Description: A comprehensive overview of the history of kabuki, Japan's 'music-dance-drama', with analysis of 5 of the most frequently performed works informed by the author's directorial experience.
Brief description: Dr. Laurence R. Kominz is Professor of Japanese Language and Literature at Portland State University, USA. He publishes on the literature, history, and performance of kabuki, kyôgen, bunraku, and noh, and teaches and directs student performances of kyôgen and kabuki. HIs publications include Mishima on Stage: The Black Lizard and Other Plays (2007), The Stars who Created Kabuki: Their Lives, Loves and Legacy (1997) and Avatars of Vengeance: Japanese Drama and the Soga Literary Tradition (1995).