Other Bios:

Kikue Tashiro (Playwright)

Penny Bergman (Producer/Director)

Allen Nyoshin Steir
( Musician)

Mami Kimura
(Kurogo)

Saeko Ichinohe
(Choreographer)

Yukio Tsuji
(Songs)

Hiroki Morinoue (Set Designer)

Elly Van Horne (Costume Designer)

Kati Kuroda (Actor)
Born and raised in Hawaii, she received her MFA at the University of Hawaii. She received Kabuki training from Nakamura Matagoro of the National Theatre of Japan and had Featured roles in Kabuki classics THE SCARLET PRINCESS OF EDO and THE FORTY-SEVEN SAMURAI.

Ms. Kuroda has performed for many of New York's Off-Broadway theater companies, including TheaterWorks USA's JAPANESE GHOST STORIES and JAPANESE FOLK TALES, The Acting Company's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, New York Shakespeare Festival's THE COMEDY OF ERRORS,, the Roundabout Theatre’s RASHOMON, and Manhattan Theater Company’s DAY STANDING ON ITS HEAD.

A Senior Artist with Pan Asian Rep, Ms. Kuroda performed in JOY LUCK CLUB, ALOHA LAS VEGAS, FRIENDS, SHOGUN MACBETH, WILDERNESS, LUCKY COME HAWAII, THE IMPOSTER, MEDEA, THE MAN WHO TURNED INTO A STICK, and NOIRESQUE. She directed AND THE SOUL SHALL DANCE, EATING CHICKEN FEET, THE DRESSING ROOM, and RITA’S RESOURCES.

For La Luna Productions Ms. Kuroda has been featured in two one-woman shows in the past three years: HANA and SAKURA.

In regional theaters, Ms. Kuroda recently performed as Bloody Mary in the West Virginia Public Theater production of SOUTH PACIFIC, the Long Wharf’s JOY LUCK CLUB, Yale Rep’s HECUBA, Guthrie Theatre’s THE SCREENS, and in the Pittsburgh Public Theatre production of TEA. Her film debut was in PICTURE BRIDE.

This page: Biographies of the artists

Link to:

La Luna home

 Press Release

 Synopsis

 Excerpts of Reviews

 Booking Information
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 Performance Schedules
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Kikue Tashiro (Playwright)
Ms. Tashiro's work has been produced internationally: HANA-THE BANDIT PRINCESS at Chelsea Playhouse; KENSUKE at Samuel Beckett Theater, SAKURA-THE BANDIT PRINCESS at Circle Repertory Company, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Kennedy Theatre in Honolulu, University of Missouri - St. Louis, Muhlenberg College and Dallas International Theater Festival; KATANA at La Mama in New York; MY HAPPY HOSPICE at U.N. Hammarskjold Theater; THE EMPEROR BAMBOO at Provincetown Playhouse; THE BANDIT PRINCESS in Hudson, New York (Time & Space Theatre)as well as Canada, Denmark and Hawaii. THE MASK OF HELEN BORNE TO ASHES was presented at Washington Square Church.

She was a recipient of U.S.-Japan Friendship Commission grant. BA. in English literature from University of Chuo in Tokyo. M.A. in Drama from University of Southern California. Playwriting at H-B Studios, New York. Member of Dramatists Guild.

Born and raised in Japan, Ms. Tashiro joined her ancestors in November, 1998. She is survived by her husband, Ago Takeshi Terayama.

Photographs and Illustrations

Penny Bergman (Producer/Director)
Artistic Director of LA LUNA PRODUCTIONS, Ms. Bergman received her MFA from the University of Hawaii with Kabuki training from Nakamura Matagoro of the National Theatre of Japan. She served as Producing Director in New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Honolulu for SAKURA and HANA-THE BANDIT PRINCESS, THE INCREDIBLE INSTANT THEATRE, SILVER POINT MEDIA. She is currently developing HOT FLASHES.

Ms. Bergman has acted in numerous film, television and theater productions, with featured roles in THE FORTY-SEVEN SAMURAI and THE SUBSCRIPTION LIST.

Behind the scenes, Ms. Bergman was General Manager for THE COMEDY CORNER, and National Tour Director for THE FORTY-SEVEN SAMURAI (CHUSHINGURA).

In television, Ms. Bergman was nominated for six Emmy Awards for her work as a Stage Manager on ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC-TV) 1983-present (Emmy Award team), LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER (PBS) 1984-1989 (Emmy Award team). She was Creative Director on KITV's ALOHA HIGH TECH VIDEO and LIVE WIRES.

Allen Nyoshin Steir ( Musician)
Allen Nyoshin Steir began working as a professional musician at age 14. He received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Manhattan School of Music. He studied the shakuhachi in New York with Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin, in Kyoto with Yoshio Kurahashi and in Tokyo with Aoki Reibo.

In 1996 he received his Jun-ShiHan certificate and the performing name of Nyoshin, meaning “as the essence of spirit and truth”. Recently he received his ShiHan certificate.

He has performed extensively with the New York gaga-ku Imperial Orchestra, as a solo artist, and as a member of a classical trio ensemble at Tenri Culture Center, and as a guest artist with the Inoue Ensemble. Mr. Steir has composed and played original scores for theater. His first album, CASTLES IN THE SKY, was released in 1996.

Mami Kimura (Kurogo)
A native of Japan, Ms. Kurogo recently appeared in THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA with National Asian American Theater Company. Her other NY credits include: HIBAKUSHA OUTCRY, HANDSHAKE, THE MAGIC TOYSHOP, PREPARE TO MEET YOUR MAKER and ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON AT CHRISTMASTIDE.

Her theatre credits in Japan include: BESIDE HERSELF, A PLACE WHERE LOVE IS, ANDALUSIAN MOON, BOARDERS, OLPHE, BIRD’S CEREMONY and THE VIKINGS AT HELGELAND.

Saeko Ichinohe (Choreographer)
A native of Japan, Ms. Ichinohe graduated from the Julliard SCHOOL and won the Vestris (Boston) and St. Denis (NY) Prizes for her work.

Recent work includes TALE OF GENJI at Marymount College, Japan Society and Asia Society, as well as dances for Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Joffrey II Dancers, Louisville Ballet, and Eglevsky Ballet.

Ms. Ichinohe was Movement Consultant for more than ten years for the Metropolitan Opera’s production of MADAME BUTFERFLY. Her work in television includes: PBS’s LIVE BY SATELLITE and JAPANESE PERFORMING ARTS IN AMERICA, WPIX’s BEST SHOW.

Yukio Tsuji (Songs)
Contributed music for the Broadway productions of MACBETH and M. BUTTERFLY.   Off Broadway:  A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Lincoln Center), DREAM OF KITAMURA (Theater of the Open Eye), ORPHEUS (with Genji Ito at La Mama), and HOUSE OF SLEEPING BEAUTIES (Public Theater).

Film work includes: THE LAWLESS LAND, YEAR OF THE DRAGON (MGM), HIROSHIMA (with Lucia Hwong, PBS).

Hiroki Morinoue (Set Designer)
BFA, California College of Arts and Crafts. Hiroki lives on the Big Island of Hawaii. His art has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the world. He creates art/set designs for select dance and theater companies. with intensive studies in Sumie (Japanese brush painting.) and Moku-Hanga (Japanese woodblock printing.)

He is the owner of Studio 7 Gallery and President of the Holualoa Foundation for Culture and the Arts.