The Sound of a Voice
Encyclopedia
The Sound of a Voice is a 1983 play by American
playwright
David Henry Hwang
. Hwang's fifth play, it is an original ghost story inspired by Japanese folk stories, films, and Noh
theater. The play was first produced as part of the production Sound and Beauty
on November 6, 1983 Off-Broadway
at the Joseph Papp Public Theater. It was directed by and featured John Lone
.
Composer Philip Glass
and Hwang adapted it for the opera The Sound of a Voice
in 2003. That same year, Susan Hoffman directed a film adaptation entitled Sound of a Voice
adapted by actor-screenwriters Lane Nishikawa
and Natsuko Ohama. The film was developed through the American Film Institute
's Directing Workshop for Women and premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival
on October 4, 2002.
It is published as part of Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays and Between Worlds: Contemporary Asian-American Plays by Theatre Communications Group
and also in an acting edition published by Dramatists Play Service
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang
David Henry Hwang is an American playwright who has risen to prominence as the preeminent Asian American dramatist in the U.S.He was born in Los Angeles, California and was educated at the Yale School of Drama and Stanford University...
. Hwang's fifth play, it is an original ghost story inspired by Japanese folk stories, films, and Noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
theater. The play was first produced as part of the production Sound and Beauty
Sound and Beauty
Sound and Beauty is the omnibus title of two plays by American playwright David Henry Hwang. Hwang's fourth play, The House of Sleeping Beauties, was adapted from Yasunari Kawabata's novella House of the Sleeping Beauties. It tells the story of the narrator of that novella investigating the brothel...
on November 6, 1983 Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
at the Joseph Papp Public Theater. It was directed by and featured John Lone
John Lone
John "Johnny" Lone is a Hong Kong born American actor of Chinese and English descent. Lone has played roles as diverse as a caveman in Iceman , the last Emperor of China in The Last Emperor , and an apparently female opera performer in M. Butterfly .-Personal life:Lone was born as Ng Kwok-leung...
.
Composer Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
and Hwang adapted it for the opera The Sound of a Voice
The Sound of a Voice (opera)
The Sound of a Voice is a 2003 operatic adaptation of the play The Sound of a Voice by American playwright David Henry Hwang. The music is written by composer Philip Glass and the libretto is written by Hwang. The opera is actually made up of two short operas-- The Sound of a Voice and Hotel of...
in 2003. That same year, Susan Hoffman directed a film adaptation entitled Sound of a Voice
Sound of a Voice
Sound of a Voice is a 2002 short film based upon the play The Sound of a Voice by American playwright David Henry Hwang. Susan Hoffman directed the film while participating in the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women 2002....
adapted by actor-screenwriters Lane Nishikawa
Lane Nishikawa
Lane Nishikawa is an American actor, filmmaker, playwright and performance artist. He is Sansei ; and his work often deals with Asian American history and identity issues. He is widely known for a series of one-man shows, including Life in the Fast Lane, I'm on a Mission From Buddha, Mifune and...
and Natsuko Ohama. The film was developed through the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
's Directing Workshop for Women and premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Mill Valley Film Festival
The Mill Valley Film Festival is an annual, non-competitive film festival presented by the California Film Institute. Known as a filmmakers’ festival, the annual Mill Valley Film Festival offers a non-competitive environment for exhibiting independent and world cinema.Founded in 1978 by MVFF...
on October 4, 2002.
It is published as part of Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays and Between Worlds: Contemporary Asian-American Plays by Theatre Communications Group
Theatre Communications Group
Theatre Communications Group is an organization dedicated to the promotion of non-profit professional theatre in the United States. TCG has over 450 member theatres located in 47 states; 17,000 individual members; and a growing number of University, Funder, Business and Trustee Affiliates...
and also in an acting edition published by Dramatists Play Service
Dramatists Play Service
Established in 1936 by members of the Dramatists Guild and the Society for Authors' Representatives, Dramatists Play Service, Inc. is a theatrical publishing and licensing house...
.