Davis Shakespeare Festival

09/04/2024

pARTners in Conversation is a unique event that brings together a variety of artistic presentations from Davis, intertwined with in-depth discussions alongside the Davis community.

We welcome you to join us and listen in as artists, who have been paired together prior to the event, share their creative works—ranging from music to movement and more— around common themes. After each paired presentation, the artists will engage in a live conversation on stage, discussing themes of belonging in Davis, the role of artistic expression in social justice, and how their meditation on the theme shaped their work.

Click here to RSVP:
https://shakespearedavis.thundertix.com/events/235456

Presented by Davis Shakespeare Festival, in partnership with City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs, Hate Free Together, and our fellow theatre company grantees (Bike City Theatre & Davis Repertory Theatre).

This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, as part of the California Creative Corps pilot program, a statewide initiative designed to increase social justice and community engagement.

08/25/2023

THE MOCHI PROJECT workshop concluded last weekend with two well-attended showcase performances!

We would like to extend our gratitude to all who joined us and supported the project. We look forward to its future development!

08/19/2023

THE MOCHI PROJECT performances begin tomorrow! Reserve your seats:
https://vacancyarts.org/shows/the-mochi-project-performance/

Pictured: Alex Togashii, Gabriel Carpenter, Sara Matsui-Colby, Gregory Wada, Evan Hamaguchi, Sally Hensel, Madeline Hamaguchi, David Toshiro Crane

The Mochi Project illuminates the joys of modern Japanese American culture and complexities of Nikkei heritage. Creator Madeline Hamaguchi, a Yonsei from California's Central Valley, connects with other Japanese Americans who are experts, artists, and historians to share lived experiences and demystify their intersectional identities. How can we reclaim our hushed historical narrative, weave joy into our hereditary representation, and celebrate the unique ethnic spaces we represent?

This performance will be the showcase of a play development workshop drawing on content from our podcast, featuring Japanese American performers and musicians from around the country!

Saturday, August 19 at 8pm
Sunday, August 20 at 2pm
Louise H. Kellogg Memorial Theatre
at the Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop
2720 Del Rio Pl
Davis, CA 95618

Made possible, in part, through an Impact Projects grant from California Arts Council.

Supported, in part, by a grant from the City of Davis Arts & Cultural Affairs program.

08/15/2023

The Mochi Project Performance is fast approaching! Grab your free tickets today and join us for a celebration and joy-based investigation of Japanese American culture and Nikkei heritage! Tickets at vacancyarts.org
August 19th @ 8pm, August 20th @ 2pm.

WHERE:
Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop
2720 Del Rio Place, Davis

COST:
Free/Pay as you can – reserve seats at vacancyarts.org

08/15/2023

The Mochi Project Performance is fast approaching! Grab your free tickets today and join us for a celebration and joy-based investigation of Japanese American culture and Nikkei heritage! Tickets at vacancyarts.org
August 19th @ 8pm, August 20th @ 2pm.

WHERE:
Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop
2720 Del Rio Place, Davis

COST:
Free/Pay as you can – reserve seats at vacancyarts.org

08/15/2023

Meet the company of THE MOCHI PROJECT performance!

Image 1: Rehearsal photo with Gregory Wada, Madeline Hamaguchi, Sara Matsui-Colby, David Toshiro Crane, and Sally Hensel.

Image 2: The full company including musicians!

Join us August 19th and 20th in Davis @ the Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop. Details and tickets: https://vacancyarts.org/shows/the-mochi-project-performance/

08/11/2023

Photos from our first days of THE MOCHI PROJECT workshop!

Don’t miss the showcase performance on August 19 & 20! Link for details:
https://vacancyarts.org/shows/the-mochi-project-performance/

Pictured: Madeline Hamaguchi, David Toshiro Crane, Sara Matsui-Colby, Gregory Wada, (and Sally Hensel on Zoom!)

08/05/2023

Join us August 19 & 20!

