Kentucky Packet - Jazz by X

Themes of the play

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 14:22:04 UTC

Identity

Religion

Coming home

Redemption

Death

Disconnection and Reconnection

Reconciliation

Finding the best version of yourself

Chosen family

"My Old Kentucky Home"

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The opening song

Demographics of Kentucky

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86.9% White

8.7% Black

4.3% Hispanic or Latino

2.3% Two or more races

1.8% Asian

Playwright's Website

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 14:32:43 UTC

-from Kamakura, Japan, and Lexington, Kentucky

-mother is Japanese, father is white

-MFA from Brooklyn College

Lexington, Kentucky

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Pg 24

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Nicole: Isn’t it sad how friendship fades? Isn’t it sad how all of a sudden you wake up in the morning and you don’t feel proud of who you are? Isn’t it sad how life becomes more difficult and you don’t know why.

Pg 34

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 18:17:01 UTC

Hiro: The stitched-up wound in my heart inflicted by my childhood gaping open and leaking blood. Red blood.

Pg 37

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Adam: I should have been nicer. Worked harder. Took better care of my hair I hope it doesn’t thin like my father’s will Gee I hope my belly doesn’t swell. Darn. I hope, I hope. I hope I hope I hope I won’t have to spend so many more nights alone listening to Jewel and Joni Mitchell while staring at the stars up above and wishing and wishing and wishing for love!

Pg 41

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Adam: Death has taught me that the world isn’t something you shrink from.

Pg 47

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Earnest: Ephesians 4:31. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Pg 49

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 18:26:33 UTC

Grandma: You’ve never tasted no failure. Until you know in your heart that you—yourself—is the damn decaying root that bore the rotten fruit.

Pg 54

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Larry: You’re holding on to so many deep dark places in your past. Maybe it’s time to let it go.

Pg 59

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Masako: My eyes are wide open Hiro. It’s yours that are closed. Don’t you see that family is family? And blood is blood? You can’t escape it.

Pg 64

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 18:34:50 UTC

Sophie: I saw my reflection in the stained-glass windows of the church and realized I was small but felt strong. And all of a sudden, the pieces of my smashed-up heart began to rearrange themselves. And I rebuilt myself. And the struggle that I lived through, that we lived through, the anger I held on to diminished into the light that is peace. And forgiveness.

Pg 56-57

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 18:36:02 UTC

Hiro: I saw my reflection in the windows of those buildings you’re scared of and realized I was small but felt strong. And learned to stand tall. And all of a sudden the pieces of my smashed-up heart began to rearrange themselves. And I rebuilt myself on the concrete. And the struggle that I lived through—the anger I held on to diminished into the noise of the city.

Pg 67

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 18:38:14 UTC

Laura: But I can’t help but think... Where did my life go? But I always thought...if I could find somebody. Somebody that loves me... Why doesn’t anyone love me?

Pg 68

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 18:40:15 UTC

Hiro: It saddens me to talk to you. That’s why I never do. But I see myself in you. It’s like I recognize your pain. I feel like I’ll carry it with me forever...I’m scared I will be with someone I won’t know how to love just like you don’t know how to love Mom. Or me. Or Sophie. But I look at you, and I know you love us. And that’s the worst part because it makes me unable to truly hate you.

Pg 72

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 18:43:21 UTC

Hiro: The important thing is that I want to be. And I know in my heart that I cannot be the best version of myself in Kentucky.

Interview with Winkler 1

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 19:07:02 UTC

-has worked a million day jobs, but writing is always the #1 priority

-always been spiritual possibly because of exposure to Shintoism

-want to show: more nuance in religious people, Kentucky is more than racist white guys or cowboys

-believes that putting BIPOC actors in universal experiences is a political act without being didactic

Interview with Winkler 2

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 19:15:42 UTC

-the ritual of a wedding is similar to the ritual of theatre, both bringing unlikely people together

-personal life becomes the story and the characters

-large cast: representation of her Kentucky, rich in diversity, music, and art

-wanted to see a hapa as hero

Hiro's journey, or hero's journey?

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 19:18:54 UTC

New Yorker: The playwright Leah Nanako Winkler has created a sort of millennial Odyssey, chronicling the rustic homecoming of a New York City transplant.

World Premier

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 19:24:38 UTC

Directed by Morgan Gould

Kamakura, Japan

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"Hapa": part Asian or Pacific Islander

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Order of Service

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Processional, Presentation, Moment of Silence, Homily, Prayer, Exchanging of Vows, Unity Ceremony, Exchanging of Rings, Pronouncement, Recessional

Bible verses about marriage

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 19:47:44 UTC

1 Corinthians 13:13

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

"Born Again Christian"

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 19:55:29 UTC

If you're a 5C student...maybe take this class?

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 19:58:22 UTC

Journal of Christian thought at the 5Cs

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 20:02:09 UTC

hearhere is a community that aims to create a platform for diverse Christian perspectives on issues of faith, culture, and society.

Understanding Childhood Trauma

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 20:05:19 UTC

Definition, Impact, How to Help

Bible verses about redemption

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 23:09:09 UTC

Kentucky Accent

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Visitng Kamakura

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Sequel to Kentucky that stands alone: God Said This

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More serious, naturalistic

Dives into Masako and James' stories

Is blood thicker than water?

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 23:28:52 UTC

In Christianity, no. To Jesus, his family members by faith are closer to Him than those related to him by blood. He defines family as those who are doing the will of God.

Can a family still love each other despite religious differences?

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 23:34:54 UTC

Yes. In Winker's words, this is a family that doesn't know what to do with each other. They care deeply about one another, but that doesn't excuse all the violence and aggression. Hiro has the privilege of having a therapist, but her family doesn't. If they did, the therapist would most likely suggest that they go to family therapy together instead of trying to face the unknown on their own.

What is the power of forgiveness?

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 23:40:39 UTC

The play could've easily gone to really dark places if Da'ran's family didn't prioritize forgiveness in moments of tension. It's not because they're some sort of heavenly creatures without feelings; rather, they chose to forgive because God forgave everyone in the first place. And what a beautiful thing that is.

How does one's upbringing inform their attachment style and coping mechanism?

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 23:46:52 UTC

For Hiro, the turbulent relationship between her parents inevitably led to distrust in long-term relationships and marriage. By inference, Sophie had probably been there, too, before she turned to Christianity and met Da'ran. It's evident that both sisters have deeply rooted rage, trauma, and insecurity; because of Masako, they also inherited her big heart, resilience, and sarcasm.

Day of rehearsal dinner

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-11 23:51:25 UTC

Scene 6-12

Day before returning to Kentucky

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Scene 1

First day back in Kentucky

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Scene 2-5

Wedding day

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Scene 13-17

Day after wedding

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Scene 18

Attachment Styles

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Secure: Da'ran

Anxious: Adam

Avoidance: Sophie

Disorganized: James

Theater MU

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-12 00:04:35 UTC

The importance of gratitude, respect, strength, vulnerability, communication, diversity, and a sense of play

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-12 00:06:38 UTC

Where Y'all Really From?

jazzxiangyi — 2023-12-12 00:13:36 UTC

"It's all about just telling stories about our lives, the intersections of our identities."