Pacific Overtures (1976)
Words & Music: Stephen Sondheim
Book: John Weidman
Additional Material: Hugh Wheeler
Premise: Japan’s forced opening to the West in the mid-19th century is told from a Japanese perspective, tracing how American trade demands disrupted an isolated society, leading to political upheaval, modernization and cultural loss. Through a series of stylized scenes rather than a single hero’s journey, the musical charts the rise and fall of figures caught between tradition and change, asking what progress costs and who gets to define history.
Background: Pacific Overtures was inspired by Weidman’s fascination with how history looks from the “other side.” Drawing loosely on the book Japan by David Reischauer, he and Sondheim chose to dramatize Japan’s opening to the West from a Japanese viewpoint, rejecting Western protagonists and conventional musical-theatre structure. Sondheim responded with a score influenced by Japanese theatrical forms, blending pastiche, percussion and precise, economical lyricism. Hal Prince joined as director, shaping the piece into a stylized pageant that used masks and visual metaphor rather than realism.
Developed through workshops and out-of-town tryouts, the show challenged Broadway norms with its episodic structure and largely Asian cast. It opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1976, and audiences with a mix of admiration, confusion and distance. Many recognised its originality and intellectual ambition, but mainstream Broadway audiences often found it austere and emotionally cool compared with traditional musicals. Its Japanese aesthetic, lack of a central romantic plot, and critical view of “progress” challenged expectations, leading to a respectful rather than enthusiastic box-office response. Critics were divided but serious: some hailed it as groundbreaking and visionary, while others questioned its accessibility. The show closed after a relatively short run, yet quickly gained a reputation as one of Sondheim’s most daring and prescient works, admired more deeply over time than in its initial reception.
Major productions/concert performances/recordings:
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1976 Broadway Production
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1984 Off-Broadway Revival
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2002 New National Theatre, US Productions
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2003 Cincinnati / Atlanta / Boston Production
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2003 Donmar Warehouse Production
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2004 Broadway Revival
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2005 Signature Theatre
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2006 Leicester Haymarket
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2023 Umeda Arts Theatre
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2023 London Revival - Menier Chocolate Factory
Broadway Production (1976)
Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway, New York
Tryout: Shubert Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Previews: 8 November 1975
Opens: 10 November 1975
Closes: 29 November 1975
Tryout: Opera House, Kennedy Center, Washington DC
Opens: 4 December 1975
Closes: 27 December 1975
Winter Garden Theatre, New York
Previews: 31 December 1975 (13 previews)
Opens: 11 January 1976
Closes: 27 June 1976
Performances: 193
Producer: Harold Prince, in association with Ruth Mitchell
Director: Harold Prince
Choreographer: Patricia Birch
Scenic Production Designer: Boris Aronson
Costumes Designer: Florence Klotz
Lighting Designer: Tharon Musser
Kabuki Consultant: Haruki Fujimoto
Makeup and Wigs Designer: Richard Allen
Masks and Dolls: E.J. Taylor
Dance Music: Daniel Troob
Musical Director: Paul Gemignani
Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick
Cast:
Reciter: Mako
Abe, First Councillor: Yuki Shimoda
Manjiro: Sab Shimono
Second Councillor: James Dybas
Shogun’s Mother: Alvin Ing
Third Councillor: Freddy Mao
Kayama: Isao Sato
Tamate, Samurai, Storyteller, Swordsman: Soon-Teck Oh
Samurai: Ernest Abuba, Mark Hsu Syers
Servant: Haruki Fujimoto
Observers: Alvin Ing, Ricardo Tobia
Fisherman: Jae Woo Lee
Merchant: Alvin Ing
Son: Timm Fujii
Grandmother: Conrad Yama
Thief: Mark Hsu Syers
Adams: Ernest Abuba
Williams: Larry Hama
Commodore Perry: Haruki Fujimoto
Shogun’s Wife: Freda Foh Shen
Physician: Ernest Harada
Priests: Timm Fujii, Gedde Watanabe
Soothsayer: Mark Hsu Syers
Sumo Wrestlers: Conrad Yama, Jae Woo Lee
Shogun’s Companion: Patrick Kinser-Lau
Shogun: Mako
Madam: Ernest Harada
Girls: Timm Fujii, Patrick Kinser-Lau, Gedde Watanabe, Leslie Watanabe
Old Man: James Dybas
Boy: Gedde Watanabe
Warrior: Mark Hsu Syers
Imperial Priest: Tom Matsusaka
Nobles: Ernest Abuba, Timm Fujii
American Admiral: Alvin Ing
British Admiral: Ernest Harada
Dutch Admiral: Patrick Kinser-Lau
Russian Admiral: Mark Hsu Syers
French Admiral: James Dybas
Lords of the South: Larry Hama, Jae Woo Lee
Jonathan Goble: Mako
Japanese Merchant: Conrad Yama
Samurai’s Daughter: Freddy Mao
British Sailors: Timm Fujii, Patrick Kinser-Lau, Mark Hsu Syers
Proscenium Servants, Sailors, and Townspeople: Susan Kikuchi, Diane Lam, Kim Miyori, Freda Foh Shen, Kenneth S. Eiland, Timm Fujii, Joey Ginza, Patrick Kinser-Lau, Tony Marinyo, Kevin Maung, Dingo Secretario, Mark Hsu Syers, Ricardo Tobia, Gedde Watanabe, and Leslie Watanabe
Musicians: Fusako Yoshida (Shamisen), Genji Ito (Percussion)
Understudies: Jae Woo Lee (Reciter), Gedde Watanabe (Tamate), Freddy Mao (Storyteller), Ernest Abuba (Swordsman/Abe), Patrick Kinser-Lay (Manjiro), Tom Matsusaka (Kayama), Ricardo Tobia (Second Councillor), Tony Marinyo (Third Councillor).
