Jazz up the new year with an exclusive preview of The Camp, a powerful new opera that follows the Shimono family’s journey through a World War II concentration camp in the US. Created by librettist Lionelle Hamanaka, a descendant of camp survivors, and composer Daniel Kessner, The Camp sheds light on the emotional and physical toll of imprisonment and the strength found in familial bonds and collective resistance.
This special event features a meet-and-greet with the creative and production teams and performers, as well as a rare opportunity to hear excerpts from the opera performed live. The program also includes insightful discussions on the opera’s historical and personal significance, and reflections on the creative process behind this important work.
Scheduled to participate are:
- June Aochi Berk, JANM Volunteer and Rohwer concentration camp survivor
- traci kato-kiriyama, author, multidisciplinary artist, community organizer, and a descendant of camp survivors
- Daniel Kessner, The Camp Composer
- Diana Wyenn, The Camp Director
- John Miyasaki, The Camp Associate Director
- Roberto Perlas Gómez, The Camp Performer
- Shu Tran, The Camp Performer
- Tiffany Ho, The Camp Performer
- Patrick Tsoi-A-Sue, The Camp Performer
- Sarah Wang, The Camp Performer
- Krishna Raman, The Camp Performer
The Camp will premiere at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center Aratani Theatre on February 22, 2025, with performances running through March 2, 2025. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit jaccc.org.
Image credit: Graphic design and illustration by Azusa Oda. Original photo of Manzanar, California by Dorothea Lange, 1942.