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By Allison M. Sutton, Jonas Yela, Carol Berthold, Nolan Vallier, and Somya Behave
Collection Overview
Title: Shozo Sato Papers, ca. 1930-2023
ID: 12/12/21
Primary Creator: Sato, Shozo (1933-)
Extent: 23.55 cubic feet
Arrangement:
The materials are arranged in four series: Series 1) Kabuki and Noh Theater Production Records, Series, 1969-2010; 2) Japanese Traditional Arts, 1964-2023; Series 3) Personal Papers and Photographs, 1930-2018; and Series 4) Publications, Drafts, and Awards, 1969-2010.
Series 1 is arranged by title of production and chronologically therein. It contains 18 subseries, which chronicle Sato's engagement with Kabuki.
Series 2 is arranged in four sub-series: Sub-series 1) Photo Albums and Scrapbooks, Sub-series 2) Caligraphy, Sub-series 3) Japan House, and Sub-series 4) Audio-visual Recordings. Sub-series 1 and 3 are arranged chronologically. Sub-series 4 follow the original order of the materials. Note Sub-series 2 is currently inaccessible and unavailable for research.
Series 3 is arranged chronologically by material type.
Series 4 is arranged into two sub-series: Sub-series 1) Publications and Drafts and Sub-series 2) Awards. Sub-series 1 is arranged alphabetically by title of publication and Sub-series 2 is arranged chronologically by award.
Date Acquired: 03/28/2008. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Art Education, Dance, Dance Education, Faculty, Faculty Papers, Fine and Applied Arts, College of, Illinois Theatre, Japan - History and Geography, Kabuki, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Music -- Japan, Theatre, Theatre Department
Formats/Genres: Librettos
Languages: Japanese, English, German
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of scrapbooks, correspondence, notes, scripts, playbills, news releases, lectures and demonstrations, promotional posters, awards, and honors, relating to Krannert Center for Performing Arts; Ikebana; Japanese tea ceremony; the creation, design, and construction of Japan House (1979-2005, 2017); Kabuki productions of Achilles, Medea, Iago's Plot, Othello, Macbeth, Madame Butterfly, and others; as well as press coverage, materials, and photographic documentation of workshops in the US, Japan, and Europe. Of particular note are Sato's scrapbooks of Kabuki productions, which include photographs, concert programs, and correspondence about each of the productions.
Biographical Note
Shozo Sato (1933-) was born in Kobe, Japan on May 18, 1933. The son of Takami Sato, he and his brother Tomoyaso were raised by his father's sisters, Hatsuko and Shizuno Sato, after his father accepted a military position managing a hospital in China during WWII. Sato's life in Japan during WWII had a profound impact on his artistic goals. After the war, he pursued a degree in Fine Arts from the Bunka Gakuen College in Tokyo, trained in Tea Ceremonies under Kishimoto Kosen, studied music at the Tokyo Seisen School, and enrolled at the Toho Academy of Performing Arts in Tokyo, where he studied with the master Kabuki artist, Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII.
Sato came to the University of Illinois as a visiting artist in 1964. He became an artist in resident for the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in 1969, offering courses and workshops in traditional Japanese arts including calligraphy, Sumi-e, Ikebana, Kabuki, and Tea Ceremony. He is best recognized for his adaptations of traditional western theatre, Macbeth, Medea, Othello, Faust, Achilles, Madame Butterfly and, The Mikado, in the style of Kabuki productions beginning in 1978.
In 1979 he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor of Art and eventually became a full professor. His work as a Kabuki dancer at the University of Illinois was officially recognized by the Nakamura family in 1985, when he was adopted into the Kabuki family and given the name Nakamura Kanzo IV.
Sato founded the Japan House at the University of Illinois in 1979. A center for traditional Japanese arts, the Japan House features tea rooms, a tea garden, and a rock garden. The gardens were expanded throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Nick Offerman--an American actor and student of Shozo Sato while attending the the University of Illinois, assisted in the design and construction of a pergola near the Japan House in 2017.
After retiring from the University in 1992, Sato continued to develop workshops on traditional Japanese arts in the United States and abroad from a second Japan House established in Northern California. His Kabuki play Iago's Plot, which was developed during a residency at Towson State University from 1994-1995, was performed in Baltimore, Cairo, and Weimar.
