Solo Fest 2024 Spotlight: Miyoko Sakatani
The PlayGround Solo Performance Festival is PlayGround’s annual celebration of the best in California solo performance. Now going on its seventh year, this year’s Solo Fest runs January 26-February 10, 2024, with eight double-bill performances over three weeks in-person at Potrero Stage and simulcast.
Today’s spotlight: Miyoko Sakatani in I’ll Look Up As I Walk, 2/9 & 2/10 at 7pm
Miyoko created this show to pay homage to her Japanese immigrant mother’s life of hardship, poverty, many losses and the WWII internment camp. This is also a story of a mother and daughter relationship. Miyoko shares what it was like growing up Japanese in America and the challenges of having a Buddhist immigrant mother who could not speak English. Her story follows her difficult relationship and a long estrangement that eventually led to a reconciliation where she and her mother traveled to Japan together. It was her mother’s first time back in 55 years and Miyoko’s first time meeting her grandmother.
MIYOKO SAKATANI, she/her, is a SAG-AFTRA-e actor, singer, writer, producer and a proud company member of PlayGround. Miyoko has performed on many Bay Area regional and community theatre stages over many years, including writing and performing her solo piece. Film credits include the award winning Samuel Goldwyn film “East Side Sushi” (IMDb.com/Miyoko Sakatani). As founding director of Playland Productions, Miyoko has produced and co-directed several short films and stage plays. She is also a member of an all Asian ukulele band who performs regularly and gratuitously for residential care facilities. Deepest love and gratitude to Richard, Shanti and dearest friends.
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH THE ARTIST
What was the seed of this play? What inspired you to write it?
A tribute to my mother’s hard life and my own personal journey as a Japanese American caught between the two worlds of my Japanese cultural traditions and my American lifestyle and identity.
Why is a solo show the ideal way to tell this story?
Because it’s a personal autobiographical journey.
What are your artistic influences for this show?
Watching some great artists performing solo shows and the impact it had on my life and on me as an actor.
What surprised you during the creation of this piece?
The many memories and anecdotes I would recollect about my life experiences and how it shaped who I am today.
Is there anything audiences should know about you or your piece before they attend?
This is an autobiographical play detailing my mothers immigration and family internment and my complicated relationship with my Japanese Buddhist mother and my Japanese roots.
PlayGround SoloFest 2024 features Steve Budd, Geoffrey Grier, Bethany Mitchell, Miyoko Sakatani, Sonia Sawkar, Nicole Soul, Jill Young, and Hector Zavala, performed live at Potrero Stage and simulcast online. Online registrants can view the on-demand recording for up to one week following the live performance. Admission is free (donations gratefully accepted) and advance reservations are required. NOTE: For in-person attendance, masks are voluntary (PlayGround will provide masks for those who don’t have them). Online viewing is available through https://tickets.playground-sf.org (after reserving ticket, log in, go to main menu at “home”, select “tickets for upcoming performances”, find your show, and click “watch”). For box office questions, including streaming/on-demand access, email boxoffice@playground-sf.org.