Larry Reed (puppeteer) explained

Larry Reed
Birth Name:Larry Reed
Birth Date:21 June 1944
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California
Alma Mater:Yale University (1965) San Francisco Art Institute (MFA.,1971)
Boards:ShadowLight Productions

Larry Reed (born June 21, 1944) is an American shadow puppeteer. Reed is one of the first westerners to train in traditional Balinese shadow theatre and is considered a Dalang, or shadow master. He first began studying in San Francisco Art Institute before moving to study in Bali in the 1970s.

Biography

Early life

Larry Reed was born on June 21, 1944 in Los Angeles, California. He studied French Theater at Yale University in 1965. He was a Theater Director for Costa Rica University and Nation Theaters in 1966 before getting his Master of Fine Arts at San Francisco Art Institute. In the 1970s, Reed traveled to Bali to learn and was instructed to study the music first. He travelled back to San Francisco and joined the American Association for Eastern Arts, now known as the Center for World Music. The American Association for Eastern Arts was founded in 1963 in San Francisco by Samuel and Luise Scripps with Balasaraswati and Ali Akbar Khan as its first two artist-teachers.[1]

ShadowLight Productions

In 1972, Reed founded ShadowLight Productions. The goal of starting this company was to expose the general public to shadow theatre. Reed began expanding his works and integrating traditional shadow theatre techniques with modern theater and style to better connect with an American audience. Live animation films were produced using shadows and performed behind 15’ x 30’ screens. Each show had puppets, actors, and cutouts illuminated by multiple light sources to create effects live on stage. In the 1990s, Reed invented an ingenious way of casting shadows. It integrated techniques from cinema, modern theatre and dance. He invented a mask that allowed the performers to see their own shadow. In the century old tradition, shows done by shadow masters were often done alone using an open flame as a light source. ShadowLight Productions had a crew of actors with live music played by musicians.[2] [3]

Major works

Shadow Master (1979)

Shadow Master is a documentary directed by Reed that has been shown on both PBS and the Discovery Channel. It is about a family of performers in Bali. It shows an inside view of Balinese life which includes cultural context on theater, music, and dance on the island. The film takes course over two years with Reed living and studying with a dalang, I Wayan Wija, and his extended family.[4]

In Xanadu (1993–1997)

In Xanadu is a Mongolian fantasy written by Zara Housbmand and Reed. The fantasy is about Kubilai Khan and his wife, Chabui, who were inseparable partners. The film includes techniques from Tibetan, Chinese, and Indonesian theater techniques. In Xanadu was featured at the 1997 Henson International Festival of Puppetry in New York City and the Spoleto/USA Festival in Charleston, SC. The film was awarded UNIMA-USA Citation for Excellence, puppetry's highest award.[5] [6] [7]

The Wild Party (1995–1996)

The Wild Party is shadow theater work by Reed, based on the poem by Joseph Moncure March written in 1926.It includes jazz music from Bruce Forman. The poem is about two vaudeville performers, Queenie and Burt, who lead an edgy and decadent life. They throw a party for their friend which leads to an evening with alcohol, drugs, and sex. The film uses firm terminology with modern shadow techniques from the ancient Asian art form.[8]

Mayadanawa (1996)

This is the first ShadowLight giant screen shadow production by Reed, Jaime Kibben, and Nyoman Catra. Created in Bali, musicians, dancers, and shadow casters from the village of Pengosekan, Ubud, performed in the 1996 Walter Spies Festival. The film tells a tale of a powerful demon, Mayadanawa, who demands Balinese people to only worship him. Because he creates havoc among the people, they appeal to Indra, king of all gods, to chase him away.[4]

Ambrosia of Immortality (1998)

Ambrosia of Immortality or Thirtha Amertha is from the Mahabharata, the great Hindu myth cycle interpreted by Reed and renowned Balinese puppeteer, Wayan Wija. the story is about Hindu culture, about a story of the gods’ coming of age and gaining immortality and rising above the world of demons. The gods have it all and are at war against the demons who want it back. Together they churn the Milky Ocean to create the elixir of immortality but struggle on who gets possession of the powerful ambrosia of immortality.[9]