Musical Numbers:
Act one
Prologue – Orchestra*
"We Float" – Reciter, Company (Boston tryout only, replaced in Washington by "The Advantages...")
"Prayer" – Tamate, Kayama, Abe, Councillors (Boston tryout only, elements incorporated into "Chrysanthemum Tea")
“The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea” – Reciter, Company
“There Is No Other Way” – Tamate, First Observer, Second Observer
“Four Black Dragons” – Fisherman, Thief, Reciter, Company
“Chrysanthemum Tea” – Shogun’s Mother, Shogun, Shogun's Companion, Soothsayer, Priest, Samurai (re-written for Washington)
“Poems” – Kayama, Manjiro
“Welcome to Kanagawa” – Madam, Girls
March to the Treaty House – Orchestra*
“Someone in a Tree” – Old Man, Reciter, Boy, Warrior
Lion Dance – Orchestra*
Act two
“Please Hello” – American Admiral, Abe, British Admiral, Reciter, Dutch Admiral, Russian Admiral, French Admiral
“A Bowler Hat” – Kayama
“Pretty Lady” – Sailors
“Next” – Reciter, Company
* Not included on the Original Cast Recording
Awards
Tony
Best Costume Design (Florence Klotz)
Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson)
Drama Desk
Outstanding Costume Design (Florence Klotz)
Outstanding Set Design (Boris Aronson)
New York Drama Critics' Circle
Best Musical
Recording:
Pacific Overtures - Original Broadway Cast Recording
Producer: Thomas Z. Shepard
Associate album producer: Jay David Saks
Engineer: Anthony Salvatore
Recorded: 18 January 1976 at RCA's Studio A, NYC
Programme notes and synopsis: William H. Evans
Lyrics included
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LP, 1976 [RCA ARL1-1367]
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Cassette, 1976 [RCA ARK1-1367]
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8-track Cartridge, 1976 [RCA ARS1-1367]
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Compact Disc, 1985? [RCA RCD1-4407] (58:26 mins.)
