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George Takei Talks New Broadway Musical ALLEGIANCE on 'Today'

By: Oct. 05, 2015
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Best known as Sulu on the original STAR TREK, actor George Takei will make his Broadway debut in the musical Allegiance, based on his real-life experiences during World War II. The actor stopped by this morning's TODAY to tell Tamron Hall and Natalie Morales that the show evolved from his social media, and shares video of his "happy dance." He also invites the TODAY anchors to "Star Trek night" at the new show! Watch the appearance below.

Broadway's Allegiance, a new musical inspired by Takei's true-life story, opens on November 8, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Previews begin October 6. Allegiance features a book by Marc Acito and music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima(London's Ragtime, Off-Broadway's Bare, Carrie, Altar Boyz) directs.

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

Inspired by the true-life experience of its star Takei ("Star Trek," "Heroes"), Allegiance follows one family's extraordinary journey in this untold American story. A mysterious envelope leads Sam Kimura (Takei) back 60 years to a time when he (played as a young man by Telly Leung -- Godspell, "Glee") and his sister Kei (Tony winner Lea Salonga -- Miss Saigon, Mulan) strive to save their family from the wrongful imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Sam enlists in the army to prove the Kimura's loyalty, but Kei joins draft resisters fighting for the rights of their people. Their paths take them from the lush farmlands of California to the wastelands of Wyoming to the battlefields of Europe, and their divided loyalties threaten to tear them apart forever. But as long-lost memories are unlocked, Sam finds that it is never too late to forgive and to recognize the redemptive power of love.




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