Yugen’s signature holiday production returns this year by popular demand!

Directed by Nick Ishimaru

Originally conceived by Yuriko Doi and Cienna Stewart in 1993

Victorian England is transported to Japan, set against the backdrop of its transition from the Edo to Meiji period, a time of significant societal change. Drawing on the Japanese theaters of Noh, Kyogen, Kabuki, and Butoh, this multifaceted reimagination of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol reminds us that this is the season for love, family, community, and wonder.

Sukurooji Ebezo (Ebenezer Scrooge) receives a visit from his deceased business partner Mashima Jakubei (Jacob Marley) warning him to change his miserly ways or be doomed to linger forever as a hungry ghost. The miraculous intervention of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-To-Come take Sukurooji on a wondrous journey through life and time in a profound attempt to remind him of the value of life beyond business and profit.

A Noh Christmas Carol brings Dickens’ beloved classic tale to life in a way that no other production can.

Featuring:

Joseph Alvarado as The Men

Meryn MacDougall as Ghosts of Christmas Past and Yet To Come

Ryan Marchand as Sukurooji Ebezo

Eiko Moon-Yamamoto as The Women

Kate Patrick as Mashima Jakubei and the Ghost of Christmas Present

Musician: Nick Ishimaru

Lights: Cassie Barnes, Costumes: Liz Brent, Sound: Ella Cooley, Set: Joshua McDermott, Music: Zhoushu Ziporyn

December 4 - 29

Previews: Wednesday, December 4, 8pm & Thursday, December 5, 8pm

Opening Night: Friday, December 6, 8pm

December 6 - 29: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm & Sundays at 3pm

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, without intermission

*Post-Show Artist Talkback: Friday, December 13 & Friday, December 20

*Relaxed Performance (family-friendly laid-back environment): Sunday, December 15

*Mask Required Performance: Friday, December 20

TICKETS (General Admission):

$40 (Regular)

$35 (Preview shows only)

$30 (Community Discount - if the price is a barrier)

*Group discounts available for parties of 10 or more. Contact us at boxoffice@theatreofyugen.org for details.

*There is no age limit for this family-friendly reimagination of Dickens’ Christmas Carol, but we recommend it for children ages 5 and up. While the production is full of heartwarming moments, it includes scenes featuring ghosts in dark lighting, which may be a little spooky for very young viewers.

Reviews

“A Noh Christmas Carol gives you permission to take your time, to meditate, to absorb - exactly what the holiday season is supposed to give us yet so rarely does.” - Lily Janiak, SF Chronicle

“A welcome respite from the holiday bustle.” - Leslie Katz, SF Examiner

Graphic design by Miwa Kaneko with technical support by aricoco


Artists

Nick Ishimaru (he/him), Director & Musician: Nick Ishimaru is a co-founder of San Francisco-based Kunoichi Productions. Prior to working with Kunoichi, he served as the Artistic Director of Theatre of Yugen from 2016 to 2020. He holds a BA in Performing Arts from Colorado State University, where he directed a kabuki adaptation of Macbeth, a Masters in Drama from San Francisco State University, and did additional doctorate work at the University of Hawaii. He has trained in noh and kyōgen for over 10 years with San Francisco’s Theatre of Yugen, Theatre Nohgaku, and the Kita school noh master Oshima Teruhisa in Tokyo. Ishimaru has also studied kabuki, jingju (Beijing Opera), and nihon buyo (traditional Japanese dance). He has led master classes on various performing arts topics for all levels from elementary school through university, and has presented work at conferences and university lectures both in the Bay Area and internationally.

Ishimaru has directed many productions including The Red Demon, A Noh Christmas Carol, Seen/By Everyone, The True Tale of Princess Kaguya, Fun Home, Never Mind, and Anything Goes. He has performed in A Noh Christmas Carol, Puppets and Poe, The True Tale of Princess Kaguya, Bellini’s Norma, Carmen, Mame, and dozens of English language kyōgen, among others.


Joseph Alvarado (he/him/his), as The Men: Joseph Alvarado is honored to be among the phenomenally talented cast and production team of A Noh Christmas Carol, his fist production with Theatre of Yugen. He is a second generation son of Filipino immigrants; a Manong Generation father and a post-WWII 1950’s ‘war bride’ mother. Before receiving his not-so-golden handshake, he played the role of ‘worker’ for a gigantic financial services firm while moonlighting on stages throughout the bay area. Most recently, he appeared as ‘Atung’ in The Chinese Lady (Pear Theatre). And among his most cherished experiences are playing ‘Jack’ in Aunt Jack (New Conservatory Theatre Center), ‘Chin’ in Flower Drum Song (Palo Alto Players) and ‘Bobby’ in Company (City College of San Francisco). When not on stage, he enjoys swimming laps, traveling, [over-]eating, and pondering the art of Swedish Death Cleaning. He was born, raised and is still living in San Francisco and shares his home with his 18-year old cat, Malcolm.