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LP reissue, 1985? [RCA ARL1-4407]
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Cassette reissue, 1985? [RCA ARK1-4407]
Selections:
"The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea" (5:44), "There is No Other Way" (5:14), "Four Black Dragons" (4:22), "Chrysanthemum Tea" (7:15), "Poems" (4:05), "Welcome to Kanagawa" (3:44), "Someone in a Tree" (7:19), "Please Hello" (9:10), "A Bowler Hat" (4:24), "Pretty Lady (2:53), "Next" (3:39)
Off-Broadway Production (1984)
Parish Hall, Church of the Heavenly Rest, 2 East 90th Street, New York
Opens: 27 March 1984
Closes: 14 April 1984
Performances: 20
Producer: York Theater Company
Director: Fran Soeder
Choreographer: Janet Watson
Scenic Production Designer: James Morgan
Costumes Designer: Mark Passerell
Lighting Designer: Mary Jo Dondlinger
Musical Director: James Stenborg
Orchestrator: James Stenborg
Technical Director: Deborah Alix Martin
Production Manager: Molly Grose
Movement Consultant: Ernest Abuba
Fight Choreographer: Khin-Kyaw
Cast:
Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Groble/Emperor Meiji: Ernest Abuba
Abe, First Councillor: Tony Marino
Manjiro: Henry Ravelo
Shogun’s Mother/Fisherman/Imperial Priest: Tom Matsusaka
Kayama: Kevin Gray
Tamate/Samurai/Storyteller/Swordsman/Officer: Kin-Kyaw Maung
Observers: Tim Ewing, John Baray
Merchant/Geisha: Ronald Yamamoto
Thief/Soothsayer/Councillor/Warrior/Russian Admiral/British Sailor: Eric Miji
Commodore Perry/Geisha: John Bantay
Shogun’s Wife/French Admiral: Lester J. N. Mau
Physician/Merchant’s Mother/Noble Merchant: Thomas Ikeda
Sumo Wrestlers: Ronald Yamamoto, Tim Ewing, John Baray
Madam/Councillor: Thomas Ikeda
Old Man/Merchant's Son: John Baray
Boy/Dutch Admiral/British Sailor/Confucian: Francis Jue
Noble/ Merchant’s Wife/Fencing Master’s Daughter/Geisha/Confucian: Allan Tung
American Admiral: John Baray
British Admiral/First Officer/British Sailor: Tim Ewing
Russian Admiral: Eric Miji
Stagehands: Gerri Igarashi, Gayln Kong, Khin-Kyaw Maung, Diane Lam, Jennifer Lam
Musical Numbers:
Act one
“The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea” – Reciter, Company
“There Is No Other Way” – Tamate, First Observer, Second Observer
“Four Black Dragons” – Fisherman, Thief, Reciter, Company
“Chrysanthemum Tea” – Shogun’s Mother, Shogun, Shogun's Companion, Soothsayer, Priest, Samurai (re-written for Washington)
“Poems” – Kayama, Manjiro
“Welcome to Kanagawa” – Madam, Girls
“Someone in a Tree” – Old Man, Reciter, Boy, Warrior
Lion Dance – Orchestra/Commodore Perry
Act two
“Please Hello” – American Admiral, Abe, British Admiral, Reciter, Dutch Admiral, Russian Admiral, French Admiral
“A Bowler Hat” – Kayama
“Pretty Lady” – Sailors
“Next” – Reciter, Company
Off-Broadway Revival (1984)
Promenade Theatre, 2162 Broadway (North of 76th Street), New York
Based on the York Theater Production
Previews: 11 October 1984 (13 previews)
Opens: 25 October 1984
Closes: 27 January 1985
Performances: 109
Director: Fran Soeder
Choreographer: Janet Watson
Scenic Production Designer: James Morgan
Costumes Designer: Mark Passerell
Lighting Designer: Mary Jo Dondlinger
Dance Music: Daniel Troob
Musical Director: Eric Stern
Orchestrator: James Stenborg
Additional Costumes: Eiko Yamaguchi
Cast:
Reciter: Ernest Abuba
Lord Abe: Tony Marino
Shogun’s Mother/British Admiral: Chuck Brown
Kayama: Kevin Gray
Tamate/British Soldier: Timm Fujii
Manjiro/Fisherman/French Admiral: John Caleb
Merchant: Ronald Yamamoto
Thief: Tim Ewing
Commodore Perry: John Bantay
Madam/Russian Admiral: Thomas Ikeda
Old Man/American Admiral: John Baray
Boy/Dutch Admiral/British Soldier: Francis Jue
Warrior/British Soldier: Ray Contreras
Imperial Priest: Tom Matsusaka
Fencing Master’s Daughter: Allan Tung
Proscenium Servants: Gerri Igarashi, Gayln Kong, Diane Lam, Christine Toy
Musical Numbers:
Manchester Production (1986)
Forum Theatre, Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK
European Premiere
Previews: 29 April 1986
Opens: 30 April 1986
Closes: 24 May 1986
Producer: Manchester City Council Cultural Services Library Theatre Company
Director/Artistic Director: Howard Lloyd-Lewis
Choreographer/Assistant Director: Paul Kerryson
Costume Designer: Charles Cusick-Smith
Designer: Chris Kinman
Lighting Designer: Tim Wratten
Musical Director: Simon Lowe
Musical Supervisor: Roger Haines
Sound: Michael Williams
Orchestra:
Clarinets: Jim Muirhead
Flute: Sarah Harrison/Conrad Marshall
French Horn: Chris Street
Keyboards: Simon Lowe, Vinney Parker
Percussion: John O’Hara
