Shōgun: The Musical

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Shōgun
The Musical
Kennedy Center
1990 Broadway

Shōgun: The Musical is a musical with a book and lyrics by John Driver[1] and music by Paul Chihara.[1]

Based on

William Adams
.

History

Clavell himself initiated the project in 1982 and, when it remained in limbo for more than eight years, finally provided most of the financing required to get it mounted. Compressing his mammoth work, which had required twelve hours to tell fully on television, into a reasonable length for the theatre proved to be a daunting task. When the production opened at the

Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., it closely resembled Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera in size and scope, with a cast of thirty-eight characters, more than three hundred costumes, a libretto nearly entirely sung, and a running time of 3½ hours. Critics and audiences alike had difficulty following the convoluted plot, and it was decided to cut much of the music and replace it with dialogue. Composer Chihara objected and was dismissed. The leading man Peter Karrie was also let go and replaced by Philip Casnoff, who had originally auditioned but was rejected by producers for being too young and too American.[2]

A revamped, considerably shorter show arrived in New York City. At the press preview shortly before opening night, Casnoff was struck by a piece of scenery in the middle of the second act,[3] and the performance abruptly ended. His injuries were minor, and after a brief recuperation he returned to the show.

After eighteen previews, the

choreographed by Michael Smuin, opened on November 20, 1990 at the Marquis Theatre, where it ran for 72 performances.[4] In addition to Casnoff, the cast included June Angela
, Joseph Foronda, Eric Chan, JoAnn M. Hunter, Leslie Ishii, and Francis Ruivivar.

Despite a detailed plot synopsis in the Playbill,[5] audiences were still confused by all of the action onstage. Critics found the special effects (including a shipwreck, an earthquake, and a battle fought on horseback in a snowstorm) and Patricia Zipprodt's costume designs to be impressive, but thought the score was weak and Smuin, whose background was ballet, had concentrated more on unnecessary dance sequences than he had on plot exposition.[6]

Casts

Original cast

Character Kennedy Center [7] Broadway [8]
1990 1990
John Blackthorne Peter Karrie Philip Casnoff
Lady Mariko June Angela
Lord Toranaga Francis Ruivivar
Father Alvito John Herrera
Lord Buntaro Joseph Foronda
Lord Ishido Alan Muraoka

Songs

Awards and nominations

  • Tony Award
    for Best Actress in a Musical (June Angela, nominee)
  • Tony Award for Best Costume Design (Patricia Zipprodt, nominee)
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (June Angela, nominee)
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costumes (Patricia Zipprodt, winner)
  • Theatre World Award (Francis Ruivivar, winner)

References

Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops by

ISBN 0-312-06428-4
)\

  1. ^ a b c "Shogun the Musical - Chihara - The Guide to Musical Theatre". guidetomusicaltheatre.com. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  2. ^ "A Bad Translation of 'Shogun' : Why the opulent production of the hit James Clavell novel and miniseries lasted less than 100 days on Broadway". The New York Times. 1991-01-27. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  3. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  4. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  5. ^ "Playbill for Shogun, the Musical".
  6. ^ "A Bad Translation of 'Shogun' : Why the opulent production of the hit James Clavell novel and miniseries lasted less than 100 days on Broadway". The New York Times. 1991-01-27. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  7. ^ Playbill. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/09/08/theater/317aec9b-ec80-4822-a937-42a743280d82/ 'SHOGUN,' THE SINGING SPECTACLE OUT-OF-SYNC EPIC AT THE KENNEDY CENTER
  8. ^ Playbill. [https://playbill.com/production/shogun-the-musical-marquis-theatre-vault-0000008197 "Shogun, the Musical (Broadway, Marquis Theatre, 1990) | Playbill

External links

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