Dance Theater Workshop, NYC
New World Theater, Amherst, MA

Blood Cherries is a solo theater piece woven from text, Butoh dance, music and intense visual imagery, written and performed by Dawn Akemi Saito. In Blood Cherries a young woman goes on a fantastical journey into memory, growing up as the daughter of two traditional Japanese parents. Saito transforms herself throughout—into her charismatic father, her long suffering mother, her French husband, even a wild horse fracturing in frustration and despair—all in an effort to understand her father's spirit and find her place in a world without him. In one of the most dramatic and haunting throughlines of the piece she embodies her Japanese grandmother during the bombing of her village during World War II.

"Sabrina's ability as a director is astoundingly multi-faceted. In realizing original work that involves many complex layers of interdisciplinary elements, not only does she have a razor-like focus to sculpt out dramaturgically a clear narrative journey with text, but she is able to stage and weave acting, choreography, music and visual elements together with an exquisite and impeccable sensibility." —Dawn Akemi Saito, writer/performer

DIRECTED bY Sabrina Peck and Jonathan Rosenberg | DRAMATURGY by Roberta Uno | MUSIC/SOUND DESIGN by David Van Tieghem | VISUAL DESIGN/SLIDES by Eva Mantell | COSTUME DESIGN by Donna Zakowska | LIGHTING DESIGN by Phil Sandstrom