Cast:
Abe: Christopher Brown
Commodore Perry/Samurai: Mitch Sebastian
Councillor/Merchant/Priest/Geisha/Sailor: Stephen Hale
Councillor/Observer/American Officer/Dutch Admiral/Noble: Anthony O’Driscoll
Fisherman/Priest/Geisha/Councillor/American Admiral/Sailor: Andrew Wightman
Kayama: Paul Hegarty
Madame/British Admiral/Assassin: Paul Kerryson
Observer/American Officer/French Admiral/Assassin: Paul Burton
Reciter: Simon Clark
Samurai/Soothsayer/Councillor/Russian Admiral/Lord of the South: Derek Richards
Samurai/Thief/Sumo/Old Man/Lord of the South/Sailor: Kevin Owers
Son/Boatman/Physician/Geisha/Councillor/Noble: Matthew Ryan
Tamate/Wife/Boy in a Tree/Noble/Girl: Anthony Barclay
The Karumbo: Maggie Carr, Jennifer Gregory, Linda Jane Holmes, Debbie Snook
The Mother/Geisha/Samurai/Assassin: Thom Booker
Musical Numbers:
English National Opera Production (1987)
London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London
Previews: 3 September 1987 (3 previews)
Opens: 10 September 1987
Closes: 26 November 1987
Performances: 24
Producer: English National Opera
Director: Keith Warner
Choreographer: David Toguri
Set Designer: Ralph Koltai
Costume Designer: Marie-Jeanne Lecca
Lighting Designer: Nick Chelton
Orchestrator: Jonathon Tunick
Conductor: James Holmes
Assistant Conductor: Michael Lloyd
Leader: Raymond Ovens
Fight Arranger: Craig Coussins
Bunkaru Coaching; John Blundell
Assistant Producers: John Lloyd Davies, Michael Hunt
Design Assistant: Mark Bailey
Assistants to the Choreographer: Nicola Bowie, Carolyn Choa
Cast:
Reciter/Shogun/Emperor: Richard Angas
Fourth Geisha Girl/British Sailor/Second Councillor: Leon Berger
John Manjiro: Christopher Booth-Jones
First Observer/Shogun’s Wife/British Sailor/First Noble: Edward Byles
Thief/Shogun’s Companion/Third Geisha Girl: John Cashmore
Second Shogun Priest/First Geisha Girl/Second Lord of the South/Third Councillor: Gordon Christie
Soothsayer/Russian Admiral/Third Assassin: Ian Comboy
Commodore Perry: Graham Fletcher
Fisherman/Shogun’s Physician/Madam/Story-Teller: Terry Jenkins
Lord Abe/Spirit of a Samurai: John Kitchiner
Shogun’s Mother/Second Noble/Fencing Master: Simon Masterton-Smith
First Shogun Priest/Boy/French Admiral/Merchant’s Son/Fencing Master’s Daughter/First Assassin: Harry Nicoll
Kayama Yesaemon: Malcolm Rivers
Old Man/British Admiral/Merchant/Second Assassin: Eric Roberts
Second Geisha Girl/Tamate/Second American Officer/Fourth Assassin: Michael Sadler
Dutch Admiral/Grandmother/First American Officer/First Lord of the South: Paul Strathearn
Second Observer/Warrior/American Admiral/British Sailor: Alan Woodrow
Actors: Ian McLaren, Thomas Marty
Dancers: Carolyn Choa, Diana Choy, Miki Harvey, Donna Louise, Claire Lutter, Ava De Souza
Musicians: Yoshikazu Iwamoto (shakuhachi), Joji Hirota (Japanese percussion)
Musical Numbers:
Act one
“Prologue” – Reciter
“The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea” – Reciter, Company
“There Is No Other Way” – Tamate, First Observer, Second Observer
“Four Black Dragons” – Fisherman, Thief, Reciter, Company
“Chrysanthemum Tea” – Shogun’s Mother, Shogun, Shogun's Companion, Soothsayer, Priest, Samurai (re-written for Washington)
“Poems” – Kayama, Manjiro
“Welcome to Kanagawa” – Madam, Girls
“Someone in a Tree” – Old Man, Reciter, Boy, Warrior
Lion Dance of Commodore Perry – Commodore Perry
Act two
“Please Hello” – American Admiral, Abe, British Admiral, Reciter, Dutch Admiral, Russian Admiral, French Admiral
“A Bowler Hat” – Kayama
“Pretty Lady” – Sailors
“Next” – Reciter, Company
Recording:
The English National Opera Pacific Overtures
Producer: John Yap
Engineer: John Kurlander
Recorded: 24-25 November, 1-2 and 5 December 1987 at CTS Studios, London
Lyrics included
UK Releases [entire production]:
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Double LP, 1988 [TER 2 1151]
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Double Compact Disc, 1988 [TER CDTER 2 1152] (118 minutes)
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Compact Disc [Highlights, same as the US RCA release] [TER CDTER 1151]
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Double Compact Disc/Digital, Remixed and Remastered for 25th anniversary with 44-page booklet in slipcover, 2016 [CDJAY2 1437]
US Releases [vocal numbers only; all instrumental numbers omitted, except for the "Prologue"]:
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Compact Disc, 1988 [Musical Heritage Society MHS 512645H]
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Compact Disc, 1989 [RCA 7995-2-RC] (69:31 mins.)
