“Red Altar” Historic Theatre Tonight

Thursday July 30 at 8 p.m. at the Sea View Theatre

— by Margie Doyle —

“The Red Altar Project: Stories of Immigration, Migrations and Journeys” – is a visual and performance art celebration of our stories towards a diverse society.  Nancy Wang, co-founder of Eth-Noh-Tech theatrical storytelling troupe, describes tonight’s   production of “Red Altar” as the story of how the Chinese created the fishing industry in Monterey Bay and the racism they faced. I don’t think we hear these stories in California history or in American history. These are important stories.”

“Red Altar” is the finale to Storyfest 2015, as Eth-Noh-Tec, with Nancy and co-founder Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo bringing back many favorites in their poetic, theatrical storytelling events. “Red Altar,” which they wrote and choreographed, was presented earlier this year at the San Francisco International Arts Festival.

Journalist Chad Jones wrote of Eth-Noh-Tec’s exciting docudrama, “Red Altar”: “First Nations People, start the fishing industry and all is well… “until the storm blew closer”. …

“Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo have created an alchemy of movement theater and storytelling, along with fellow digital and projectionist video artists, Olivia Ting and Don Nguyen. Casting this dynamic tale of survival of the human spirit upon a sea-and-landscape of coastal Mid-1800’s California they allude to the “storm”: the rising tempest against the Chinese with riots, murder, systematic propaganda and whole sale destruction of their villages throughout the West, this after so much their immigrant labor built up the West and it’s economy working on railorads, mines, farms, fisheries and in logging.”

Nancy and Robert add, “This project welcomes not only Americans who are from an immigrant status, not just People of Color, but all peoples who have taken challenging journeys and risks against racism, hatred and ignorance. Through the triumph of their survival and the endeavors of their communities they have woven a stronger social fabric for us all. We believe that art created from this context will transform and enlighten all.”

Nancy says, “One of the primary undercurrents in “Red Altar” goes beyond the specific story of Chinese immigrants in California.The stories of racism and immigration have new relevance today.” As the struggles for justice and community play out, the “tipping points take forever and rarely does anything change. We tend to confuse the ideal with the real.” Storytelling can help create a community of connection and compassion, rather than creating a community of fear and defensiveness.

Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo says stortyelling such as the “Red Altar” “is about creating a movement of gratitude toward immigrants. It’s everyone. We all descend from immigrants, not just people of color.”