The fastpaced musical depicts the confusion in japan triggered by the arrival of black ships from america toward the end of the edo period. The advantages of floating in the middle of the sea pacific overtures ensemble 2. Soon, the little feudal island was overrun with yankee, brits, french, dutch, and russian traders. Pacific overtures is a prime example, with its book scenes that cover much ground but dont have much more scope than a college survey course. Filled with contemporary sounds and stirring contrasts, this work is one your students will clearly enjoy rehearsing and performing. Phantom of the opera broadway norm lewis and sierra boggess. Alan muraoka and sesame street muppeteers jennifer barnhart and kathy kim delighted children and their parents as they shared traditions of. Jul 14, 2016 pacific overtures debuted at broadways winter garden theatre on january 11, 1976, and ran for 193 performances. Pacific overtures original broadway cast recording 1976 the. Pacific overtures chimes freshly resonant chords in a new london staging that finds a 1976 musical thats taken up with history also intersecting with it anew. Pacific overtures debuted at broadways winter garden theatre on january 11, 1976, and ran for 193 performances. Those days are long gone, and everyone in doyles vocally gifted cast.
A broadway revival of pacific overtures starring b. Broadway premiere theatre winter garden theatre opening night jan 11, 1976 total performances 193 original cast mako, soonteck oh, isao sato, yuki shimoda, sab shimono, ernest abuba, james dybas, kenneth s. Pacific overtures original broadway cast recording by. George takei will star in revival of pacific overtures playbill. The english national opera took it up the following year. Originally directed by hal prince, the work garnered ten tony nominations, winning.
Sondheim wrote the score in a quasijapanese style of parallel 4ths and. Stephen sondheim and john weidmans remarkable musical tells the tale of a samurai and a fisherman who are caught up in the westernization of the east. Two friends caught in the inevitable winds of change tell of japans painful and harrowing westernization. The categorization of pacific overtures as a tragedy depends very much on how you think the last 164 years have played out for the japanese people. The original cast recording was released originally by rca records and later on cd. Its 1976 premiere at the winter garden was more lavishly staged than the just opened revival at studio 54 directed by amon miyamoto, but dont let anything you may have read or heard to the contrary discourage you from putting this on your must see list. Pacific overtures music and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Music and lyrics by stephen sondheim first performance staged and produced by harold prince at the winter garden, new york, 11 january 1976 with mako reciter, isao sato kayama, sab shimono manjiro, yuki shimoda lord abe, haruki fujimoto perry and alvin ing shoguns mother. Pacific overtures 1976 original broadway cast youtube. 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. Matthew perrys initial confrontation with the floating kingdom in 1853. Experience the power of this exciting, yet easy original overture by noted composer john oreilly. The musical tells the story of the profound implications perrys efforts had on the identity of japan. At long last recorded on broadway at the winter garden theatre on june 9th, 1976 and then broadcast on japanese public television, this is the original broadway production of pacific overtures.
Pacific overtures opened at the winter garden on january 11, 1976 under the direction of harold prince. Pacific overtures is a complex, politically charged book musical. At the very dawn of multiculturalism, pacific overtures investigated relations between east and west using the critical lens later made famous in m. Mako and company perform sondheims the advantages of floating in the sea. Stephen sondheim pacific overtures 1976, vinyl discogs. Pacific overtures is a 1976 historical musical about how america used warships to forced japans borders open to trade in 1854. In particular, the story focuses on the lives of two friends caught in the change. Pomp and grandiosity have been replaced by simplicity and lucidity in john doyles stunning new production of stephen sondheim and john weidmans landmark 1976 musical pacific overtures, now at classic stage company. Pacific overtures is a musical with music and lyrics by stephen sondheim and book by john weidman, with additional material from hugh wheeler. Next lyrics pacific overtures musical musical lyrics. Originally directed by hal prince, the work garnered ten.
