About Pacific Overtures
- Released on September 06, 1976
- Music
Pacific Overtures is a musical written by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman. The show is set in Japan beginning in 1853 and follows the difficult westernization of Japan, told from the point of view of the Japanese. In particular, the story focuses on the lives of two friends caught in the change. The original Broadway production of Pacific Overtures in 1976 was staged in Kabuki style, with men playing women's parts and set changes made in full view of the audience by black-clad stagehands. It opened to mixed reviews and closed after six months, despite being nominated for ten Tony Awards. Set in 1853 Japan, Pacific Overtures follows the Westernization of Japan, mainly through the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman. The lives of both men are radically changed by the coming of American ships to Japan.
Full Cast of Pacific Overtures
Mako
plays Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
Soon-Tek Oh
plays Tamate/Samurai/Storyteller/Swordsman
Yuki Shimoda
plays Abe, First Councillor
Sab Shimono
plays Manjiro
Alvin Ing
plays Shogun's Mother/Observer/Merchant/American Admiral
Ernest Harada
plays Physician/Madam/British Admiral
James Dybas
plays Second Councillor/Old Man/French Admiral
Mark Hsu Syers
plays Samurai/Thief/Soothsayer/Warrior/Russian Admiral/British Sailor
Patrick Kinser-Lau
plays Shogun's Companion/Dutch Admiral/British Sailor/Girl
Ernest Abuba
plays Samurai/Adams/Noble
Larry Hama
plays Williams/Lord of the South
Jae Woo Lee
plays Fisherman/Sumo Wrestler/Lord of the South
Freddy Mao
plays Third Councillor/Samurai's Daughter
Tom Matsusaka
plays Imperial Priest
Conrad Yama
plays Grandmother/Sumo Wrestler/Japanese Merchant
Kenneth S. Eiland
plays Ensemble
Timm Fujii
plays Son/Priest/Girl/Noble/British Sailor/Ensemble
Haruki Fujimoto
plays Servant/Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry
Joey Ginza
plays Ensemble
Susan Kikuchi
plays Ensemble
Richard Magpiong
plays Ensemble
Tony Marinyo
plays Ensemble
Kevin Maung
plays Ensemble
Kim Miyori
plays Ensemble
Dingo Secretario
plays Ensemble
Freda Foh Shen
plays Shogun's Wife/Ensemble
Ricardo Tobia
plays Observer/Ensemble
Gedde Watanabe
plays Priest/Girl/Boy/Ensemble
Crew of Pacific Overtures
Crew
Sound
Writing
Directing
Art
Lighting
Costume & Make-Up