Free tickets about “The Rashomon Effect” to Students at Local High Schools and Colleges

“The Rashomon Effect”

Complimentary Tickets to Support Students

in their Potential Career Choices –

What They may Discover Through Theatre

The Project:

Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS) would like to offer high school and college-age students the experience of “The Rashomon Effect” – the phenomenon of perception and truth and understanding the general unreliability of eyewitnesses. The Effect is named after Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 acclaimed Japanese film — Rashomon —  the stage version will be presented as CATS’ 2026 spring play at the Nevada Theatre from April 23 to May 16, 2026.  It centers around the demise of a samurai whose death is described in four contradictory ways. “The Rashomon Effect” has been used as a storytelling method in which an event is given contradictory interpretations by the individuals involved, thereby providing different perspectives and points of view of the same incident.  The term is used to describe how different witnesses are able to produce incompatible, yet plausible, accounts of the same event.

As students in high school and college ponder a possible career in the criminal justice system, law enforcement, or psychology, an introduction to the phenomenon of “The Rashomon Effect” offers a “glimpse” that explores reality and truth. They will learn that nothing is really as black or white as it appears.  Subjectivity fuels what must ultimately be objective in the real world.

This theme will be explored in CATS’ 2026 play by Fay Kanin and Michael Kanin, based on stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and directed by Sonny Alforque. “The Rashomon Effect” is known in professions like criminal law, psychology, sociology, education, and public policy.  For those students who may be considering a profession in these and other related areas, CATS would like to expose them to the complexities of human perception through this play.

The play will be beautifully and exquisitely executed by our team of directors, designers, fight consultants, taiko musicians, and dramaturgs.  Our director has been creating the various scenes to tell the “four contradictory stories.”  Our dramaturgs have been hard at work, providing research, context, and support to the production’s team and being authentic to the time period of medieval Japan. They work with the director and designers to ensure that the show is historically and culturally accurate.  Our sound designer has been working with our taiko musicians to create melodic and powerful “percussions.” The costuming and hair and makeup designs will be authentic to the 12^th century Heian period of Kyoto, Japan.  The set designer is creating “rain” on stage.  Our fight choreographers are working with the actors on physicality and Japanese-style sword fighting. These – and much more —  await!

Using live theatre as an artform to “illustrate a point” and produce teaching moments is powerful.  We hope the play will add an element to the students’ process in exploring a potential career choice.

The Opportunity:

Through a generous grant from Community Players Trust (CPT), CATS is able to offer 80 students complimentary tickets to the show.  Sign-up is first-come, first-served.  As this play is recommended for ages 14 and up, CATS will only be reaching out to local high schools (Nevada Union, Bear River, SAEL, Ghidotti Early College, and North Point Academy), Sierra College, and regional UC Davis (where our local students also attend).  They will be asked to submit a paragraph to CATS afterwards, summarizing their experience of the play and their impression of “The Rashomon Effect.”  That feedback will be included in CATS’ Final Report to the funder, Community Players Trust.

To Reserve a Complimentary Ticket:

To be eligible, students should be at least in the 8^th grade in high school and through the senior year in college.  Choose a performance.  Contact Jeannie Wood, Executive Director of CATS, at info@catsweb.org, or call 530-263-6457.  Tickets will be held for you at the door.  Box office opens one hour before curtain.  Your reservation will be confirmed by email and a telephone call. Because your ticket will be funded by CPT, we are going the extra mile to ensure attendance.

Choose one:  Dates and Times of Shows:

Thursday, April 23, 7:00 pm	Friday, April 24, 7:00 pm	Sunday, April 26, 2:00 pm
Friday, May 1, 7:00 pm	Saturday, May 2, 7:00 pm	Sunday, May 3, 2:00 pm
Friday, May 8, 7:00 pm	Saturday, May 9, 7:00 pm	Sunday, May 10, 2:00 pm
Thursday, May 14, 7:00 pm	Friday, May 15, 7:00 pm	Saturday, May 16, 2:00 pm

 

Conclusion:

CATS enters its 32^nd year in 2026 serving the community with diversity in the arts and cultural enrichment.  We thank Community Players Trust for the opportunity to serve with multicultural theatre, especially to our young adult students, in particular, to learn about “The Rashomon Effect” through our spring play, Rashomon.  It will be entertaining, educational, and inspirational.

We look forward to receiving your reservations!