The Menier Chocolate Factory has unveiled the full cast for the venue’s revival of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Pacific Overtures.
Matthew White will direct Jon Chew (Anything Goes, Barbican, The King and I, London Palladium) as Reciter, Kanako Nakano (My Neighbour Totoro, RSC/Barbican, A Chorus Line, Curve Leicester) as Tamate, Saori Oda (Avenue Q, UK and Ireland tour, Miss Saigon, Prince Edward Theatre) as Shogun/Madam, with Takuro Ohno (The Phantom of the Opera, Japan) who will make his UK stage debut as Kayama and Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Death Note, London Palladium, The Lion King, UK and Ireland tour) as Manjiro.
The cast is completed by Luoran Ding, Masashi Fujimoto, Rachel Hayne Picar, Eu Jin Hwang, Abel Law, Ethan Le Phong, JoJo Meredith, Patrick Munday, Sario Solomon, Joy Tan, Lee V G and Iverson Yabut
Co-produced with Umeda Arts Theater in Japan, the new production of one of Sondheim’s most ambitious creations will arrive in London following successful seasons in Tokyo and Osaka.
Featuring music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Weidman, Pacific Overtures will begin preview performances at the Menier on 23 November ahead of an opening night on 4 December. The run will end on 24 February 2024.
White heads a creative team that also includes set designer Paul Farnsworth, costume designer Ayako Maeda and sound designer Gregory Clarke, with choreography by Ashley Nottingham, musical supervision by Catherine Jayes, musical direction by Paul Bogaev, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, hair and make-up design by Wakana Yoshihara and cultural consultation by You-Ri Yamanaka.
Pacific Overtures completes the Menier’s trilogy of Weidman/Sondheim musicals following the successful productions of Assassins and Road Show.
Set in 19th century Japan, Pacific Overtures tells the story of the country’s westernisation. The musical’s Broadway debut in 1976 was staged in traditional Kabuki style, with men playing women’s parts and set changes made in view of the audience by black-clad stagehands. The production was nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning the awards for Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design. The 2003 West End production won the Olivier Awards for Outstanding Musical Production, Best Theatre Choreographer (Karen Bruce) and Best Lighting Design (Hugh Vanstone).
Angela Thomas
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