Sato is the author of The Art of Arranging Flowers: A Complete Guide (1968) and The Art of Sumi-E: Appreciation, Techniques, and Application (1984). Sato is a past recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award in Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award, the Hollywood Drama Guild Award, South Africa's Vita Award, and the Baltimore Sun Award for directing and design. In 1992, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs honored him with the Certificate of Commendation for promoting Japanese culture globally and in 2004 he was awarded The Order of the Sacred Treasure with Rosette by the Emperor of Japan.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
Additions accquired January 24, 2012; June 19 and 26, July 17 and 31, and August 7, 2024. A small addition came from the Literature and Languages Library on May 1, 2025.
Acquisition Source:
Shozo Sato
Acquisition Method:
gift
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Kabuki and Noh Theatre Production Records, 1934-2017],
[
Series 2: Japanese Traditional Arts, 1964-2023],
[
Series 3: Personal Papers and Photographs, 1930-2018],
[
Series 4: Publications, Drafts, and Awards, 1969-2010],
[
All]
- Series 1: Kabuki and Noh Theatre Production Records, 1934-2017
- Consists of scripts, drafts, production notes, programs, press and news clippings, photographs and scrapbooks related to Sato's adaptations of plays for Kabuki and Noh style theatre performances. These are arranged by production and chronologically within.
- Sub-Series 1: Naru Kami and Tsuchigumo, 1970-2014
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Naru Kami: The Dragon Hermit and the Princess - Photos, ca. 1970s
- Photo from production at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Photos from preparation and performance of the play. See Box 9, Folder 1 for more materials from 1970.
- Folder 2: Narukami: The Dragon Hermit and the Princess - Program, 1972
- Program from KCPA Playhouse production, Oct. 12-14. 1972.
- Folder 3: Naru Kami: The Dragon Hermit and the Princess - Photos, Program, Script, 1972-1973
- Includes: publicity and script and production notes in Japanese and English.
- Folder 4: Naru Kami: The Dragon Hermit and the Princess - Program, Script, 1972-1973
- Folder 5: Naru Kami: The ragon Hermit and the Princess - Photo, undated
- Folder 6: Tsuchigumo: The Monstrous Spider - Script, Producion Notes, Programs, News Clippings, 1971-1977
- Folder 7: Tsuchigumo: The Monstrous Spider - Photos, Scripts, Production Notes, Program, 1971-1981
- Folder 8: Tsuchigumo: The Monstrous Spider - Niles North High School, Correspondence, 2001-2004
- Materials related to the production contained withIn notebook.
- Folder 9: Tsuchigumo: The Monstrous Spider - Damine Kabuki Troupe: Correspondence, 2014
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Tsuchigumo Photo Album, 1970
- Sub-Series 2: Mikado, 1934-1988
- Box 1
- Folder 10: Mikado - Vocal Score for Second Soprano, 1934
- Folder 11: Mikado - Lake George Opera Festival Program, 1978
- Folder 12: Mikado - Reviews, Clippings, 1978
- Folder 13: Mikado - Program, Publicity, Review, 1984
- Folder 14: Mikado - Notated Score, undated
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Mikado Scrapbook, 1978-1988
- Sub-Series 3: Macbeth, 1981-2005
- Box 1
- Folder 15: Macbeth - Program, Reviews, Script, 1981-1982
- Folder 16: Macbeth - Jefferson Award, News Clippings, 1982
- Folder 17: Macbeth - Programs, Production Notes, News Clippings, Photo, 1981-1988
- Folder 18: Macbeth - Various Productions: Correspondence, Reviews, Costume Lists, Production Notes, Script, 1985-1988
- Folder 19: Macbeth - Acting Company: Correspondence, Costs, Costumes, Lists of Characters, 1986-1987
- Folder 20: Macbeth - Script, 1988
- Folder 21: Macbeth - KCPA Silver Jubilee: Program, Message from Sato, Scrip, Concept Meeting Notes, Correspondence, Article, 1993-1994
- Folder 22: Macbeth - Script Draft, 1996-1997
- Folder 23: Macbeth - Virginia Commonwealth University: Costume List, Poster, undated
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Macbeth - Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: Correspondence, Publicity, 2004-2005
- Box 6
- Folder 2: Kabuki Macbeth Scrapbook, 1988
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 2: Kabuki Macbeth Poster, 1978
- Original Krannert Poster and Proof. Signed.
