STAGE TUBE: George Takei Talks ALLEGIANCE on CBS New York

The World Premiere of the Broadway-bound Allegiance – A New American Musical ended its extended run at San Diego's Old Globe on October 28, 2012. The musical starred television and film icon George Takei, Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga and Broadway favorite Telly Leung. Takei just appeared on CBS New York to talk about his role in Allegiance. Click below to watch the interview!

Allegiance features music and lyrics by Jay Kuo, book by Marc Acito, Kuo and Lorenzo Thione, direction by Stafford Arima, choreography by Andrew Palermo and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Lynne Shankel.

Sixty years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a chance meeting forces WWII veteran Sam Kimura to remember his family's relocation from their California farm to the Heart Mountain internment camp. As they struggle to adjust to their new home, Young Sam and his sister Kei find themselves torn between loyalty to their family and Allegiance to their country. With its moving score, Allegiance – A New American Musical takes audiences on a journey into our nation's history through the eyes of one American family.

George Takei plays Sam Kimura, a former internee who revisits the ghosts of his past, and Ojii-san, the grandfather and pillar of strength of the Kimura family. Best known for portraying Mr. Sulu in the "Star Trek" series, Takei's acting career has spanned more than five decades with more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television roles to his credit. Takei and his family, along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans, were unjustly incarcerated behind the barbed-wire enclosures of United States internment camps at the outbreak of World War II. Takei spent part of his childhood at Camp Rohwer in Arkansas and at Camp Tule Lake in Northern California. Meeting George Takei and hearing his personal story inspired Allegiance creators Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione to bring the story of the Japanese American internment to the stage.

Lea Salonga appears as Kei Kimura, a young internee who falls in with a group of activists. Salonga originated the role of Kim in The West End and Broadway productions of Miss Saigon, winning the Tony and Olivier Awards, among others. She was the first Asian to play Eponine in Les Misérables on Broadway, returned to the show in 2007 as Fantine and reprised the role for the sold-out 25th anniversary concert in London. Salonga's feature film credits include the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan.

Telly Leung plays young Sammy Kimura, who is torn between fighting for his country and honoring his community – and his family. Leung most recently appeared in the Broadway revival of Godspell. His other Broadway credits include Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures and the final company of Rent. Leung also originated the role of Boq in the Chicago company of Wicked. His television and film credits include "Glee" (Wes, Dalton Academy Warblers) and Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway. His first solo CD, I'll Cover You, will be released in the fall.

The Cast also features Michael K. Lee (Frankie Suzuki), Paolo Montalban (Mike Masaoka), Paul Nakauchi (Tatsuo Kimura) and Allie Trimm (Hannah Campbell) with Katie Boren, Jon Jon Briones, Geno Carr, Karl Josef Co, Marc De La Cruz, MaryAnn Hu, Brandon Joel Maier, Kürt Norby, Ann Sanders, Jill Townsend, Kay Trinidad and Scott Watanabe (Ensemble) and Jennifer Hubilla and Conrad Ricamora (Swings).

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