VIDEO: ALLEGIANCE's George Takei Explains Why Internment Was Not Remembered

As the Broadway musical ALLEGIANCE, set in an internment camp where the United States government imprisoned Japanese-Americans during World War II, plays out its final performances, the actor and activist George Takei, who has been as the major spokesperson as to why the subject matter the musical addresses must be heard, talks about the public reaction to the show with PBS's MetroFocus.

"Even younger Japanese-Americans don't know about it, because those that experienced the internment - the pain, the suffering, the sense of loss and degradation and humiliation - didn't want to inflict that pain on their children."

As a result, Takei notes that many Japanese-Americans have approached him after seeing the show to thank him for educating them on what really happened.

Click photo below for a link to the video.

The original cast album of the new musical Allegiance, with music & lyrics by Jay Kuo, is now available digitally. The recording is produced by Lynne Shankel & Joel Moss for Sing Out, Louise! Productions. Principal Allegiance cast members Lea Salonga, George Takei, Telly Leung, Katie Rose Clarke and Michael K. Leeare joined by the entire company for the studio session, which includes original recordings of tracks such as "Wishes on the Wind," "What Makes a Man," "With You," "Stronger Than Before," and Salonga's Act One showstopper "Higher," among many others.

ALLEGIANCE, which will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, February 14th, stars Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) in her long-awaited return to Broadway joined by "Star Trek" icon George Takei in his Broadway debut at age 78, and Broadway and "Glee" star Telly Leung. Allegiance is the vibrant and unforgettable story of one family's resilience in the face of seemingly-insurmountable odds, inspired by Takei's real-life experience as a Japanese American during World War II. Allegiance opened at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street) on Sunday, November 8, 2015.

ALLEGIANCE features a book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima directs, in his Broadway debut. Andrew Palermo serves as choreographer.

The cast is as follows: George Takei as Sam Kimura/Ojii San; Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura; Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura; Katie Rose Clarke as Hannah Campbell, Michael K. Lee as Frankie Suzuki, Christópheren Nomura as Tatsuo Kimura; and Greg Watanabe as Mike Masaoka. The ensemble will feature Aaron J. Albano, Belinda Allyn,Marcus Choi, Janelle Toyomi Dote, Dan Horn, Owen Johnston, Darren Lee, Kevin Munhall, Manna Nichols, Rumi Oyama, Catherine Ricafort, Momoko Sugai, Sam Tanabe, Elena Wang, Scott Watanabe and Tony winner Scott Wise.

ALLEGIANCE illuminates one of American history's lesser known chapters as it tells the story of Sam Kimura (Takei), transported back nearly six decades to when his younger self (Leung) and his sister Kei (Salonga) fought to stay connected to their heritage, their family, and themselves after Japanese Americans were wrongfully imprisoned during World War II. An epic story told with great intimacy, Allegiance explores the ties that bind us, the struggle to persevere, and the overwhelming power of forgiveness and, most especially, love.