FILIAL PIETY
by Lionelle Hamanaka
When Matriarch Fumi Sasaki develops Alzheimer’s in 1998, her daughters have a handful: Dakota tries to kidnap her, Nori gets a shrink, Emi flees to Africa. Their father Tak, once a successful actor, gets temporarily lost on a train to Maine. After Fumi dies, secrets emerge from the shrink, Minister and family ghost. Flashbacks show the parents romance, and the roots of Fumi’s mental stresses, started at a concentration camp for Japanese Americans in WWII, when both were wed to others. Nevertheless, at her memorial, the family celebrates Fumi as the ‘rock’ who enabled their transition into east coast society.
- Cast Size: 3M 4W
- Running Time: 90+ minutes
- Royalty Rate: $75 per performance
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About the Playwright
Lionelle Hamanaka was born in NYC, received 4 writing awards and 5 grants; studied Kabuki/Noh with Ortolani at Brooklyn College, acting at HB, auditor Actor’s Studio, member Ernie Martin’s Actor’s Creative Theater, Dramatist Guild member; studied DG Institute-Gary Garrison, John Dietrich, Published short story, poem in And Then; play Filial Piety by Next Stage Press. Rohwer produced: Pan Asian, Lincoln summer stage, webisode, radio 7 states; The Organizer produced by 1199 in 24-25. The Camp, opera with Daniel Kessner in 2025. Co Founder Crossways Theatre. Produced 6 Crossways Women’s Festivals. CCNY BA 2017. Covid Crime: WBAI, KPFT, Houston.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/theater/covid-crime-stop-asian-hate.html
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