Pacific overtures original, musical, comedy, drama, broadway opened in new york city jan 11, 1976 and played through jun 27, 1976. With pacific overtureswhich first premiered on broadway in 1976john doyle continues his highly acclaimed exploration of sondheims work, having directed sweeney todd and company on the main stem, and passion at csc. The original broadway production of pacific overtures in 1976 was staged in kabuki style, with men playing. Concert selections are the perfect way to give audiences a taste of the musical theatre experience without the sets, props and costumes. Part of the reason is its been one of the leaststaged sondheim shows due to its unusual requirements. May 04, 2017 stephen sondheims 1976 musical about the westernization of japan, pacific overtures, a unique work even by the composers adventurous standards, gets minimalist treatment in john doyles. Up next, a japanese vantage point by ross sondheim wrote in his fascinating and time sucking book, finishing the hat, about a japanese screen he saw one afternoon at the metropolitan museum. Pacific overtures a rare musical to see in performance, which is a shame because of its imaginative use of kabuki. Eiland, timm fujii, haruki fujimoto, joey ginza, larry hama, ernest harada, alvin ing, susan kikuchi, patrick kinserlau, diane lam, jae woo lee, freddy mao, tony marinyo, tom matsusaka. Viewed one way, pacific overtures is a chronicle, stuffed with real names and documentary evidence, of the arrival of american warships at uraga in july 1853, and what came after. Sondheims funniest songs 2002 edward byles, simon mastertonsmith, ian comboy, harry nicoll, gordon christie, john. The original pacific overtures on broadway message board. Pacific overtures, which premiered on broadway in 1976, follows commodore matthew perry on his journey to japan in 1853 on a u. It tells the story of japanese westernisation in the 19th century, focused partly through the lives of young samurai kayama and fisherman manjiro.
Liu hulan, the female component of the books chinese. Although it failed to find a sustaining audience when it opened on broadway in 1976, pacific overtures, a musical about the opening of japan to the west written by john weidman with songs by stephen sondheim, continued to attract interest over the years, with an offbroadway production in 1984 and a british regional premiere in 1986. Over a quarter century after its 1976 broadway debut, pacific overtures began to enjoy increased attention from theater companies, culminating in a broadway. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. The american president decided to start trading process with japan. Chicago shakespeare theater and donmar warehouse donmar warehouse. Apr 30, 2020 pomp and grandiosity have been replaced by simplicity and lucidity in john doyles stunning new production of stephen sondheim and john weidmans landmark 1976 musical pacific overtures, now at classic stage company. Shortening sondheim john doyle stages an abbreviated version of the musical about the naval expedition that opened japan to the west. Pacific overtures, stephen sondheim and john weidmans musical about the wests intrusion on japan in the 19th century, is a show with spectacular demands. Pacific overtures opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on january 11, 1976, and closed after 193 performances on june 27, 1976. The show concerns the process by which the imperial powers pried open japan against the wishes of its leaders, and the consequences of that contact on the centuriesold culture of.
In 1853, commodore matthew perry sailed to japan on a u. The design of the obc is pretty much phenomenal, and the sets and costumes are wonderful. Pacific overtures a musical by stephen sondheim and john. Set in 1853 japan, pacific overtures follows the westernization of japan, mainly through the story of kayama, a samurai, and manjiro, a fisherman. Stephen sondheim and john weidman authors of assassins mix elements of kabuki theatre with the conventions of the broadway musical in pacific overtures, a highly original, inventive, powerful, educational.
Pacific overtures was one of the few opening nights ive attended. Heres an entire video of the original pacific overtures on. Over a quarter century after its 1976 broadway debut, pacific overtures began to enjoy increased attention from theater companies, culminating in a broadway revival in 2004. It was a three panel work of art that was more about what was omitted than what was depicted, inspiring sondheim to attempt the same with the 1976 musical, pacific overtures.