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Cassette, 1989 [RCA 7995-4-RC]
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Compact Disc, 2004 [JAY Records 1382]
Selections (US Releases):
"Prologue" (3:00), "The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea" (6:21), "There is No Other Way (Tamate's Dance)" (5:43), "Four Black Dragons" (4:47), "Chrysanthemum Tea" (9:55), "Poems" (3:48), "Welcome to Kanagawa" (5:05), "Someone in a Tree" (6:48), "Please Hello" (9:35), "A Bowler Hat" (5:15), "Pretty Lady" (3:06), "Next" (5:37)
Leicester Haymarket Production (1993)
Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, UK
Previews: 11 October 1984 (13 previews)
Opens: 12 May 2006
Closes: 3 June 2006
Performances: 109
Direction/Staging: Paul Kerryson
Musical Director/Arranger: Julian Kelly
Designer: Charles Cusick-Smith
Lighting Designer: Chris Ellis
Sound Designer: Frank Bradley
Wardrobe Supervisor: Jill Holmes
Kabuki Consultant: M Kakimuma
Tea Ceremony: Mrs Takahashi
Cast:
Reciter/Shogun/Storyteller: Russell Dixon
Abe: Alan Mosely
Councillor/Thief/Soothsayer/Old Man/British Sailor: Mark Roper
Shogun's Mother/British Admiral: Michael Heath
Manjiro/French Admiral: Martin George
Councillor/Priest/British Soldier/Merchant: Walter Van Dyk
Kayama: Scott Davies
Tamate/Noble/Girl in the Garden: Nigel Harman
Observer/Geisha/Young Boy in tree/British Sailor: Gerard Leighton
Observer/American Officer/Geisha/Noble: Marcus Allen Cooper
Fisherman/Sumo Wrestler/American Admiral: Melvin Whitfield
Merchant's Son/Geisha/Boat Boy/Noble: Nicholas Kever
Grandmother/Priest/Imperial Priest: Marc Joseph
Shogun's Wife/Geidha/Dutch Admiral: Michael Strassen
Commodore Perry/Samurai Bodyguard to Kayama: Mitch Sebastian
A Lord of the South/Samurai/Companion/Old Warrior/Russian Admiral/Madam: Peter Edbrook
A Lord of the South/American Officer/Physician/Old Samurai: Blaise Doran
Karumbo/Conteporary Women: Nicole Carty, Cressida Carre, Samantha Murray, Elinor Stephenson
Orchestra:
Violin: Sarah Whittingham
Flute/Piccolo: David Martin
Oboe/Cor Anglais: David Cowdy
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet: Dov Goldberg
Trumpet: David Hendrie
French Horn: Jeff Snowdon
Trombone: Tim Chatterton
Piano: Julian Kelly
Double Bass: Dawn Baker
Percussion: Mike Harper, Patricia Allardyce
London Revival - Bridewell Theatre (1994)
Bridewell Theatre, 14 Bride Lane, London, UK
Inaugural production
Opens: 25 April 1994
Closes: 21 May 1994
Producer: Bridewell Theatre Company / Breach of the Piece
Director: Carol Metcalfe
Musical Director: Dominic McGonigal
Designers: Sarah Jane Barnes, Jane Harwood, Genevieve Kitchingman, Victoria Rogers
Lighting Designer: Andrew Dixon
Choreographer: Lyanna Lveson ("Welcome to Kanagawa", "Commodore's Dance", "Please Hello"
Stage Managers: Diane Crowder, Zac Green
Costumes made by: Sarah-Jane Barnes, Thais Brown, Sue Foister, Jane Harwood, Genevieve Kitchingman, Rosalind Moore, Victoria Rogers
Rehearsal pianists: Jo Last, Andrew Parkyns
Assistant Stage Managers: Jennifer Blake, Xanthe Parkin
Lighting Operator: Ed Mulligan
Cast:
Lord Abe/Shogun's Companion/Madame/Lord of the South: Roland Beame
Third Councillor/Grandmother/Geisha/American Admiral/Lord of the South/Sailor: Francis Crampsie
Noble/Fisherman/Commodore Perry/Priest/French Admiral/Lord of the South/Fencing Master's Daughter: Lyanna Iveson
Noble/Merchant/Physician/Geisha/British Admiral/Lord of the South/Sailor: Thomas Monk
