Scott Watanabe

Review Roundup: ALLEGIANCE at East West Players Starring George Takei

The reviews are in for East West Player's production of ALLEGIANCE, starring original Broadway cast member, George Takei! ALLEGIANCE opened on February 21st and will continue to run through April 1st.

Review: ALLEGIANCE Musically Celebrates the Power of the Human Spirit

George Takei is known for his founding role as Mr. Sulu in the acclaimed television series Star Trek and as an influential social media icon. But long before that fame, Takei was born in Boyle Heights and spent his childhood in the Rohwer Incarceration Camp in Arkansas and later at Tule Lake in Northern California during World War II. His story of resilience and hope is the inspiration for ALLEGIANCE, a new Broadway musical making its Los Angeles premiere, co-produced by East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) at JACCC's 900-seat Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles through April 1, 2018.

BWW Review: ALLEGIANCE Makes Its Los Angeles Premiere at JACC

Focusing on one of the most devastatingly controversial periods in history after Pearl Harbor in the early 1940s, Allegiance portrays Japanese Americans, loyal to the US, who were forced out of their homes and relocated to centers akin to concentration camps. Treated like animals with little food, water or medications, somehow through the grace of strong will many of them toughed it out. Currently on stage at JACCC in its Los Angeles premiere, Allegiance has a fairly sturdy book and some fine uplifting music, but is not without its flaws.

Photo Flash: George Takei Returns to ALLEGIANCE for Los Angeles Premiere at East West Players

East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) present stage, television, and film star George Takei in the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance.

BWW Morning Brief October 19th, 2017: TORCH SONG Opens, Broadway Unites for Puerto Rico, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: TORCH SONG opens, Broadway unites for Puerto Rico, and more!

Original Broadway Cast Members to Join George Takei in ALLEGIANCE's Los Angeles Premiere

East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) are pleased to announce that for the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance, stage and screen star George Takei will be joined by Broadway cast members Elena Wang as Kei Kimura, Greg Watanabe as Mike Masaoka, Scott Watanabe as Tatsuo Kimura, and Janelle Dote as Hanako.

New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players Remagined THE MIKADO Opens Tonight

New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP), America's preeminent Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company presents a new mounting of the time-honored classic, The Mikado.

Ashley Park, Paolo Montalban & More to Star in Today's 'Prince Jen' Presentation

Special invitational presentations of THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF PRINCE JEN, a new musical based on the novel by Lloyd Alexander, are set for today (Monday) and tomorrow at MTC Studio 1 (311 West 41 Street).

Ashley Park, Paolo Montalban and More Set for 'PRINCE JEN' Reading in NYC

Special invitational presentations of THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF PRINCE JEN, a new musical based on the novel by Lloyd Alexander, are set for November 14th and 15th at MTC Studio 1 (311 West 41 Street). Music for THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF PRINCE JEN is by Daniel Green, with book & lyrics by Lezlie Wade. The presentations will be directed by Brian Hill.

NY Gilbert and Sullivan Players to Host Free Public Forum THE MIKADO IN THE 21st Century 11/3

As part of its preparation for the upcoming new production of 'The Mikado,' New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) will host a public forum entitled 'The Mikado in the 21st Century' on Thursday, November 3rd (6PM) on the stage of The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues). Featuring keynote speaker Dr. Jonathan Jenkins Ichikawa,  a professor of philosophy at University of British Columbia and Gilbert & Sullivan expert and performer, the forum will continue a dialogue between the Asian-American theatrical community, the NYGASP staff & creative team, and members of the Gilbert & Sullivan audience at large. The discussion will cover a broad range of issues including awareness of orientalism in contemporary culture, the importance of diversity in casting, and the need for change in performance practice of The Mikado specifically. The panel will raise questions of how a repertory company can approach new ways of presenting a classic work while maintaining the work's artistic integrity as well as sharing the steps NYGASP is taking in the creation process for their new production of The Mikado opening December 28th and playing through January 8th at the Kaye Playhouse. 

New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players Reveals Concepts for Reimagined THE MIKADO; Kelvin Moon Loh Joins Creative Team!

New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP), America's preeminent Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, has revealed production concepts for its new mounting of the time-honored classic, The Mikado.

Hasan Minhaj, Maya Rudolph, Laura Benanti and More Coming Up This Fall at Joe's Pub

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its night performances, September 21 - October 2, 2016. Scroll down, and visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!

Musical Theatre Factory Sets Full 2016-17 Season with Residencies, Concerts, Roundtables & More

On the heels of joining Playwrights Horizons Resident Company Program, Musical Theatre Factory (MTF), under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Shakina Nayfack, has announced its first full season of programming since its founding in January 2014.

HONOR Musical, Based on AS YOU LIKE IT, Plays in Concert Tonight at Prospect Theater

Prospect Theater Company, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Cara Reichel and Managing Director Melissa Huber, and the National Asian Artists Project (NAAP), under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Baayork Lee and Co-Founder Steven Eng, presents a concert performance of the new musical HONOR, with music and lyrics by Peter Mills, and book by Mills and Cara Reichel, adapted from William Shakespeare's As You Like It.

Barrington's BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER with Annie Golden Gets Concert at Joe's Pub

In its first season in residency at Playwrights Horizons, Musical Theatre Factory, under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Shakina Nayfack, announces a concert version of Barrington Stage Company's critically acclaimed production, BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTO FLASH: BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER Digital Trading Cards!

The folks over at Barrington Stage Company are having so much fun with Broadway Bounty Hunter that they've created some digital trading cards for the all of the characters in the show!

HONOR Musical Adapted from Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT Coming Up at Prospect Theater

Coming up soon! Prospect Theater Company, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Cara Reichel and Managing Director Melissa Huber, and the National Asian Artists Project (NAAP), under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Baayork Lee and Co-Founder Steven Eng, will present a concert performance of the musical HONOR, with music and lyrics by Peter Mills, and book by Mills and Cara Reichel, adapted from William Shakespeare's As You Like It.

Photo Flash: WORLD PREMIERE BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER at Barrington Stage Company

The world premiere of Broadway Bounty Hunter, took place at Barrington Stage Company last night and Broadwayworld was there for the opening night festivities at the Sydelle & Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center. Broadway Bounty Hunter features music and lyrics by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, The Black Suits, Bloodsong of Love), book by Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin (author of Denton Little's Deathdate) and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Off Broadway: Once Upon A Mattress), and choreography by Jeffrey Page (Broadway's Violet). Joel Waggoner (BSC's Presto Change-O, Southern Comfort) serves as music director.

STAGE TUBE: Joe Iconis Gives Preview of New Musical BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER

Just ahead of previews, Broadway Bounty Hunter writer, Joe Iconis gives viewers a sneak peek into his 'future Tony Award-winning' musical.  Broadway Bounty Hunter features music and lyrics by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, The Black Suits, Bloodsong of Love), book by Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin (author of Denton Little's Deathdate) and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Off Broadway: Once Upon A Mattress), and choreography by Jeffrey Page (Broadway's Violet). Joel Waggoner (BSC's Presto Change-O, Southern Comfort) serves as music director.

Director Departs BROADWAY BOUNTY HUNTER, Starring Annie Golden; First Preview Canceled at Barrington

Barrington Stage Company (BSC) announced today that due to creative differences, Leah C. Gardiner has parted ways with Broadway Bounty Hunter.