Photos: George Takei, Lea Salonga and More to Lead The Old Globe's ALLEGIANCE; Full Cast and Creative Team Announced!
By: Kelsey Denette Aug. 03, 2012
The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Allegiance – A New American Musical, an epic story of family, love and patriotism set during the Japanese American internment of World War II. Directed by Stafford Arima, with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo and book by Marc Acito, Kuo and Lorenzo Thione, the production features choreography by Andrew Palermo and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Lynne Shankel. Allegiance – A New American Musical will run on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, Sept. 7 – Oct. 21, 2012. Preview performances run Sept. 7 – Sept. 18. Opening night is Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are currently available by subscription only. Single tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 10 at 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.
On the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, a meeting with a young journalist forces WWII veteran Sam Kimura to remember his family's relocation from their California farm to the Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming. 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.
As previously announced, television and film icon George Takei, Tony Award-winning actress
Lea Salonga and Broadway favorite Telly Leung head up the cast.
George Takei will play 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 will appear as Kei Kimura, Sammy Kimura's sister, 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 will play 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.
Joining the cast is Paolo Montalban as Mike Masaoka, the polarizing real-life leader who encouraged cooperation with the internment despite being Japanese American himself. Montalban is best known for playing the Prince in Wonderful World of Disney's Cinderella and has appeared on Broadway in Pacific Overtures and The King and I.
The cast also features Michael K. Lee (Frankie Suzuki), 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).
The creative team includes Donyale Werle (Scenic Design), Alejo Vietti (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (Lighting Design), Jonathan Deans (Sound Design), Darrel Maloney (Projection Design), Jan Gist (Dialect Coach) Telsey + Company (Casting) and Anjee Nero (Stage Manager).
Photo Credit: Henry DiRocco
George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leung
George Takei, Lea Salonga, Paolo Montalban, Allie Trimm and Telly Leung
Michael K. Lee, George Takei, Lea Salonga, Paolo Montalban, Allie Trimm, Telly Leung and Paul Nakauchi
(back row, from left) Scott Watanabe, Conrad Ricamora, Brandon Joel Maier and Karl Josef Co; (third row) Michael K. Lee, Marc De La Cruz, Geno Carr, Paolo Montalban and Kurt Norby; (second row) Jon Jon Briones, Jill Townsend, Paul Nakaushi, Ann Sanders, MaryAnn Hu, Telly Leung and Jennifer Hubilla; (front row) Kay Trinidad, Katie Boren, Lea Salonga, George Takei and Allie Trimm
Composer, lyricist and co-book writer Jay Kuo, co-book writer Lorenzo Thione, co-book writer Marc Acito and star George Takei
The cast and creative team of Allegiance: (back row, from left) actors Jon Jon Briones, Michael K. Lee, Marc De La Cruz, Scott Watanabe, Conrad Ricamora, Brandon Joel Maier and Kurt Norby and co-book writer Lorenzo Thione; (middle row) choreographer Andrew Palmero, music director Laura Bergquist, music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator Lynne Shankel, actors Jill Townsend, Paul Nakauchi, Ann Sanders, Geno Carr, MaryAnn Hu, Paolo Montalban, Telly Leung and Jennifer Hubilla, composer, lyricist and co-book writer Jay Kuo and co-book writer Marc Acito; (front row) actors Kay Trinidad, Katie Boren and Lea Salonga, director Stafford Arima and actors George Takei and Allie Trimm
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