Story Boldly’s Defining Courage
An Immersive Live Event
Defining Courage commemorates the struggles and sacrifices of the Nisei soldiers of World War II through vivid cinematography, stirring live music, eyewitness interviews, and deft storytelling. Serving in segregated units, these Americans of Japanese ancestry were among the war’s most decorated soldiers, unsung heroes fighting for the US while many of their families were held in incarceration camps back at home. The production is a creation of Story Boldly, a nonprofit initiative devoted to journalistic storytelling founded by Emmy Award-winning creators David Ono (an anchor on KABC-TV in Los Angeles) and television producer Jeff MacIntyre. Ono has described the project as a work of historic reclamation: “They’re truly some of America’s greatest heroes, some of the toughest guys we’ve ever created. To learn about these guys and learn about their adversity and how they overcame it…[I was shocked at] how they just kind of faded back into the background, never to be adored, never to be thanked or congratulated.”
Lead support for this performance is provided by The Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation.
This performance is made possible in part by an anonymous patron sponsor.
This event is part of Cal Performances’ Illuminations: “Fractured History” programming for the 2024–25 season.
Story Boldly’s Defining Courage
An Immersive Live Event
There is a $15 per order service charge on single ticket purchases that partially underwrites the cost of our ticketing platform, credit card processing, Ticket Office staffing, and ticket delivery. To avoid this fee, tickets can be purchased in person at our Ticket Office during our regular office hours. Note: there is a $20 service charge for all subscription orders.
Illuminations Related Event
Story Boldly’s Defining Courage
Post-performance Panel: The Legacy of Nisei Soldiers, Storytelling, and the Fight for Justice
Fri, Apr 4
Immediately following the performance
Zellerbach Hall
Free for ticket holders
During World War II, while their families were unjustly incarcerated in US incarceration camps, thousands of young Japanese American men (“Nisei soldiers”) served in the US military, demonstrating extraordinary bravery in battle. Yet their contributions have long been overlooked, their history fractured by racism, wartime hysteria, and erasure.
This post-performance panel, moderated by Michael Omi, professor emeritus of UC Berkeley’s Department of Ethnic Studies, brings together David Ono, creator of Defining Courage; Philip Kan Gotanda, playwright and director of Both Eyes Open, and professor of UC Berkeley’s Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies; Don Tamaki, attorney and advocate for Japanese American reparations; and Jovan Scott Lewis, professor and chair of UC Berkeley’s Department of Geography. Together, the panel will discuss how different forms of storytelling, including performance, journalism, and legal advocacy, can correct this historical record and bring greater awareness to untold or misrepresented histories.
Discussion will include such questions as: How can artistic and journalistic storytelling make their history resonate with new generations? What lessons can be drawn from the Japanese American redress movement for broader reparations efforts? And, in an era of shifting media and political landscapes, what are the ongoing challenges in fighting for justice and recognition?
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on how fractured histories can be reclaimed and brought to the forefront of public consciousness.
Video
Beyond the Stage Related Posts
Story Boldly’s Defining Courage
An Immersive Live Event
* There is a service fee per order (not per ticket) for purchasing tickets online: $20 per order for subscription orders and $15 per order for all other ticket purchases. This fee helps to underwrite the cost of providing services online and by phone, as well as programs needed for digital order delivery. To avoid this fee, tickets can be purchased in person at our Ticket Office during our regular office hours.