In partnership with the City of Torrance, The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation’s mission is to enrich the community through the performing arts by providing diverse cultural, educational and entertainment experiences of the highest quality.
OUR VISION
The vision of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation is to connect our community through culturally enriching experiences.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF TOCA AND THE ARTS IN THE SOUTH BAY
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation would like to acknowledge that the Armstrong Theatre is located on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Tongva people in the Swaanga Village. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the Tongva community, their elders both past and present, as well those of future generations. www.tongvapeople.com
Welcome to Our 2025–2026 Season
Welcome to a brand-new season with the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation! I’m honored to step into the role of Board President as we continue TOCA’s proud tradition of celebrating the arts in all their beautiful diversity.
For over three decades, TOCA has been a cornerstone of creativity and connection in the South Bay. That legacy continues today because of the passion and dedication of our community—our artists, audiences, partners, donors, and volunteers. Together, we make it possible to bring inspiring, thought-provoking, and joy-filled performances to our stages.
At TOCA, we believe the arts are for everyone. Whether it’s your first time in the theater or you’ve been with us since the beginning, we invite you to explore this season’s lineup and find something that speaks to you. From laugh-out-loud comedy to moving musical performances and cultural celebrations, there’s truly something for every taste.
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support. I hope you’ll consider deepening your connection with TOCA—subscribe to our season, become a donor, or lend your time as a volunteer. However you choose to engage, know that you are a vital part of our mission.
I look forward to seeing you at the theater—and to all the unforgettable moments we’ll share this season.
Warmly,
Camilla Seferian President, Board of Directors
Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
Welcome to the 2025/2026 season at the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation!
As we turn the page from our milestone 30th year and look ahead, I’m filled with gratitude—not only for where we’ve been, but for where we’re going. Each season is a new opportunity to bring people together, spark meaningful conversations, and celebrate the incredible power of live performance.
At TOCA, we’re not just curating a season—we’re creating space for discovery, connection, and joy. Whether it’s world-class music, laughout-loud comedy, soul-stirring theater, or family programming that ignites young imaginations, our goal remains the same: to offer something memorable for everyone who walks through our doors.
I continue to be inspired by the artists we work with, the team behind the scenes, and especially you— our audience, donors, and community partners—who make it all possible. Your enthusiasm and support are what keeps TOCA vibrant and thriving.
Please explore this brochure and find the shows that speak to you. And as always, if there’s anything we can do to make your experience better, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@TorranceArts.org.
Let’s make this season one to remember. See you at the theatre!
Chris Wolf Executive Director
Assisted listening devices available. Ask the House Manager or usher for assistance.
Message from the Artistic Directors
Welcome, and thank you for joining us today for Synergy.
As the artistic director of UnitOne, I am excited to welcome you to this unique celebration of rhythm and community. Today, we embark on an ambitious journey that is very close to my heart, a collaboration with our good friends from across the Atlantic, the phenomenal Tsuchigumo Daiko from Scotland.
Synergy brings back the main motif from UnitOne’s previous show Shiki to explore the four seasons - starting with Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring - through the universal language of taiko. The elements and emotions associated with each season have inspired us, and we used the seasons as a framework to tell a cohesive story with both group’s repertoire. Just as the seasons transition and blend into one another, so too do the rhythms of our two ensembles merge, creating a powerful synergy that transcends geography.
We invite you to immerse yourselves in this rhythmic landscape. Feel the intensity of summer, reflective beauty of autumn, stark silence of winter, and the vibrant energy of spring. Today, UnitOne and Tsuchigumo Daiko are more than just two groups; we are two halves of a whole, united by sound and purpose.
With warmest regards, Young Kang
Artistic Director, UnitOne
Art & Design
Fáilte a chairde!
It is with immense excitement and gratitude that we welcome you to Synergy, a unique collaboration born of friendship, shared dedication, and a mutual love for the art of Taiko.
To call this moment a dream come true is no exaggeration. We feel deeply honoured to share the stage with our incredibly talented friends in UnitOne. This production also marks Tsuchigumo’s first full-length theatrical show in the US.