Tamate/Horse/American Sailor/Priest/Geisha/Emperor: Rosalind Moore
Kayama/Soothsayer/Lord of the South: Clive Paget
Manjiro/Thief/Shogun//Old Man/Lord of the South: Tim Sawers
Second Councillor/Merchant's Son/Shogun's Wife/Boy/Dutch Admiral/Lord of the South/Fencing Master/Assassin: Victoria Simmonds
Shogun's Mother/American Officer/Geisha/Emperor's Priest/Russian Admiral/ Lord of the South/Sailor/Assassin: Marston York
Orchestra
Piano: Jo Last
Percussion: David Neville
Synthesizer: Andrew Parkyns
Flute/Clarinet: Dai Pritchard
New National Theatre of Tokyo Production (2000)
The Pit, 1-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Japanese premiere; version in Japanese with supertitles played at Avery Fisher Hall in 2002
Opens: 2 October 2000
Closes: 21 October 2000
Performances: 24
Producer: New National Theatre of Tokyo
Director/Choreographer: Amon Miyamoto
Musical Director: Taizo Takemoto
Translator: Kunihiko Hashimoto
Set Designer: Rumi Matsui
Lighting Designer: Yasutaka Nakayama
Costume Designer: Emi Wada
Sound Designer: Kunio Watanabe
Choreography: Rino Masaki
Artistic Designer: Tamiya Kuriyama
Conductor: Taizo Takemoto / Jun Nishino
Music Arrangements: Takayuki Maruyama
Cast:
Reciter/Shogun/Emperor Meiji: Takeharu Kunimoto
Kayama/Fish seller: Shuji Honda
Manjiro/Peasant/Officer: Masaki Kosuzu
Ensemble: Urara Awata, Kyoko Donowaki, Atsushi Haruta, Juuji Hirota, Takuya Kon, Kanjiro Murakami, Norihide Ochi, Makoto Okada, Usaburo Oshima, Shun Pou, Kirihito Saito, Akira Sakamoto, Haruki Sayama, Shintaro Sonooka, Mayu Yamada
Orchestra:
Piano: Junko Chujo
Keyboard: Masaru Kawabe
Violin/Viola: Izumi Ishii
Cello: Shinko Saegusa
Flute/Clarinet: Tooru Suzuki
Percussion: Junichi Asano / Maki Morioka
New National Theatre of Tokyo Production (2000)
The Pit, 1-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Japanese premiere; version in Japanese with supertitles played at Avery Fisher Hall in 2002
Opens: 2 October 2000
Closes: 21 October 2000
Performances: 24
Producer: New National Theatre of Tokyo
Director/Choreographer: Amon Miyamoto
Musical Director: Taizo Takemoto
Translator: Kunihiko Hashimoto
Set Designer: Rumi Matsui
Lighting Designer: Yasutaka Nakayama
Costume Designer: Emi Wada
Sound Designer: Kunio Watanabe
Choreography: Rino Masaki
Artistic Designer: Tamiya Kuriyama
Conductor: Taizo Takemoto / Jun Nishino
Music Arrangements: Takayuki Maruyama
Cast:
Reciter/Shogun/Emperor Meiji: Takeharu Kunimoto
Kayama/Fish seller: Shuji Honda
Manjiro/Peasant/Officer: Masaki Kosuzu
Ensemble: Urara Awata, Kyoko Donowaki, Atsushi Haruta, Juuji Hirota, Takuya Kon, Kanjiro Murakami, Norihide Ochi, Makoto Okada, Usaburo Oshima, Shun Pou, Kirihito Saito, Akira Sakamoto, Haruki Sayama, Shintaro Sonooka, Mayu Yamada
Orchestra:
Piano: Junko Chujo
Keyboard: Masaru Kawabe
Violin/Viola: Izumi Ishii
Cello: Shinko Saegusa
Flute/Clarinet: Tooru Suzuki
Percussion: Junichi Asano / Maki Morioka
Chicago Shakespeare Production (2001)
Upstairs at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater,
800 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Opens: 10 October 2001
Closes: 6 January 2002
Performances: 24
Director: Gary Griffin
Choreographer: Marc Robin
Scenic Designer: Daniel Ostling
Lighting Designer: Robert Christen
Costume Designer: Mara Blumenfeld
Props Designer: Brenda Sabatka
Fight Choreography: Robin McFarquhar
Movement Coach: Barbara Robertson
