Original director Michael Greif appears at the opening day curtain call of the Japan-US joint Broadway musical “RENT”!
Some videos of the special curtain call have been released.
*Kyodo Medias Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 25, 2024
**
Original director Michael Greif appears at the opening day curtain call of the Japan-US joint Broadway musical “RENT”!
Some videos of the special curtain call have been released.
On August 21st, the US-Japan co-produced Broadway musical “RENT” finally opened.
“RENT,” a monumental rock musical that vividly depicts the lives of young people living in New York’s East Village and won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award, had a long run on Broadway for 12 years until September 2008. and recorded a total of 5,124 performances. The same work was also made into a movie in 2006.
The 2024 performance, which will be a Japan-US joint production, will feature Koji Yamamoto, who played the same role 26 years ago, as Mark, and Crystal as Maureen.
Kay and the rest of the cast are all from overseas, including actors who are active on Broadway, and the entire production will be performed in English.
On the first day of the performance, loud cheers erupted as soon as Koji Yamamoto, who plays Mark, appeared on stage.
At the curtain call, Yamamoto said, “I’m happy to have such a good opening day.I feel like everyone has been waiting for me.”
Trey Errett, director of the Japan-US co-production “RENT”, Angela Wendt, original costume designer, and the Swing cast will also appear. Additionally, Michael Greif, who was the director of the original version of “RENT” and is currently working on many Broadway productions, made a surprise appearance. Michael, who came to Japan for this memorable performance, received a big round of applause from the audience, and some members of the cast burst into tears. As a special curtain call only for this day, we will all come together for the Seasons at the end.
of Love, and the venue was filled with thunderous applause.
The performance will run in Tokyo until September 8th and in Osaka from September 11th to 15th.
Click here for the special curtain call video!
https://youtu.be/964LLDLGOAo
*Michael Greif comment*
* It was a great and exciting first day. *
* I think Koji was the perfect casting choice to bring this story to everyone. * *
RENT’s story and characters may be a little far away for everyone in Japan, but Koji acted as a bridge between us and our customers. Crystal
Kay was also a very beautiful Maureen. He’s a wonderful actor. Alex I am very happy to have been able to celebrate the first day with the company members who I know well, as well as the members I am meeting for the first time, and to be able to feel the love that Japanese customers have for RENT. *
*Michael Greif Profile*
To date, he has been nominated for a Tony Award for five films: “RENT,” “Next to Normal,” “Grey Gardens,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and “Hell’s Kitchen,” which is currently on Broadway. . In addition to “Hell’s Kitchen,” he most recently directed three productions, “The Days of Wine and Roses” and “The Notebook,” all of which opened on Broadway at the same time.
*Japan-US co-production Broadway musical “RENT”*
Screenplay/composition/lyrics: Jonathan Larson
Director: Trey Ellet First version Director: Michael Greif
Choreography: Milli Park First edition Choreography: Marlis Yerby Music Director: Katherine A. Walker
Starring: Koji Yamamoto, Alex Boniello, Crystal Kay, Chabely Ponce, Jordan Dobson,
Aaron A. Harrington, Leanne Antonio, Aaron James McKenzie and others
*Full performance in English (with Japanese subtitles)
-Tokyo performance-
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 – Sunday, September 8, 2024
Venue: Tokyu Theater Orb (Shibuya Hikarie 11F) https://theatre-orb.com -Osaka performance-
Total of 7 performances from September 11th (Wednesday) to September 15th (Sunday), 2024
Venue: Sky Theater MBS (JP Tower Osaka 6F) https://stm-mle.jp [Ticket price (tax included, all seats reserved)]
S seat 16,500 yen, A seat 12,500 yen, B seat 9,500 yen, angel seat 8,000 yen *Please check the official website for precautions.
Official website = https://rent2024.jp
photos by Maiko Miyagawa