Naomi Iizuka

Quick Facts

Full Name	Naomi Iizuka
Occupation	Playwright
Date Of Birth	Apr 22, 1965(1965-04-22)
Age	59
Birthplace	Tokyo
Country	Japan
Horoscope	Aries

Naomi Iizuka Biography

Naomi Iizuka is one of the most popular and richest Playwright who was born on April 22, 1965 in Tokyo, Japan. Naomi Iizuka, born April 22, 1965, is a playwright. Iizuka’s work often has a non-linear storyline, and is influenced by her multicultural heritage.

Iizuka’s classical literature background inspires her to ‘fuse of classical styles with forms to modern and contemporary voices. Evident in her adaptation of Hamlet Hamlet: Blood on the Brain (2006), Johns Hopkins University Press describes her work as reinforcing ‘a sense that the play’s archetypal quality could be adapted to fit a society lacking resonance with either ancient Scandinavia or Elizabethan London….non-academic spectators could accept that classics illuminate modern society.’ The play, set in Oakland in 1980s, is about a young man who escapes prison to find his father dead and his uncle taking over his mother’s house. The play examines anger and violence in modern times through the history of Oakland, CA. It draws strong parallels with Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Good Kids was produced at the University of Michigan (October 2–12, 2014), University of Iowa (February 8–15, 2015), Indiana University (February 6–14, 2015), University or Wisconsin Madison (February 27-March 8, 2015), University of Maryland (February 27-March 7, 2015), Purdue University (April 10–12, 15-18, 22-26, 2015), Penn State University, Ohio State University (October 27, 2014), and has scheduled productions at many other schools outside the Big Ten.

In her 2001 play 36 Views, Iizuka considers the truth and authenticity of what she sees. The title refers Japanese artist Hokusai’s Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji, a nineteenth-century work. While some scenes were set in modern America, others were set in Japan hundreds of years ago. One New York Times critic points out that Ms. Iizuka’s most well-known ideas are that human desires persistently obscure truth. It is difficult to determine what’s real. The play centers on the unanticipated discovery of a Japanese 11-century pillow book and the struggle for reality to be constructed in the face of uncertainty about its authenticity and origin. John Bell and Darius Wheeler discover that their assumptions are being challenged throughout the play. They also come across revelations which contradict their prior assumptions.

Naomi Iizuka Net Worth

Naomi Iizuka is one of the richest Playwright from Japan. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Naomi Iizuka 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Iizuka was educated at the National Cathedral School. She received her BA in classical literature in 1987 from Yale University, and then spent one year at Yale Law School before receiving her MFA (playwriting) from University of California, San Diego in 1993. She taught playwriting at the University of Iowa, Texas, Austin and was a professor of dramatic arts at UC Santa Barbara. In January 2008, she became the director of the playwriting program at UCSD.

Iizuka’s Polaroid Stories (1997), a modern interpretation of the Greek myths of Eurydice/Orpheus, is Iizuka’s Polaroid Stories. Iizuka combines classical literature with contemporary life, making Minneapolis street children the main characters in the play. Prostitutes, drug dealers, and homeless share their stories. These stories create a sense of reality about the urban landscape they seek refuge in. Iizuka’s work demonstrates that storytelling is powerful no matter what time period.

Iizuka was commissioned to write Good Kids by the Big Ten Theatre Consortium. The initiative is meant to support women playwrights and increase the number of roles for women on stage. Iizuka says, ‘I wanted to write a play that spoke to issues that were very important to university students right now. Having taught at a number of schools as a guest artist, and now teaching at University of California–San Diego, it seems like the issue of sexual assault—and more importantly, the attitudes and misconceptions that create a climate where sexual assault is prevalent—seemed timely.’ As part of the Big Ten initiative, universities are performing Good Kids to tackle the issue of sexual assault on campus. Good Kids is about a drunk high school girl who is raped by a group of football players after a high school party. The play focuses on the rumors and social aftermath. The natural question arises: who is to blame? ‘I think the question that the play asks is how can this happen?” Iizuka says. ‘If we take it as a starting point that college campuses are not filled with sociopathic predators: What is it that creates a situation where this happens?’ Through the process of creating Good Kids, Izuka collaborated with college students and solicited their input toward the issue of sexual assault and how campuses should prevent and respond to this crime. ‘It’s something that they very much want to talk about, and do something about,’ she says. ‘There’s an enormous energy around the issue of sexual assault and what to do on campus. You don’t solve a problem like sexual assault with anything other than a deep shift in attitude, and a deep shift in attitude happens conversation by conversation, in dorm rooms, parties and rehearsal halls.’

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Naomi Iizuka height Not available right now. Naomi weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Naomi Iizuka Dating?

According to our records, Naomi Iizuka is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Naomi Iizuka’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Naomi Iizuka. You may help us to build the dating records for Naomi Iizuka!

Facts & Trivia

Naomi Ranked on the list of most popular Playwright. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Japan. Naomi Iizuka celebrates birthday on April 22 of every year.

How many plays Naomi Iizuka written?

NAOMI IIZUKA’s plays include 36 VIEWS, POLAROID STORIES, ANON(YMOUS), LANGUAGE OF ANGELS, ALOHA, SAY THE PRETTY GIRLS, TATTOO GIRL, SKIN, AT THE VANISHING POINT, CONCERNING STRANGE DEVICES FROM THE DISTANT WEST, LAST FIREFLY, CITIZEN 13559, and WAR OF THE WORLDS (a collaboration with Anne Bogart and SITI Company.)

Who is Naomi Lizuka?

lizuka is an alumna of New Dramatists and the recipient of a PEN/Laura Pels Award, an Alpert Award, a Joyce Foundation Award, a Whiting Writers’ Award, a Stavis Award from the National Theatre Conference, a PEN Center USA West Award for Drama, a Hodder Fellowship, and was Berlind Playwright-in-Residence at Princeton …

Where was Naomi Iizuka born?

Tokyo, Japan