The Mochi Project illuminates the joys of modern Japanese American culture and complexities of Nikkei heritage. Creator Madeline Hamaguchi, a Yonsei from California's Central Valley, connects with other Japanese Americans who are experts, artists, and historians to share lived experiences and demystify their intersectional identities. How can we reclaim our hushed historical narrative, weave joy into our hereditary representation, and celebrate the unique ethnic spaces we represent?

This performance will be the showcase of a play development workshop drawing on content from our podcast, featuring Japanese American performers and musicians from around the country!

Saturday, August 19 at 8pm
Sunday, August 20 at 2pm
Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop
2720 Del Rio Pl
Davis, CA 95618

Learn more and reserve tickets here:

https://vacancyarts.org/shows/the-mochi-project-performance/

04/20/2023

Artist and adventurer Sally Hensel joins Madeline for a conversation about her experiences as the daughter of a Japanese immigrant and an American of western-European descent. We discuss the tenuous cultural balance she navigated growing up in the primarily-white Central Valley in California, and how that affected the quality of her experience living and working in Japan in 2019. We also chat about the impact of generational trauma and ask ourselves how we can manifest positive changes for future generations. Our conversation covers everything from playground bullies, favorite homemade snacks, and unexpected friendships in times of need.
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Stream now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music!
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Link in bio for more info!

03/24/2023

Now streaming on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6WnwUQq6YyK6MzUApXKC9Y?si=1c3f4fbfa6624ec2

And Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nikkei-beginnings-japanese-immigrant-history-with-herb/id1677607326?i=1000604530162

The Mochi Project Podcast illuminates the joys of modern Japanese American culture and complexities of Nikkei heritage. Host Madeline Hamaguchi, a Yonsei from California's Central Valley, connects with other Japanese Americans who are experts, artists, and historians to share lived experiences and demystify intersectional identities. How can we reclaim our hushed historical narrative, weave joy into our hereditary representation, and celebrate the unique ethnic spaces we represent?

Visit The Mochi Project Website:
https://vacancyarts.org/shows/the-mochi-project/?portfolioCats=96

In our first episode, Madeline is joined by Sacramento-based author and historian Herb Tanimoto to explore the journey of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States and the establishment of their colony in the California foothills, now known as the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm.

The Mochi Project is made possible through an Impact Projects grant from California Arts Council.

PODCAST CREDITS:
Creative and Production team members are Madeline Hamaguchi, Evan Hamaguchi, Gia Battista, Tom Abruzzo, and Rob Salas
Theme song by Alex Chong
Sound editing and stings by Gia Battista

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
The text "The Mochi Project Podcast" is featured in bold black letters hovering over three concentric arches filling the bottom half of a mild-yellow square background. The arches, from outermost layer to innermost, are colored lime green, white, and pinkish-red. In the center, there is a lime green sound wave. Small letters across the top read “Vacancy Arts Collective Presents”. Written in the white arch are the words “An exploration of modern Japanese-American Identity”.

11/09/2022

Be a part of Vacancy Arts Collective’s next production: The Mochi Project

VAC is seeking Japanese American (JA) participants for an interview-based podcast aimed at amplifying voices and sharing stories from within the JA community. The Mochi Project is led by Madeline Hamaguchi, a Yonsei.

Participants will:
➡️Receive an honorarium between $50-$100

➡️Participate in a recorded conversation with Madeline Hamaguchi (remote options available) about their lived experience as JA

➡️Sign a release allowing us to air the podcast on various media (you may request anonymity)

For more details and to apply to participate, click here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPvIUNG8Q90gpH7EjxMHZgqJ5M_h9i2e2101Ik5_RpcW_erw/viewform?usp=send_form&usp=embed_facebook

07/15/2022

Don’t miss LYDIA this weekend! An amazing show presented by our friends at Teatro Nagual, Inc!! ❤️❤️

Lydia is back ‼️🎭 Today is opening night ‼️🎭
On our last rehearsal we had a wonderful visitor: our Northern California star Carlos Kandia who has been part of Teatro Nagual's family since 2017. Thank you Carlos for your unconditional support.

Our play Lydia by Octavio Solis runs only 2 nights July 15 & 16, doors open at 6pm at The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre
Tickets 🎟 bstreettheatre.org/other/lydia/