Pacific overtures 1976 original broadway cast by original broadway cast of pacific overtures music. Among the kabuki traditions adapted to the show were the use of males to play the female roles, the reciter mako who comments on and sometimes participates in the proceedings, and stagehands completely clothed in black and. Subreddit for all those theatre obsessed people who want proshots instead of bootlegs to be seen. Aug 27, 20 at long last recorded on broadway at the winter garden theatre on june 9th, 1976 and then broadcast on japanese public television, this is the original broadway production of pacific overtures. Check out pacific overtures on broadway 1976 pictures. Heres a glimpse at the 1976 playbill of the original. Pacific overtures, musical about japan by clive barnes. May 04, 2017 sondheim wrote in his fascinating and time sucking book, finishing the hat, about a japanese screen he saw one afternoon at the metropolitan museum. Covering matthew perrys initial trips to japan and. Concert selections for pacific overtures concert selections are original broadway orchestrations and exciting new symphonic arrangements of select songs for use in concert performances. Pacific overtures is a musical with music and lyrics by stephen sondheim, and a book by john weidman. Revival of pacific overtures, starring george takei, opens. Original broadway version 1976 two friends caught in the inevitable winds of change tell of japans painful and harrowing westernization. Pacific overtures theater in new york time out new york.
George takei will star in revival of pacific overtures. Sondheims funniest songs 2002 edward byles, simon mastertonsmith, ian comboy, harry nicoll, gordon christie, john cashmore, terry jenkins, and richard angas. He sent one of noblepersons general perry to conclude an agreement with that country. Hadestown 2019 obc hair 1968 obc hair 1968 olc hair 2004 actors fund benefit hairspray obc happy end 2006 cast happy hunting obc happy time, the obc hazel flagg obc hedwig and the angry inch offbroadway hello, dolly. In years after this invasion, japan modernized, attacked us in wwii, and then slowly became our economic partner.
Premiered in broadway in 1976, the musical pacific overtures won tony awards in two categories for its unique concepts and swept over the american theatrical world. A 1976 talk of the town piece in the new yorker features prince discussing the difficulties of recasting pacific overtures, the implication being that asian actors with musical theatre skills were few and far between. Pacific overtures stephen sondheim the guide to musical. Jan 01, 1977 pacific overtures is a 1976 historical musical about how america used warships to forced japans borders open to trade in 1854. May 04, 2017 viewed one way, pacific overtures is a chronicle, stuffed with real names and documentary evidence, of the arrival of american warships at uraga in july 1853, and what came after. Pacific overtures tv movie 1976 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Advance without stopping, the floating island japan. The play spans almost 120 years, beginning with comm. Pacific overtures is a musical with music and lyrics by stephen sondheim, and a book by 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.
Lisa sees thriller features an extraordinary example of chineseamerican cooperation. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Gone is chrysanthemum tea, arguably the song most critical of the. It was a three panel work of art that was more about what was omitted than what was depicted, inspiring sondheim to attempt the same. With pacific overtures 1976 prince and sondheim take a look at international relationships. Pacific overtures tells the story of japans emergence from a small country content in its isolation from the rest of the world to its current position at the the forefront of international politics.
Listen to your favorite songs from pacific overtures original broadway cast recording by original broadway cast of pacific overtures now. To receive email notifications about this plays upcoming productions log in, then click this button. Pacific overtures, musical about japan january 12, 1976 sondheim is the most remarkable man in the broadway musical today and here he shows it. Pacific overtures 1976 a musical by john weidman author. Unquestionably, those familiar with harold princes lavish original broadway production, or even the entirety of the shows score. Pacific overtures synopsis broadway musical july 1853. At long last recorded on broadway at the winter garden theatre on june 9th, 1976 and then broadcast on japanese public television, this is. Its 1976 premiere at the winter garden was more lavishly staged than the just opened revival at studio 54 directed by amon miyamoto, but dont let anything you may have read or heard to the contrary. Pacific overtures broadway cast 1976 comedy tonight. The mystery of this pacific overtures is why doyle cuts two songs. The pacific overtures original london cast english. Stephen sondheims 1976 musical about the westernization of japan, pacific overtures, a unique work even by the composers adventurous standards, gets minimalist treatment in john doyles.