Americana Kamikaze

“Mind-blowing video images and theatrical tension, a nightmarish pop aesthetic that deserves your attention.”
The New York Times

“Ravishing, cinematic video.”
TimeOutNY

“A transnational ghost story for the 21st century.”
The Drama Review (TDR)

Inspired by Japanese ghost stories, but translated through Temporary Distortion’s idiosyncratic Western sensibilities,Americana Kamikaze explores the fluidity of time and space, the thin line between madness and reason, and the capacity for acts of extreme violence to transform otherwise unremarkable lives.

American and Japanese performers are doubled by video doppelgängers in an East meets West psychological horror story that fractures reality and narrative.

Maintaining the company’s tradition of producing physically restrained and media-infused work that approaches a form of sculpture for the stage, Americana Kamikaze is performed in one of Temporary Distortion’s signature claustrophobic, boxlike structures.

Americana Kamikaze is currently available for touring. contact:
kenneth@temporarydistortion.com

2011

Arts Crush, On the Boards (Seattle, Washington)*
USITT National Conference (Long Beach, California)*
Prague Quadrennial (Prague, Czech Republic)*
*special screenings
RetroFutureSpective Festival (excerpts), Performance Space 122 (New York, NY)
World Theatre Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse (Brisbane, Australia)

2010

EXIT Festival, Maison des Arts de Créteil (Paris, France)
VIA Festival International (Maubeuge, France)
COIL Festival at Performance Space 122 (New York, NY)

2009

Performance Space 122 (New York, NY) world-premiere

2008

PRELUDE Festival (New York, NY)

CREDITS

Co-creators: Kenneth Collins & William Cusick
Direction, Text, Set & Lighting Design by Kenneth Collins
Video Design & Direction by William Cusick
Music & Sound by John Sully
Costumes by TaraFawn Marek

Performers: Brian Greer, Yuki Kawahisa, Lorraine Mattox and Ryosuke Yamada.

Film Cast: Peter Blomquist, Kevin Gebhard, Brian Greer, Yuki Kawahisa, Lorraine Mattox, Caitlin McDonough-
Thayer, Stephanie Silver and Ryosuke Yamada. Motion Graphics: Jon Weiss. Assistant Director: Jamie Poskin.
Technical Assistant: Andrew Scoville. Assistant Lighting Designer: Joe Cantalupo. Casting: Jennifer Ajemian.
Workshop Cast: Ben Beckley. Background Photographers: Lauren Bentley, Paul Howes, Andy Lachance, Richard Lowe, Trey Ratcliff.

Co-producers: Maison des Arts de Créteil (Paris) and Le Manège (Maubeuge). Commissioned with support from the Jerome Foundation by Performance Space 122 (New York). Additional support provided by The Greenwall Foundation, The MacDowell Colony, The Nancy Quinn Fund, a project of A.R.T./New York, and the generous support of individual donors.