Bringing Synergy to life has been a challenging journey, but through it all, the bonds and camaraderie between—and within—the groups have grown stronger than ever. We hope that tonight, you feel the same excitement, connection, and joy that have inspired us throughout this process.
Synergy explores the changing seasons, not merely as natural cycles, but as sources of emotion, thought, and reflection. As the seasons pass, we wither, grow, and blossom together, with each group bringing its own unique compositional style to interpret the particular moods and energies each season evokes.
We sincerely hope you enjoy the show.
With very best wishes,
Martin Doyle
Artistic Director
Tsuchigumo Daiko
SYNERGY Program Notes
Summer – Aki Imai
Summer is based on childhood memories of summertime in Japan - its intense heat, struggles, discomfort, and yet a moment to wipe the sweat and catch the breath in the shade, only to press on and face the heat once more.
Sasaki – Martin Doyle
A young, confident warrior watches as swallows dive and slice gracefully through the sky. In their movement, he envisions the perfect technique: the Tsubame Gaeshi—a deadly, unstoppable reverse stroke. To prove its ultimate effectiveness, he resolves to test his skill against a legendary adversary.
Katsugi – Martin Doyle
Autumn – Young Kang
You are on a train ride — through a golden field of rice swaying in the Autumn wind. You fall asleep, and suddenly wake up, startled, in an unfamiliar place. Run - don’t walk.
Heritage - Kate Manzor
I wrote Heritage a number of years ago with the intention of blending musical devices together that are typical of Scottish and Japanese music. I wanted the music to be a nod to my own background and culture, blended with my growing understanding of and love for Japanese music.
Go Rin No Sho – Martin Doyle
Inspired by The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, this piece uses Godai—the fiveelement philosophy—as a central thematic device, with many sections composed in groups of five. Each movement is named after one of the five elements: Void, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. As the piece progresses, the boundaries between the elements begin to blur, becoming increasingly intertwined.
Winter – Masa Miyano
A journey through stillness and struggle, Winter represents life’s loneliness and the fragile sparks of hope that endure within it.
Rudimental Schism – Martin Doyle
The sensation of overlapping, intrusive thoughts can, at times, threaten to overwhelm and drown us. Just when clarity seems within reach, disconnection sets in. We lose focus—and with it, we lose heart. But a fragmented, unsettled mind is not a broken one. From inner chaos emerges a spark of purpose—an opportunity to heal through the alignment of mind, body, and spirit. A newfound confidence takes root, fuelling our determination to succeed and overcome.
Spring – Yuta Sumiyoshi of Kodo
Songbirds emerge with caution and mark the end of Winter. Their songs are hopeful yet lamenting — as if to say Spring, too, will end.
Cross the Streams – Martin Doyle
This piece was inspired by that unforgettable line from the 1984 film Ghostbusters: “Don’t cross the streams!” Just like in the movie, there’s a thrill in not knowing what might happen when things collide. Rhythms, voices, and patterns crisscross in unexpected ways, sometimes playful, sometimes risky, always with a sense of mischief.
Get to the Chappa – Martin Doyle
A light-hearted and playful composition, featuring three performers on Chappa hand cymbals. The piece is based around rhythmic interplay and spirited, humorous exchanges, whilst exploring the full range and character of these vibrant instruments.
Soko Bayashi – Seiichi Tanaka of San Francisco Taiko Dojo
Ode to the Japanese immigrant pioneers who helped build San Francisco. It is a gift back to those who inspired and persevered.
Tatsumaki – Martin Doyle
This was the very first piece composed for Tsuchigumo, completed just two weeks before our debut performance. It quickly became our signature work—a bold declaration of who we are as a group. The music conjures the rising tension of a storm: the wind whipping up, doors and windows rattling, dark clouds gathering on the horizon. Pulses of thunder echo as an ominous shape emerges. Charged with raw energy and power, the whirlwind draws closer…
Yodan Uchi – Sukeroku Daiko, arranged by Yuta Kato
Signature piece of Sukeroku Daiko featuring dynamic choreography, intricate movements, and exciting solos that celebrate individuality while maintaining focus on moving as one.
Summer Reprise – Aki Imai, Young Kang
UnitOne’s signature piece. It is a medley of the seasons gone by - like a gathering of old friends to celebrate the memories.
