As kids we are told we can be whatever we want to be. To aim for the stars. But what if a child wants to be a god? This is just one of the ideas explored in Julia Izumi’s play miku, and the gods, that will be performed on April 14 at The Straz Center. It’s part of The Straz Center’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Play-Reading Series that starts on Saturday, February 3. This four-part series offers the dramatic experience of hearing excerpts from plays written by talented local and national writers.
From presidential elections to the stage
Izumi’s play miku, and the gods has a much more human origin story — the 2016 presidential election.
“I was thinking a lot about power and how we teach children that they can be anything when they grow up, but we don’t teach them about the kind of responsibilities and the weight that having that much power would have. And how difficult it would be,” Izumi explains.
Izumi has been putting on this play since 2017. In Tampa, The Straz Center will cast local actors and then Izumi will come back to do some run-throughs. She’ll also be on hand after the performance to answer questions from the audience.
And while gods can be a potentially heady topic, be prepared for some laughs as well.
“Comedy is my vein for sure,” Izumi states.
And there’s plenty of comedy to be found in the realm of gods and mortals. Comedy and so much more.
“It was a little tricky to sort of start. But once I started it was less about trying to accurately portray a religion and certain gods, and more just about creating a world in which many and all gods exists,” Izumi explains, “Including the ones we know and beyond.”
Getting inspiration from unlikely scenarios
Izumi finds inspiration in everything. She just needs a good “What if?” scenario and then she’s got a story idea. Whether it’s what if instead of a mermaid falling in love with a human, it’s a raincloud? Like her play Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea. Or her other play Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (with Live & Active Cultures).
“What if Kurosawa is explaining his movies but everything that comes out of his mouth is just about yogurt?”, Izumi says explaining her thought process.
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Izumi only needs to think of what would be a funny, weird situation and her ideas are in motion. Her next play is called Hot Cross Buns, takes place on a bunny island, and is all about a bunny pop star who takes control of her own life.
Hopefully, next time the BIPOC Play-Reading series is choosing plays to showcase, Izumi and her original plays will make a stop in the Tampa Bay area again.
What is the The BIPOC Play-Reading Series?
This series is part of an effort to be more inclusive and diversify artistic offerings at The Straz. Patrons will hear excerpts from plays written by both local and national writers. Local, professional actors will read the parts.
Performances will take place in The Straz’s TECO Theater. And each performance will have a question-and-answer period during which the writers and actors can provide some insight into the creative process.
This year’s plays include:
The Mourners on February 3
In the aftermath of their daughter’s devastating suicide, Ildefonso Muñoz, a communist philosopher, and Carmen, his resilient partner, find themselves distanced from their beloved granddaughter Delfina, and her father, Leo. Ildefonso’s sorrow is deepened by his belief that Leo’s capitalist leanings played a role in their shared tragedy. Meanwhile, Carmen is struggling with a health crisis, but she is determined to keep it a secret from her family. But when Hurricane Maria threatens to destroy their island, they all find themselves under one roof. Will this family finally mourn the death of their daughter, mother, and wife – or will they drown in a sea of resentment?
Time’s Testimony on March 10
Time’s Testimony is a play on words as it depicts the testimony of a man who goes through a trial of falling, manipulation, discovery, and redemption, while also touching on the irony of time changing a calloused heart. As a man navigates through the challenges of addiction and pride, his wife persists in her faith to see a change in him. Through great resistance and difficult encounters, this story takes its audience through the ups and downs of living in a household where things never seem to go right. Where faith is tested, outcomes may be unforeseen.
miku, and the gods on April 14
Miku wants to be a god. Ephraim wants to be an Olympian. Grandma Seiko wants to remember. And minor god Shara just wants people to include him in the conversation, you know? As they journey from the schoolyard to the river to the underworld and back again, Miku and company will learn what it actually takes to become a god. miku, and the gods. is an epic adventure that braids together friendship, death, memory, time, rhythm – and power beyond what one could ever desire.
You can reserve your seat on The Straz website or by calling 813-229-7827.