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New Musical HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET Sets Cast for Seattle Benefit Concert

Rich Ceraulo Ko and Darius de Haas lead the cast at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute.

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New Musical HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET Sets Cast for Seattle Benefit Concert

A special staged benefit concert of the new musical "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" based on Jamie Ford's New York Times bestselling novel, will take place May 23 and 24 at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute.

Audiences are invited to experience an exclusive early preview of the new musical adaptation featuring Act One of the show, along with additional songs from the developing work. Following the performance, attendees will enjoy an intimate conversation with creators Lainie Sakakura, Paul Fujimoto and author Jamie Ford.

All profits from the performances will be donated to Seattle's Nikkei community.

The cast will be led by Rich Ceraulo Ko and Darius de Haas and will feature Rick Faugno, Kate Jaeger, Keita Kawahara, Kathleen Kwan, Jonny Lee Jr, Sam McCulley, Shaunyce Omar, Cy Paolantonio, Morgan Claire Roberts, Isa Noriko Sanchez, Jimmy Shields, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Owen Yen, and Minami Yusui

The musicians for the concert presentation include Kenneth Aramaki, Jonah Byrne, Paul Fujimoto, Merwin Kato, Jarrett Mason, and Kellen White.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet features book, direction, and choreography by Lainie Sakakura, with music, lyrics, and orchestrations by Paul Fujimoto. The creative team also includes Brian Walters (Music Direction/Supervision), Fenton Li (Cantonese Consultant), Sam Davis (Dance Arrangements), Rick Faugno (Co-Choreographer), Camilla Tassi (Projection Design), Jessica Trundy (Lighting Design), Ari Lindholm (Sound Design/Technical Director), Keith Yamaguchi (Event Coordinator/Nisei Veterans Committee Foundation ) and the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute facility team.

The production is produced by SAKACHEZ fiscally sponsored by New York Live Arts 501c3, supported by Seattle community members, and made possible by angel donors Louise & David Wright.



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Featured Performer in a Musical - Top 3
1. Ali Louis Bourzgui - The Lost Boys, A New Musical
23.2% of votes
2. Ben Levi Ross - Ragtime
6.6% of votes
3. Bryce Pinkham - Chess
5.6% of votes

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