Coyote's Journey (2000–2001)

Coyote's Journey is a traditional Native California Karuk tale told through shadow theatre. The performance uses both Karuk and English story telling. It features a Karuk elder, “Red Hawk” Thom, a hereditary ceremonial leader, spiritual teacher, and storyteller. The show shows Coyote's adventure and his initiation into the ways of the world.[10]

7 Visions (2002)

7 Visions is written by Octavio Solis, an award-winning playwright and directed by Reed. It explores the roots of Latino heritage and celebrates the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. It has music from Richard Marriot, performed by Cascada de Flores, and is designed by Victor Cartagena. On a mission called Dolores, a man named Encarnacion is confronted by his future self, an irreverent skeleton, or calaca which leads Encarnacion on a vision quest of self-discovery.[11]

Monkey King At Spider Cave (2006–2007)

Monkey King at Spider Cave, directed by Reed and Chia-yin Cheng, is performed by both American and Taiwanese artists. Monkey King at Spider Cave is inspired by, Journey of the West, published in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty. Journey to the West is very popular in operas and cartoons throughout Asia. In this film, a Buddhist High Priest and his animal disciples go on a quest to bring Buddhist Scriptures to China. They are endangered by mythical demons and monsters such as the demonic spider women and an evil alchemist.[12] [13]

Filmography

TitleYearRole
Conquest of Mexico1986Original Shadow Theatre Works
Dream Shadows[14] 1991Original Shadow Theatre Works
The Wild Party1995Original Shadow Theatre Works
Sidha Karya1995Original Shadow Theatre Works
Mayadanawa1996Original Shadow Theatre Works
In Xanadu[15] 1997Original Shadow Theatre Works
Wayang Listrik[16] 1998Original Shadow Theatre Works
Coyote's Journey2000Original Shadow Theatre Works
Kawit Legong[17] 2001Original Shadow Theatre Works
7 Visions2002Original Shadow Theatre Works
A (Balinese) Tempest[18] 2005Original Shadow Theatre Works
Ghosts of the River[19] 2009Original Shadow Theatre Works
The Good-for-Nothing Lover[20] 2010Original Shadow Theatre Works
Poro Oyna: Legend of Ainu Rakkur[21] 2012Original Shadow Theatre Works
Poro Oyna: The Myth of the Aynu2014Original Shadow Theatre Works
In Visible Light Cinna: The Clemency of Augustus[22] 2017Original Shadow Theatre Works
Shadows for Carlos Villa[23] 2020Original Shadow Theatre Works
Drupadi[24] 2020Original Shadow Theatre Works
Shadows for Carlos Villa2020Co-director
Dewi Sri[25] 2019Director
The Dark Light[26] 2019Director
In Visible Light[27] [28] 2017Director
The Science Fiction Project 1&2[29] 2016Director Shadow Sequences
Feathers of Fire[30] 2015Collaborator
Finding KUKAN2015Director Shadow Sequences
Butterfly Lovers2014Director
Bandung Project2013Director
Jana and Baladoor[31] 2012Director Shadow Sequences
Magic Flute[32] 2011Director Shadow Sequences
Silk Road[33] 2007Director Shadow Sequences
We are All In this Together2007Consultant
Ethnic Dance Festival[34] 2007Director Shadow Sequences
Ain’t Necessarily So[35] 2001Shadow Effects Design
Whale1999Shadow Effects Design
Power of Saturn1999Shadow Effects Design
Blood Wine, Blood Wedding[36] 1997Shadow Effects Design
Ramayana 2007Consultant
The Tempest[37] 1996Shadow Effects Design
Bima's Journey[38] 1994Director
Pan1992Shadow Effects Design
MahabharAnta1992Shadow Effects Design
Orfeo[39] 1990Shadow Design
Body Cak1990Projection Design
A (Balinese) Tempest2020Producer, director
Ghosts of the River2013Producer, director
Kawit Legong2012Producer
On Wayang[40] 2011Producer, director
Monkey King at Spider Cave[41] 2009Producer, director, Original Shadow Theatre Works
Mayadanawa2007Producer, director
Explorations of the Shadow World2006Producer, director
Shadow Master1982Producer, director

