BWW Flashback: Stronger Than Before, ALLEGIANCE Ends Its Broadway Run Tonight
By: BWW Special Coverage Feb. 14, 2016
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ALLEGIANCE plays its final performance on Broadway today, February 14, 2016. Performances began at the Longacre Theatre on October 6, 2015, and the production officially opened on November 8, 2015. At the time of its closing, the musical will have played 37 previews and 113 regular performances, and will have been seen by approximately 120,000 people, a number that eerily echoes the number of Japanese Americans who were directly impacted by the events that inspired the show. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through ALLEGIANCE's journey to the Great White Way!
ALLEGIANCE features a book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima directs, in his Broadway debut. Andrew Palermo serves as choreographer.
The musical stars Tony and Olivier award winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) in her long-awaited return to Broadway joined by "Star Trek" icon George Takei in his Broadway debut at age 78, and Broadway and "Glee" star Telly Leung. Allegiance is the vibrant and unforgettable story of one family's resilience in the face of seemingly-insurmountable odds, inspired by Takei's real-life experience as a Japanese American during World War II.
The cast is as follows: George Takei as Sam Kimura/Ojii Chan; Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura; Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura; Katie Rose Clarke as Hannah Campbell; Michael K. Lee as Frankie Suzuki; Christópheren Nomura as Tatsuo Kimura; and Greg Watanabe as Mike Masaoka. The ensemble features Aaron J. Albano, Belinda Allyn, Marcus Choi, Janelle Toyomi Dote, Dan Horn, Owen Johnston II, Darren Lee, Kevin Munhall, Manna Nichols, Rumi Oyama, Shea Renne, Catherine Ricafort, Momoko Sugai, Sam Tanabe, Elena Wang, Scott Watanabe and Tony Award winner Scott Wise.
ALLEGIANCE illuminates one of American history's lesser known chapters as it tells the story of Sam Kimura (Takei), transported back nearly six decades to when his younger self (Leung) and his sister Kei (Salonga) fought to stay connected to their heritage, their family, and themselves after Japanese Americans were wrongfully imprisoned during World War II. An important story told with great resonance and intimacy, Allegiance explores the ties that bind us, the struggle to persevere, and the overwhelming power of forgiveness and, most especially, love.
ALLEGIANCE had its world premiere in a record-breaking engagement at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in 2012. And finally, in February 2015, it was announced that the show would arrive in New York later that year. The company met the press that fall, and you can watch their top-notch preview below!
Broadway previews began on October 6, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre, and we got a first look at the cast onstage (photos by Matthew Murphy)!
Before the show took its first official bows, George Takei and the cast were hard at work getting ready for the big moment. The show put out a series of behind-the-scenes videos chronicling ALLEGIANCE's rehearsal process. Check out the final installment below!
Trek To Broadway (Finale) - Ishi Kara IshiHere's the climax of our series, friends, with our momentous opening. Hope you've enjoyed following the trek to Broadway as much as I have enjoyed sharing it with you. It has truly changed my life; and my wish is for many more lives to be touched by it. #wishesonthewind #onefamily
Posted by George Takei on Friday, December 4, 2015
ALLEGIANCE celebrated opening night on November 8, and BroadwayWorld was there to capture shots from the curtain call (photos by Walter McBride), red carpet and interviews with the company!
The company recently celebrated the release of the ALLEGIANCE Original Broadway Cast Recording, and stars George Takei, Lea Salonga, Telly Leung and Katie Rose Clarke performed at a signing party at Barnes & Noble!
A national tour and international productions are in the works, so we'll say goodbye for now until you hit the stage again, ALLEGIANCE!
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