Experience a rare U.S. performance of Javanese puppet theater Aug. 30

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

Members of the Rice community are invited to experience the exhilarating color, movement and sound of Javanese shadow puppets — called “wayang kulit” — at a performance Aug. 30 in Stude Concert Hall, Alice Pratt Brown Hall.

	Javanese shadow puppets — called “wayang kulit” — are at the heart of the Indonesian storytelling tradition.

The free event is open to the public and will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. A pre-event lecture about this unique puppet theater will be at 7 p.m., and the performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Wayang kulit are at the heart of the Indonesian storytelling tradition. Made of flat leather that has been elaborately perforated and painted, wayang kulit cast intricate and dramatic shadows as they dance behind a screen. Wayang kulit performances are a cultural touchstone for Indonesians, but presentations outside the country are extremely rare.

World-renowned master puppeteer Ki Purbo Asmoro from Central Java will perform “The Grand Offering of the Kings,” a story derived from the Indian epics the “Mahabharata” and the “Ramayana.” Before the performance, Ward Keeler, one of the most pre-eminent wayang scholars in the West, will present a brief overview of the art form and an introduction to the piece.

This special performance is part of a two-city tour held in Houston and Sante Fe, N.M. It is presented by Asia Society Texas Center, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, Directorate General of Marketing for the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and Rice University.

Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis; registration is strongly suggested.

For more information or to register, call 713-439-0051, ext. 0.