Musical Director: Thomas Murray
Assistant Musical Director: Andy Jones
Orchestrations: James Stenborg
Cast:
Reciter: Joseph Anthony Foronda
Manjiro/American Admiral: Christopher Mark Peterson
Kayama/Old Man: Kevin Gudahl
Lord Abe: Roderick Peeples
Shogun's Mother/French Admiral: Michael Hagiwara
Madam/British Admiral: Neil Friedman
Lion Dancer/Thief: Richard Manera
Warrior/Russian Admiral: Nathaniel Stampley
Tamate/Boy: Anthony Hite
First Sailor/Dutch Admiral: Jeff Dumas
Photography: Michael Brosilow
London Revival (2014)
Union Theatre, 204 (now 229) Union Street, Southwark, London
Opens: 2 July 2014
Closes: 2 August 2014
Producer: Sasha Regan and Paul Callen
Director/Staging: Michael Strassen
Musical Director: Richard Bates
Designer: Jean Gray
Lighting Designer: Tim Deiling
Technical Manager: Iain Dennis
Hair & Make-Up Designer: J. Jared Janas
Stage Manager: Martin Brady
Cast:
Kayama: Oli Reynolds
Lord Abe: Alexander McMorran
Manjiro/Dutch Admiral: Emanuel Alba
Priest/Geisha/2nd Sailor: Joel Baylis
Priest/Geisha: Josh Andrews (Dance Captain)
Reciter: Ken Christiansen
Tamate: Anthony Selwyn
1st Observer/American Officer/Shogun’s Wife/Geisha/American Admiral/1st Sailor: Joel Harper-Jackson
American Officer/Shogun’s Mother/French Admiral/Storyteller: Marc Lee Joseph
Commodore Perry/Dance Captain: Marios Nicolaides
Councillor/2nd. Observer/Madam/Old Man/British Admiral: Ian Mowat
Councillor/Thief/Soothsayer/Warrior/Russian Admiral/3rd. Sailor: Lee Van Geleen
Fisherman/Physician/Geisha/Young Boy: Matt Jolly
Orchestra:
Musical Director/Keyboards: Richard Bates
Percussion: Janette Williams
Reeds: Elaine Booth
Cello: Sally Russell
Photography: Darren Bell
Off-Broadway Revival (2017)
Lynn F. Angelson Theater, 136 East 13th Street, New York
Previews: 5 April 2017
Opens: 6 April 2017
Closes: 18 June 2017
Producer: Classic Stage Company
Director/Artistic Director/Designer: John Doyle
Musical Supervisor: Rob Berman
Musical Director: Greg Jarrett
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Costume Designer: Ann Hould-Ward
Lighting Designer: Jane Cox
Sound Designer: Dan Moses Schreier
Hair & Make-Up Designer: J. Jared Janas
Stage Manager: Melanie J. Lisby
Cast:
Fisherman/American Admiral/First Sailor: Karl Joseph Co
Kayama: Steven Eng
Tamate: Megan Masako Haley (Dance Captain)
Madam/French Admiral: Ann Harada
Boy/British Admiral/Third Sailor: Austin Ku
Warrior/Russian Admiral/Second Sailor: Kelvin Moon Loh
Manjiro: Orville Mendoza
Thief/Dutch Admiral: Marc Oka
Lord Abe/Old Man: Thom Sesma
The Reciter: George Takei
All other roles played by the members of the company
Orchestra:
Conductor/Keyboard: Greg Jarrett
Woodwinds: Steven Lyon
Violin: Keats Dieffenbach
Viola: David Fallo
Cello: Clay Ruede
Bass: Corey Schutzer
Keyboard 2: Anthony De Angelis
Percussion: Yuri Yamashita, Gregory Landes
Musical numbers:
As above but without "Chrysanthemum Tea"
Photography: Joan Marcus
Signature Theatre (2023)
MAX Theatre, Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia
Opens: 7 March 2023
Closes: 9 April 2023
Producer: Signature Theatre
Director/Staging: Ethan Heard
Musical Director: Alexander Tom
Scenic Designer: Chika Shimizu
Costume Designer: Helen Q. Huang
Lighting Designer: Oliver Wason
Sound Designer: Eric Norris
Kabuki Consultant: Kirk Kanesaka
Fight Director: Yoshi Amao
Taiko Consultant: Mark H. Rooney
Cast:
Kayama: Daniel May
Lord Abe: Eymard Meneses Cabling
Manjiro: Jonny Lee Jr.