- Sub-Series 4: Madame Butterfly, 1975-1997
- Box 1
- Folder 24: Madame Butterfly - Lake George Opera Festival: Program, Photos, 1975
- Folder 25: Madame Butterfly - Posters, 1975
- Folder 26: Madame Butterfly - Lake George Festival: Program, 1980
- Folder 27: Madame Butterfly - Lake George: Reviews, 1980
- Folder 28: Madame Butterfly - Nashville Symphony Performance: Review, 1981
- Folder 29: Madame Butterflu - Programs, Correspondence, Reviews, 1981-1984
- Folder 30: Madame Butterfly - News Clippings, 1982
- Folder 31: Madame Butterfly - Charlotte, NC: Correspondence, Reviews, 1982-1983
- Folder 32: Madame Butterfly - Program, Correspondence, 1983-1997
- Folder 33: Madame Butterfly - Anchorage Opera: Review, Correspondence, 1984
- Folder 34: Madame Butterfly - Anchorage: Review, 1984
- Folder 35: Madame Butterfly - KCPA: Photos, 1996
- Folder 36: Madame Butterfly - Deutsches National Theatre: Correspondence, Travel Arrangements, Diagrams, 1996-1997
- Box 5
- Folder 2: Madame Butterfly - Deutschen National Theater: Comminication, Travel Info., 1996-1997
- Box 6
- Folder 3: Madama Butterfly Scrapbook, 1975-1984
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 5: Madame Butterfly Poster, 1979
- Signed and numbered 275/300.
- Sub-Series 5: Medea, 1978-2000
- Box 1
- Folder 37: Medea - KCPA: Music and Scripts for Parts, Program, 1978
- Folder 38: Medea - Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Reviews, Articles, 1983-1984
- Folder 39: Medea - Photos, Negatives, Contact Sheet, 1983-1984
- Folder 40: Medea - Chicago: Reviews, 1983
- Folder 41: Medea - Krannert Center: Newspaper Articles, 1983
- Folder 42: Medea - San Francisco Area: News Clippings and Articles, 1984
- Folder 43: Medea - Berkeley: Publicity, Reviews, 1984
- Folder 44: Medea - Chicago: Program, News Clippings, 1984
- Folder 45: Medea - Jefferson Awards: Program for Awards, Clippings, 1984
- Folder 46: Medea - Script, 1984
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Medea - Script, 1984
- Folder 2: Medea - News Clippings, 1984-1989
- Folder 3: Medea - Script, Dialogue Only: Bill Streib and Lou Anne Wright, 1984-1985
- Folder 4: Medea - Cleveland and Witchita: Programs, Publicity, Reviews, 1984-1991
- Folder 5: Medea - Playbills, 1985-1993
- Folder 6: Medea - Cleveland: Program, Publicity, Reviews
- Folder 7: Medea - Publicity, Reviews, 1985
- Folder 8: Medea - Script of Cherubini's Opera, ca. 1990
- Folder 9: Medea - List of Performances, Notes, Correspondence, Script, Reviews, 1989-1993
- Folder 10: Medea - Memphis: Press Release, Program, News Articles, 1989
- Folder 11: Medea - Natal Performing Arts Center: Correspondence, History of Kabuki and Performance, 1990-1994
- Folder 12: Medea - Publicity, Correspondence, 1990
- Folder 13: Medea - Univ. of South Dakota: Correspondence, Program, Director's Notes, 1992-1997
- Folder 14: Medea - Prgram, Publicity, Reviews, Photos, 1993-2000
- Folder 15: Medea - Photos, undated
- Folder 16: Medea - Production Notes, undated
- Box 6
- Folder 4: Kabuki Madea Vol. 1, 1983-1991
- Box 7
- Folder 1: Kabuki Medea Vol. 2, 1984-1986
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 11: Kabuki Medea Poster, 1986
- Berkley Repertoire Theater.
- Sub-Series 6: Faust, 1984-1986
- Box 2
- Folder 17: Faust - Photos, Contact Sheets, 1984-1985
- Folder 18: Faust - Draft of Script, Program, 1986
- Folder 19: Faust - Krannert Center for Performing Arts (1 of 3): Photos, 1986
- Folder 20: Faust - Krannert Center for Performing Arts (2 of 3): Photos, 1986
- Folder 21: Faust - Krannert Center for Performing Arts (3 of 3): Photos, 1986
- Box 7
- Folder 2: Kabuki Faust Scrapbook, 1985-1986
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 3: Faust Poster, 1986
- Original Krannert Poster and Proof. Signed.
