Pacific Overtures 47 years old
Stephen Sondheim's kabuki retelling of the opening of Japan to the West.
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.
Credits
Pacific Overtures Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Kim Miyori She was 25, now 73 years old | as Proscenium Servant / Sailor / Townsperson |
| Sab Shimono He was 39, now 86 years old | as Manjiro |
| Yuki Shimoda He was 55, 59 years old when he died | as Abe - First Councillor |
| Gedde Watanabe He was 21, now 68 years old | as Priest / Girl / Boy |
| Soon-Tek Oh He was 33, 74 years old when he died | as Tamate / Samurai / Storyteller / Swordsman |
| Larry Hama He was 27, now 74 years old | as Williams / Lord of the South |
| Freda Foh Shen She was 28, now 76 years old | as Shogun's Wife |
| Ernest Abuba | as Samurai / Adams / Noble |
| Ernest Harada | as Physician / Madam / British Admiral |
| Mako She was 42, 72 years old when she died | as Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble |
Pacific Overtures Crew
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Stephen Sondheim as Music. He was 46 (91) years old when He died | Sound |
| Hugh Wheeler as Additional Writing. He was 64 (75) years old when He died | Crew |
| Hal Prince as Director. He was 48 (91) years old when He died | Directing |
| Stephen Sondheim as Musical. He was 46 (91) years old when He died | Writing |
Pacific Overtures (47 years)
Stephen Sondheim's kabuki retelling of the opening of Japan to the West.
- Release day: Monday, September 06, 1976
- Runtime: 140 minutes