THE WIZARD OF OZ Plays TIP Mainstage, May 17; TIP Announces 2012-2013 Season

"The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, book by John Kane, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, directed by Jonah Hagans, will be presented on Tokyo International Players' mainstage May 17-20.

TIP presents a unique new staging of the classic MGM screen musical "The Wizard of Oz". Dorothy and her dog Toto are swept up in a tornado and carried to the magical land of Oz. There, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, who help her in her quest to return home. Together, they follow the Yellow Brick Road, pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy is truly "not in Kansas anymore" in this dark, "steampunk" Victorian futuristic interpretation of the beloved show. Featuring such popular songs as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Merry Old Land of Oz," and many more.

The Wizard of Oz is the high-impact finale in the current Main Stage season for TIP, which has been providing English-language theatre in the heart of Japan for over 115 years.

The show plays Thursday, May 17th @ 7pm, Friday, May 18th @ 7pm, Saturday, May 19th @ 1pm AND 7pm, Sunday, May 20th @ 1pm AND 7pm at the Theatre Sun-Mall in Shinjuku. For map and directions, pleasae visit TIP's website at: http://www.tokyoplayers.org/?lang=1&page=63.

Tickets: Earlybird: 3,800 JPY (only available for online bookings paid by credit card until May 3rd; incudes 300 JPY booking charge); Advance reservation: 4,000 JPY; At door (no reservation): 4,500 JPY; Students & Children: 2,500 JPY

Visit TIP's box office at http://www.tokyoplayers.org/?lang=1&page=96 to buy or reserve tickets.

TIP Youth will also feature "Honk! JR," May 31-June 3. With book by Anthony Drewe, music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe, based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling," the show will be directed by Linden Wint.

This is a musical version of "The Ugly Duckling" in which Ugly is tormented by everyone in The Farmyard, falls into the hands of the Cat and finds himself lost in a blizzard. Will he ever find his way home safely? Will he ever make any friends?

"Guys and Dolls JR" comes in for Act II, with book by Abe Burrows, lyrics by Frank Loesser, music by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling, based on "The Idyll of Sarah Brown" and characters by Damon Runyon, directed by Dale Geyer.

A rollicking musical comedy full of hilarious and lovable New York characters. Follow along as missionary Sarah Brown navigates her conflicting feelings for slick gambler Sky Masterson, while showgirl Miss Adelaide tries to pin down her fiancée, Nathan Detroit, after 14 years of engagement.

TIP Youth is a program from Tokyo International Players designed for teaching students all about theatre and performing. This six-month program is just for students, to give them a firm grounding in all things involved in acting on stage, being part of a production and belonging to a theatre community.

TIP Youth aims to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge and practical techniques in theatre and performing in a professional-level show, so that they may carry and use this experience in many aspects of their student and adult lives, whether they perform professionally or not.

The students, aged eight to seventeen, have been attending workshops and rehearsals since January, learning through practice what it is to be part of a professional theatrical production. Come and see the results of their hard work and dedication to the craft.

Intake for the 2013 program will open November 1st, 2012. Information will be posted in October.

"Honk JR." (ACT I) plays Thursday, May 31st @ 7pm and Saturday, June 2nd@ 1pm AND 4pm. "Guys and Dolls JR." (ACT II) runs Friday, June 1st @ 7pm and Sunday, June 3rd @ 1pm AND 4pm. Both play at the Bonbon Theater in Nakano. For map and directions, please visit TIP's website at http://www.tokyoplayers.org/?lang=1&page=102. All tickets are 2,000 JPY.

Additionally, "Intimate Apparel" by Lynn Nottage will be featured on the Second Stage June 15-17, under the directon of Sonja Inge.

"Intimate Apparel" is the story of Esther Mills, the daughter of slaves, who is a highly-skilled lingerie seamstress in New York City in 1905. She saves all of her money in a quilt in the hopes of one day opening a beauty parlor where black women will be treated like royality. However, she is also very lonely and and after celebrating a milestone birthday, is desperate to be married. Through a mutual friend, she strikes up a long distance relationship with a Caribbean laborer.

Originally a co-production and co-commission between Center Stage, Baltimore, Maryland, and South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, California. It was also performed off-Broadway starring Viola Davis.

Featuring Trenetta Jones, Ann Jenkins, Ra'Chelni M. Weir II, Lucy King, Nami Miyasaki and Matt Rac.

The show runs Friday, June 15th @ 7pm, Saturday, June 16th @ 1pm AND 7pm and Sunday, June 17th @ 1pm AND 7pm at the Theatre Rapport, Higashi-Nagasaki station (2 stops from Ikebukuro on the Seibu-Ikebukuro line). For map and directions, visit their website at: http://www.t-rapport.com/.

Tickets: Advance reservation: 2,500 JPY; At door (no reservation): 3,000 JPY

Hot on the heels of TIP's critically acclaimed 115th season comes an exciting 116th season. Check out what TIP has to offer in 2012-2013 below.

ONE-ACT COMEDY PLAY FESTIVAL - 5 plays for the price of 2 (September 20th-23rd, 2012, Echo Theater, Ebisu)

"The Real Inspector Hound", by Tom Stoppard. Directed by Jonah Hagans.

"Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead", by Bert V. Royal. Directed by Lou McLeod.

"The Actor's Nightmare", by Christopher Durang. Directed by Ron Scott.

"15-Minute Hamlet", by William Shakespeare, comedic abridgement by Tom Stoppard.

"Controlling Interest", by Wayne Rawley. Directed by Ed Gilmartin.

"ALICE IN WONDERLAND," based on the book by Lewis Carroll. Directed by Liam Shea. (December 6th-9th, 2012, Echo Theater, Ebisu)

"WAITING FOR GODOT," by Samuel Beckett. Directed by Andrew Robinson. (February 28th-March 3rd, 2013, Pocket Theatre, Nakano)

"INTO THE WOODS," Book by James Lapine, music by Stephen Sondheim, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Based on Classic Fairy Tales. Directed by Jon Reimer. (May16th-19th, 2013, Sun-Mall Theater, Shinjuku)

*All plays are subject to change based on the availability of licensing rights.

Finally, auditions will be held for the first two Mainstage shows in June. More details to come.

 

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