English Noh: Blue Moon Over Memphis

Theatre Nohgaku presents Blue Moon Over Memphis, an English-language Noh performance featuring the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, as part of the performing arts festival Autumn Meteorite 2026 Tokyo.

What to expect

Based on a play by American playwright Deborah Brevoort, Blue Moon Over Memphis follows Judy, an Elvis Presley fan who visits the King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s grave on the anniversary of his death. Guided by the light of a blue moon, she encounters her idol in ghostly form.

Brevoort’s original play drew on elements of Noh, and the Theatre Nohgaku production brings things full circle, highlighting the dreamlike nature of Noh, which often depicts encounters between the living and the dead.

The production combines key elements of traditional Noh — music, chorus, dance, and storytelling — with blues and gospel and an (almost certainly world-first) Elvis Noh mask. The result honors and extends the Noh tradition while conveying its universality, depth, and enduring appeal.

Schedule

Performances are scheduled for October 10 at 6:00 p.m. and October 11 at 2:00 p.m.

The October 11 performance will feature Japanese closed captions for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. Reservations are required to use this service; the reservation page and barrier-free subtitles are in Japanese only.

Also on October 11, a post-Performance Talk featuring Richard Emmert (composer and music director), John Oglevee (co-director and cast member), and Toshiki Okada (Artistic Director, Performing Arts Festival: Autumn Meteorite Tokyo) will take place.

Tickets

Tickets come in a few different categories:

Adult tickets

• S Reserve: ¥6,000
• A Reserve: ¥4,500

A 10% discount is available to persons with disabilities.

Under 29 tickets

• U29 (S Reserve): ¥3,500
• U29 (A Reserve): ¥2,500

For those under 18, S Reserve and A Reserve tickets are ¥1,000.

Tickets are available now via this link.

How to get there

The performances take place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Playhouse), which is a 2-minute walk from the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station on the JR, Tokyo Metro, Tobu Tojo, and Seibu Ikebukuro lines. There is a direct connection to the theater from Exit 2b.