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Reunion Celebrates World Music Anniversaries By GRAEME VANDERSTOEL Special to the Planet. Category: Features from The Berkeley Daily Planet. www.berkeleydailyplanet.com.
  2. Web site: About. ShadowLight Productions.
  3. Behind the Scenes at a Shadow Theater. October 27, 1998. Christian Science Monitor.
  4. http://www.aems.illinois.edu/downloads/Fall2009.pdf
  5. Web site: 45 Years of Citations. UNIMA-USA.
  6. Web site: In Xanadu. ShadowLight Productions.
  7. Web site: In Xanadu. Dennis. Harvey. November 14, 1994.
  8. Web site: The Wild Party. Dennis. Harvey. August 7, 1995.
  9. Book: The ambrosia of immortality. June 2, 2006. 123365291.
  10. Web site: Tales from Native California: Coyote's Journey. Dennis. Harvey. January 2, 2001.
  11. Web site: Latino history dances, frolics in '7 Visions' / Dia de los Muertos shadow play at Brava. Robert. Hurwitt. October 29, 2002. SFGATE.
  12. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/577ec80b3e00bed0c80a8abe/t/5797e2749f74561c99d0f899/1469571701106/Monkey+KingSFBayTimes+copy.pdf
  13. Web site: Monkey King At Spider Cave. ShadowLight Productions.
  14. Web site: Evolution of a Shadow Master. UNIMA-USA.
  15. Web site: In Xanadu. 14 November 1994.
  16. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/577ec80b3e00bed0c80a8abe/t/5797e85fd482e9ef487ac664/1469573215625/guardianWL.jpg
  17. Web site: Spreading moral messages in modern-day 'wayang'. The Jakarta Post.
  18. Web site: A (Balinese) Tempest . 2008 . Playbill . University of Hawaii . 10125/57901 . en.
  19. Web site: Ghosts of the River: Out of the Shadows. 11 July 2014.
  20. Web site: 2012-05-06. Shadowlight Productions Begins Collaboration with FIINDING KUKAN | Finding KUKAN. 2021-07-26. en-US.
  21. Web site: In light and shadow.
  22. https://sfbapg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/May-2017-Newsletter.pdf
  23. https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/05/Carlos-Villa-Teacher-Packet_reduced.pdf
  24. Web site: Drupadi. ShadowLight Productions. 14 March 2020 .
  25. Web site: Kisah Larry Reed, Sutradara dan Seniman Asal Amerika yang Jatuh Cinta Pada Wayang. 19 November 2019.
  26. Web site: The Dark Light. 2021-07-26. 飛人集社劇團 Flying Group Theatre. en-US.
  27. Web site: In Visible Light.
  28. Web site: San Francisco International Arts Festival.
  29. Web site: Science Fiction Project: Installment 1 + 2.
  30. Web site: Feathers of Fire | A Persian Epic Shadow Play For All Ages. Kingorama.
  31. Web site: AROUND AND ABOUT THEATER: Iranian Playwright & Director Bahram Bazai, St. Marks Playreading, A Folkie Bard On Disk .... Category: Arts & Events from The Berkeley Daily Planet. www.berkeleydailyplanet.com.
  32. Web site: 2018-10-01. THE MAGIC FLUTE. 2021-07-26. STEPHEN MILLS. en-US.
  33. Web site: Take a stroll down the Silk Road in Taipei - Taipei Times. 16 March 2007.
  34. Web site: Original Works.
  35. Web site: Larry Reed. 12 July 2016.
  36. Web site: Blood Wedding.
  37. Web site: The Tempest at American Conservatory Theater Geary Theater 1996. www.abouttheartists.com.
  38. Web site: National Gallery - Search the Collection. searchthecollection.nga.gov.au.
  39. Web site: OPERA REVIEW : Music Center Borrows a Jumbled 'Orfeo'. Los Angeles Times. 5 October 1990.
  40. Web site: On wayang: My life with shadows. 2011.
  41. Web site: Monkey King at Spider Cave = Xi you ji. 2009.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Larry Reed (puppeteer)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.