Reciter: Jason Ma
Tamate: Quynh-My Luu
Shogun's Mother: Andrew Cristi
Boy: Albert Hsueh
Warrior: Christopher Mueller
Madam: Chani Wereley
Commodore Perry: Nicholas Yenson
All other roles played by the members of the company
Orchestra:
Conductor/Keyboard 1: Alexander Tom
Reeds: Keith Daudelin
Keyboard 2/Odaiko: Angie Benson
Percussion: Erika Johnson, John Patton
Violin: Madalyn Navis
Viola: Imelda Tecson
Cello: Amy Smith
Musical Numbers:
Photography: Daniel Rader
Umeda Arts Theatre Production (2023)
Co-production between Menier Chocolate Factory and Umeda Arts Theatre
Japanese language version
Nissay Theatre, Tokyo
Nissay Theatre, 1-1-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Opens: 8 March 2023
Closes: 29 March 2023
Performances: 26
Main Hall, Umeda Arts Theatre
19-1 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Japan
Opens: 8 April 2023
Closes: 16 April 2023
Performances: 12
Producer: Menier Chocolate Factory and Umeda Arts Theatre
Director: Matthew White
Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick
Translator: Yojiro Ichikawa
Choreographer: Ashley Nottingham
Musical Director: Katherine Jayes
Scenic Designer: Paul Farnworth
Lighting Designer: Yasuyuki Yoshieda
Sound Designer: Koichi Yamamoto
Costume Designer: Fumiko Maeda
Hair and Make-up Designer: Masako Nakahara
Manners Instructors: Keiemon Hanayanagi (Ken Osawa), Eiju Fujima (Mina Yamanaka)
Puppet Designer and Supervisor: Kigusha Kanryoku
Cast:
Reciter: Koji Yamamoto / Yuya Matsushita [double cast]
Kayama Yasaemon: Naoto Kaiho / Yusuke Hirose [double cast]
John Manjiro: Eiji Wentz / Toshiki Tateishi [double cast]
Shogun/Madam: Hiraku Asami
Abe/First Councillor: Hiroko Kachi
Tamate: Sayaka Watabiki
Fisherman: Kota Someya
Thief: Naruhito Murai
Boy: Akari Taniguchi
American Admiral: Keisuke Sigiura
British Admiral: Kan Muto
Dutch Admiral: Yuichi Tamura
Russian Admiral: Katsuyuki Nakanishi
French Admiral: Hirotaka Terui
Samurai’s Daughter: Hana Inoue
Sailor: Hiroki Fujita
Geisha: Inoue Kana
Swing: Tatsuo Yokoyama
Production Photographs: 岡千里 (Oka Chisato)
London Revivial (2023)
Menier Chocolate Factory, 4 O'Meara Street, London, UK
Co-Production between Menier Chocolate Factory and Umeda Arts Theatre
Previews: 25 November 2023
Opens: 4 December 2023
Closes: 24 February 2024
Producer: Menier Chocolate Factory and Umeda Arts Theatre
Director: Matthew White
Musical Director: Paul Bogaev
Musical Supervision: Catherine Jayes
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Set Design: Paul Farnsworth
Costume Design: Ayako Maeda
Hair & Make-Up Design: Wakana Yoshihara
Lighting Design: Paul Pyant
Sound Design: Gregory Clarke
Choreography: Ashley Nottingham
Video Designer: Leo Flint
Fight Arranger: Paul Smith
Traditional Japanese Movement & Cultural Consultant: You-Ri Yamanaka
Cast:
Reciter: Jon Chew
Kayama: Takuro Ohno
Shogun/Madam: Saori Oda
Manjiro: Joaquin Pedro Valdes
Tamate: Kanako Nakano
Councillor/Kanagawa Girl: Rachel Jayne Picar (Dance Captain)
Councillor/Dutch Admiral: Eu Jin Hwang
American officer/Russian Admiral: Lee V G
Fisherman/American Admiral: Ethan Le Phong
Thief/French Admiral: Sario Solomon
Kanagawa Girl/Boy in a Tree: Joy Tan
Kanagawa Girl/Pretty Lady: Luoran Ding
Old Man/Priest: Masashi Fujimoto
British Admiral/Sailor: Patrick Munday
Warrior/Sailor: Iverson Yabut
Ensemble: Abel Law, JoJo Meredith
Band:
Musical Director/Keyboard: Paul Bogaev
Assistant Musical Director/Keyboard 2: Dominic Bull
Violin: Akiko Ishikawa
Viola: Marie-Anne Bruccheri
Cello: Hsiao Ling Huang
Bass: Paul Moylan
Reeds: Dan Czwartos
Percussion 1: Cameron Gorman
Percussion 2: Tom Daley
Musical numbers:
"Chrysanthemum Tea" cut
Photography: Manuel Harlan