- Sub-Series 7: Othello, 1986-2006
- Box 2
- Folder 22: Othello - Chicago: Publicity, Reviews, 1986-1987
- Folder 23: Othello - Production Notes, Script, Program, News Clippings, 1986-2006
- Folder 24: Othello - Malvern, PA and Philadelphia: Program, Publicity, Reviews, News Clippings, 1986
- Folder 25: Othello - Krannert Center and Bowling Green, OH: Programs, News Clippongs, 1988
- Folder 26: Othello - Illinois State University: Script, Correspondence, Reviews, Publicity, 2006
- Box 8
- Item 1: Kabuki Othello Costumes, Undated
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 8: Othello Poser, 1986-1988
- Signed by the cast.
- Sub-Series 8: Achilles, 1990-1991
- Box 2
- Folder 27: Achilles - In Development, 1990-1991
- Folder 28: Achilles - Drafts of Scripts, Articles About, 1990-1991
- Folder 29: Achilles - European and Other Tours: Articles (1 of 3), 1990-1991
- Folder 30: Achilles - European and Other Tours: Correspondence (2 of 3), 1990-1991
- Folder 31: Achilles - European Tour: Peter Carnahan's Trip Diary (3 of 3), 1990-1991
- Peter Carnahan was a student.
- Folder 32: Achilles - Japan Tour: Correspondence, Publicity, Brochure, 1990-1991
- Folder 33: Achilles - Program, 1990-1991
- Folder 34: Achilles - Publicity, Reviews, 1990-1991
- Folder 35: Achilles - Scripts, Photo, 1990
- Folder 36: Achilles - Student Papers, Cast, 1990
- Folder 37: Achilles - News Clippings, 1991
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Achilles - Originals for Achilles Booklet, 1991
- Folder 2: Achilles - KCPA Staff List, Notated Script, Diagrams, 1991
- Folder 3: Achilles - Production Credits, undated
- Box 5
- Folder 3: Achilles - KCPA Tryon Festival Theatre: Poster, Articles, Reviews, 1991
- Box 7
- Folder 3: Achilles: A Kabuki Play Scrapbook, 1991
- Box 8
- Item 2: Record of Illinois Kabuki's Japan Performance, 1991
- Item 3: Japan Tour Photo Album, 1991
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 10: Achilles: A Kabuki Play, Poster, 1991
- Sub-Series 9: Iago's Plot, 1988-2017
- Box 3
- Folder 4: Iago's Plot - Cairo International Festival: Correspondence, 1988-1995
- Folder 5: Iago's Plot - Cairo International Festival of Arts: Programs, Publicity, 1994
- Folder 6: Iago's Plot - Concepts for Experimental Theatre Curriculum, 1994-1995
- Folder 7: Iago's Plot - Towson University: Publicity, Correspondence, News Clippings, 1994-1996
- Folder 8: Iago's Plot - Script, Schedule and Correspondence, 1995-1997
- Folder 9: Iago's Plot - Revised Performance Draft, 1995
- Folder 10: Iago's Plot - Krannert Center: Correspondence, News Clippings, Slides, Publicity, 1996-1997
- Folder 11: Iago's Plot - Deutsches National Theater: Programs, Publicity, Reviews, 1996-1997
- Folder 12: Iago's Plot - Deutsches National Theater: Program, Publicity, Director's Notes, 1996-1997
- Folder 13: Iago's Plot - Reviews, News Clippings, Director's Notes, Publiciy, Program, 1997
- Folder 14: Iago's Plot - George Mason University: Correspondence, Reviews, 1997-1998
- Folder 15: Iago's Plot - News Clippings, 1998
- Folder 16: Iago's Plot - Niles North High School: Newspaper Clippings, 2002
- Folder 17: Iago's Plot - Deutsches National Theater: German Language Script, undated
- Folder 18: Iago's Plot - Sketches for Costumes, undated
- Box 5
- Folder 4: Iago's Plot - Papers About, Reviews, Correspondence, 1995
- Folder 5: Iago's Plot - KCPA: Photos and CDs, 2017
- Folder 6: Iago's Plot - Proposed Schedule for Graduate Class, 2016-2017
- Sub-Series 10: For Love, 1997-1999
- Box 3
- Folder 19: For Love - Towson University: Program, Ticket, Notes, Conceptual Outline, Script, 1997-1999
- Folder 20: For Love - Correspondence, Audition Information, Production Notes, ca. 1999
- Folder 21: For Love - Towson Univ. (1 of 2): Script, Cast Contact Sheet, Rehearsal Schedule, 1999
