Nick Ishimaru (he/him), Director & Musician: Nick Ishimaru is a co-founder of San Francisco-based Kunoichi Productions. Prior to working with Kunoichi, he served as the Artistic Director of Theatre of Yugen from 2016 to 2020. He holds a BA in Performing Arts from Colorado State University, where he directed a kabuki adaptation of Macbeth, a Masters in Drama from San Francisco State University, and did additional doctorate work at the University of Hawaii. He has trained in noh and kyōgen for over 10 years with San Francisco’s Theatre of Yugen, Theatre Nohgaku, and the Kita school noh master Oshima Teruhisa in Tokyo. Ishimaru has also studied kabuki, jingju (Beijing Opera), and nihon buyo (traditional Japanese dance). He has led master classes on various performing arts topics for all levels from elementary school through university, and has presented work at conferences and university lectures both in the Bay Area and internationally.

Ishimaru has directed many productions including The Red Demon, A Noh Christmas Carol, Seen/By Everyone, The True Tale of Princess Kaguya, Fun Home, Never Mind, and Anything Goes. He has performed in A Noh Christmas Carol, Puppets and Poe, The True Tale of Princess Kaguya, Bellini’s Norma, Carmen, Mame, and dozens of English language kyōgen, among others.

Joseph Alvarado (he/him/his), as The Men: Joseph Alvarado is honored to be among the phenomenally talented cast and production team of A Noh Christmas Carol, his first production with Theatre of Yugen. He is a second generation son of Filipino immigrants; a Manong Generation father and a post-WWII 1950’s ‘war bride’ mother. Before receiving his not-so-golden handshake, he played the role of ‘worker’ for a gigantic financial services firm while moonlighting on stages throughout the bay area. Most recently, he appeared as ‘Atung’ in The Chinese Lady (Pear Theatre). And among his most cherished experiences are playing ‘Jack’ in Aunt Jack (New Conservatory Theatre Center), ‘Chin’ in Flower Drum Song (Palo Alto Players) and ‘Bobby’ in Company (City College of San Francisco). When not on stage, he enjoys swimming laps, traveling, [over-]eating, and pondering the art of Swedish Death Cleaning. He was born, raised and is still living in San Francisco and shares his home with his 18-year old cat, Malcolm.

Meryn MacDougall, as Ghosts of Christmas Past and Yet To Come: Meryn MacDougall is a Bay Area artist. Meryn works in Theatre and Film as an actor, director, and fight director. She has had the joy of working with Theatre of Yugen for the last 6 years. She would like to thank Lluís Valls and the Yugen Community for all the wonderful opportunities and training they have provided. One of her independent film projects, UN/FILTERED, was featured at film festivals in the spring of 2024.

Ryan Marchand, as Sukurooji Ebezo: Ryan Marchand began performing with Theater of Yugen in 2009. A Los Angeles native, he moved to the Bay Area to attend San Francisco State University, where he first trained in Noh and Kyogen. As a theater maker, he has worked with a variety of companies including Crowded Fire, Shotgun Players, African American Shakespeare Company, Bindelstiff Studios, Kunoichi Productions, and Playwright’s Foundation. Ryan is the current Director of San Francisco Opera’s Department of Diversity, Equity and Community.

Eiko Moon-Yamamoto, as The Women: NOH CHRISTMAS CAROL is Eiko Moon-Yamamoto’s debut with Theatre of Yugen! Eiko is a multi-hyphenate performing and visual artist, born in Tokyo with roots in Seoul and Honolulu.

Regional credits: CYMBELINE at San Francisco Shakespeare Festival; Emily Whitman in FOLLIES, CLUE, Sugar (u/s) in TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS at San Francisco Playhouse; M’Lynn Eatenton in STEEL MAGNOLIAS at SierraRep; Pacifica, the fairy in SLEEPING BEAUTY Panto at The Presidio Theatre; Hua Mulan in DISENCHANTED! at San Jose Playhouse. Other selected roles include: Afong Moy in THE CHINESE LADY at The Pear Theatre, Meiko in EUREKA DAY at Spreckels Theatre, Jack’s Mother in INTO THE WOODS at Mountain Play, and Sarom in the world premiere of DOWNTOWN CROSSING at Company One in Boston. She is committed to championing historically excluded voices in the American theatre canon and has developed new works with Playwrights Foundation, PlayOn Shakespeare, Z Space, The Ground Floor at BerkeleyRep, FaultLine Theater, Dragon Productions, and Company One. Upcoming: PACIFIC OVERTURES at Kunoichi Productions, THE TRUER HISTORY OF THE CHAN FAMILY by Eugenie Chan, a vaudeville musical film release, 2025. Graduate of UCLA and CCA. SAG-AFTRA. www.eikoyamamoto.com | @eikoyh

Kate Patrick, Mashima Jakubei and the Ghost of Christmas Present: Currently based in San Francisco, Kate Patrick has been an ensemble member with Theatre of Yugen since 2019. Most recently she has appeared as the Crab Spirit in Kani Yamabushi, the Master in Busu, and Corvino in last year's adaptation of Volpone, Act I and II. Next Spring, she is excited to reprise her role for Volpone, as well as design and build special costume pieces for this production. She has also done costume work for various local theaters including San Francisco Opera, Actors Ensemble of Berkeley and New Conservatory Theatre Center. Previous experience in traditional Japanese theater includes her role as the second Yamabushi in University of Hawai’i, Mānoa’s 2016 production of a new kyogen play, Futari Yamabushi, and a 2017-18 Fulbright Research Grant to study traditional ji-kabuki costumes and practices under Sachie Oguri at the Museum Nakasendou and Aioi-za Theater in Mizunami, Japan. While there she performed in two kabuki classics, Sodehagi Saimon as Hachiman Taro Yoshiie, and Fuji Musume. Kate has an MFA in Costume Design from University of Hawai’i, Mānoa.