Meryn MacDougall, as Ghosts of Christmas Past and Yet To Come: Meryn MacDougall is a Bay Area artist. Meryn works in Theatre and Film as an actor, director, and fight director. She has had the joy of working with Theatre of Yugen for the last 6 years. She would like to thank Lluís Valls and the Yugen Community for all the wonderful opportunities and training they have provided. One of her independent film projects, UN/FILTERED, was featured at film festivals in the spring of 2024.


Ryan Marchand, as Sukurooji Ebezo: Ryan Marchand began performing with Theater of Yugen in 2009. A Los Angeles native, he moved to the Bay Area to attend San Francisco State University, where he first trained in Noh and Kyogen. As a theater maker, he has worked with a variety of companies including Crowded Fire, Shotgun Players, African American Shakespeare Company, Bindelstiff Studios, Kunoichi Productions, and Playwright’s Foundation. Ryan is the current Director of San Francisco Opera’s Department of Diversity, Equity and Community.


Eiko Moon-Yamamoto, as The Women: NOH CHRISTMAS CAROL is Eiko Moon-Yamamoto’s debut with Theatre of Yugen! Eiko is a multi-hyphenate performing and visual artist, born in Tokyo with roots in Seoul and Honolulu.

Regional credits: CYMBELINE at San Francisco Shakespeare Festival; Emily Whitman in FOLLIES, CLUE, Sugar (u/s) in TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS at San Francisco Playhouse; M’Lynn Eatenton in STEEL MAGNOLIAS at SierraRep; Pacifica, the fairy in SLEEPING BEAUTY Panto at The Presidio Theatre; Hua Mulan in DISENCHANTED! at San Jose Playhouse. Other selected roles include: Afong Moy in THE CHINESE LADY at The Pear Theatre, Meiko in EUREKA DAY at Spreckels Theatre, Jack’s Mother in INTO THE WOODS at Mountain Play, and Sarom in the world premiere of DOWNTOWN CROSSING at Company One in Boston. She is committed to championing historically excluded voices in the American theatre canon and has developed new works with Playwrights Foundation, PlayOn Shakespeare, Z Space, The Ground Floor at BerkeleyRep, FaultLine Theater, Dragon Productions, and Company One. Upcoming: PACIFIC OVERTURES at Kunoichi Productions, THE TRUER HISTORY OF THE CHAN FAMILY by Eugenie Chan, a vaudeville musical film release, 2025. Graduate of UCLA and CCA. SAG-AFTRA. www.eikoyamamoto.com | @eikoyh


Kate Patrick, Mashima Jakubei and the Ghost of Christmas Present: Currently based in San Francisco, Kate Patrick has been an ensemble member with Theatre of Yugen since 2019. Most recently she has appeared as the Crab Spirit in Kani Yamabushi, the Master in Busu, and Corvino in last year's adaptation of Volpone, Act I and II. Next Spring, she is excited to reprise her role for Volpone, as well as design and build special costume pieces for this production. She has also done costume work for various local theaters including San Francisco Opera, Actors Ensemble of Berkeley and New Conservatory Theatre Center. Previous experience in traditional Japanese theater includes her role as the second Yamabushi in University of Hawai’i, Mānoa’s 2016 production of a new kyogen play, Futari Yamabushi, and a 2017-18 Fulbright Research Grant to study traditional ji-kabuki costumes and practices under Sachie Oguri at the Museum Nakasendou and Aioi-za Theater in Mizunami, Japan. While there she performed in two kabuki classics, Sodehagi Saimon as Hachiman Taro Yoshiie, and Fuji Musume. Kate has an MFA in Costume Design from University of Hawai’i, Mānoa.


Rachel Grace Reyes Mogan, Stage Manager

Rachel Mogan is a Bay Area native Stage Manager as well as Resident Artist with Crowded Fire Theatre. Recent Crowded Fire credits include Shipping & Handling directed by Lisa Marie Rollins & Leigh Rondon-Davis, Transfers directed by Ken Savage, and Church directed by Mina Morita. Other Bay Area credits include Stage Managing and Assistant Stage Managing with Cutting Ball Theater (Ondine, A Dreamplay, Hedda Gabler), Campo Santo Theater (Ethos De Masquerade, Candlestick), New Conservatory Theatre Company (Plot Points in Our Sexual Development, Locusts Have No King) and Custom Made Theatre Co (Hooded, Or Being Black For Dummies, Tiny Fires).