroes and villains of kabuki theater.

A type of popular Japanese drama, evolved from the older No theater, the kabuki style presented elaborately costumed performers using stylized movements, dances and songs to enact tragedies and comedies.

David Furumoto, assistant professor of theatre and drama, will demonstrate various kabuki acting styles at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 8, in L140 Elvehjem.

“I will cover a brief history of kabuki, then demonstrate aragoto, kabuki’s heroes and villains; onnagata, female characters played by male actors; and kabuki dance styles,” he says.

Furumoto’s lecture-demonstration is free and open to the public. It is presented in conjunction with the Elvehjem’s exhibition, “Kabuki: The Drama of Japanese Print,” which runs through Sunday, June 22. For more information, contact the Elvehjem Museum of Art, 262-2246, nmustapich@lvm.wisc.edu.