NEW YORK CITY: American Theatre magazine will host a special event in celebration of our May/June issue focused on Japanese theatre. A launch of the issue and a panel discussion will be held at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center on Thursday, May 16, 4-5 p.m.

The Theatre in Japan issue looks at theatre and performance in the Land of the Rising Sun, from its foundational traditions to its most up-to-date innovations, and considers its place within contemporary Japanese culture, among East Asian cultures broadly, and in the global context.

Frank Hentschker of the Martin E. Segal Center Theatre will lead the discussion about current Japanese theatre trends with panelists Cindy Sibilsky, the special issue’s guest editor and curator; Yoko Shioya, artistic director of Japan Society; Kumiko Yoshii, president of Gorgeous Entertainment; Kyoko Iwaki, contributing writer and researcher at Waseda University; and others yet to be announced.

The event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow at the Archive Bar. For more information please click here.