- Folder 22: For Love - Towson Univ. (2 of 2): Production Company Contact List, Stage Diagrams, Notated Script, Drawings of Characters, 1999
- Folder 23: For Love - Director's Notes, Conceptual Outline, Script, undated
- Box 5
- Folder 7: For Love - Draft of Script, 1995-1998
- Sub-Series 11: Lady Macbeth, 2005-2012
- Box 3
- Folder 24: Lady Macbeth - Publicity, Reviews, Correspondence, 2005-2006
- Folder 25: Lady Macbeth - Program, Playbill, Posters, 2005
- Folder 26: Lady Macbeth - KCPA: Correspondence, Program, Diagrams, Production Schedules, 2011-2012
- Folder 27: Lady Macbeth - KCPA: Photos, 2012
- Sub-Series 12: Noh Productions, 1970-2004
- Box 3
- Folder 28: Earth Spider - Noh: Art Institute of Chicago - Clippings, Floor Plans, 2004
- Folder 29: Ibaragi (The Demon and the Brave Warrior) - Production Notes, Program, ca. 1970
- Folder 30: Ibaragi (The Brave Warrior and the Demon) - Production Notes, Newspaper Clippings
- Folder 31: Noh Kyogen (Castle of Beard - One Trowser for Two) - Production Notes, ca. 1970
- Folder 32: Noh Cycle - Medea: Correspondence, 1977-1984
- Folder 33: Migawari Zazen (The Substitute) - Photographs, Programs, Scripts, 1966-1981
- Folder 34: Migawari Zazen (Zen Subsitute) - Adapted for Kaguki: Photos, Proofs, Negatives, Publicity, ca. 1981
- Folder 35: Migawari Zazen (The Substitute) - Program, Script, 1981
- Folder 36: Migawari Zazen (Zen Substitute) - Script Adapted for Kabuki, 1981
- Folder 37: Migawari Zazen (Zen Substitute) - Reviews, 1989
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Shun Kan (The Exiled Monk) - Libretto, 1964
- Folder 2: Shun Kan (The Exiled Monk) - Correpondence, Program, Script, 1975-1978
- Folder 3: Shun Kan (The Exiled Monk) - Script, Production Notes, Programs, Publicity, Poster, 1976-1979
- Folder 4: Shun Kan (The Exiled Monk) - Photographs, 1979
- Folder 5: Kiyotsune - Production Notes, undated
- Folder 6: Magic Fishing Pole, The - Production Notes, undated
- Sub-Series 13: Actor's Revenge, 1982-1984
- Box 4
- Folder 7: Actor's Revenge - Review, Script, Correspondence, Notes, 1982-1984
- Folder 8: Actor's Revenge - Production Notes, Reviews, Publicity, Script, Correspondence, 1983-1984
- Folder 9: Actor's Revenge - Festival Theatre Design, Interview, Review, 1984
- Folder 10: Actor's Revenge - Photographs, Negatives, Contact Sheets, undated
- Sub-Series 14: Dedication Ceremony and Special Performances at KCPA, 1969-1974
- Box 4
- Folder 11: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts - Opening of Krannert, 4/20/1969
- Box 5
- Folder 8: Kabuki Demonstration, KCPA - Review, Photographs, 1/26/1974
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 4: Illinois Kabuki at Krannert, undated
- Signed and numbered 42/50.
- Sub-Series 15: Destiny of Love, 2005
- Box 4
- Folder 12: Destiny of Love - Ideas for Script of a New Kabuk Production, 2005
- Sub-Series 16: Damine Kabuki, 2012-2014
- Box 4
- Folder 13: Damine Kabuki - Program, 2012
- Box 5
- Folder 9: Damine Children's Song Kaikai Nani 77 - Casting Draft, Newsletters, School List, Correspondence, 1999-2014
- Sub-Series 17: Ideas for Kabuki Performance, undated
- Box 4
- Folder 14: Yashima - Draft of a Story, undated
- Sub-Series 18: Multiple Kabuki, 1992
- Box 4
- Folder 15: Kabuki Dance - A Celebration at KCPA, Program, Sato Biography, 1992
- Oversize Portfolio Case 1
- Item 6: Exiled Monk Poster, undated
- Proof 19. Signed.
- Item 7: The Monstrous Spider and the Substitute Poster, 1981
- Artists Proof.
- Item 9: For The Arts Poster, 1985
- Signed.
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Kabuki and Noh Theatre Production Records, 1934-2017],
[
Series 2: Japanese Traditional Arts, 1964-2023],
[
Series 3: Personal Papers and Photographs, 1930-2018],
[
Series 4: Publications, Drafts, and Awards, 1969-2010],
[
All]
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