Scott Watanabe

Review Roundup: ALLEGIANCE at East West Players Starring George Takei

The reviews are in for East West Player's production of ALLEGIANCE, starring original Broadway cast member, George Takei! ALLEGIANCE opened on February 21st and will continue to run through April 1st.

Review: ALLEGIANCE Musically Celebrates the Power of the Human Spirit

George Takei is known for his founding role as Mr. Sulu in the acclaimed television series Star Trek and as an influential social media icon. But long before that fame, Takei was born in Boyle Heights and spent his childhood in the Rohwer Incarceration Camp in Arkansas and later at Tule Lake in Northern California during World War II. His story of resilience and hope is the inspiration for ALLEGIANCE, a new Broadway musical making its Los Angeles premiere, co-produced by East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) at JACCC's 900-seat Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles through April 1, 2018.

BWW Review: ALLEGIANCE Makes Its Los Angeles Premiere at JACC

Focusing on one of the most devastatingly controversial periods in history after Pearl Harbor in the early 1940s, Allegiance portrays Japanese Americans, loyal to the US, who were forced out of their homes and relocated to centers akin to concentration camps. Treated like animals with little food, water or medications, somehow through the grace of strong will many of them toughed it out. Currently on stage at JACCC in its Los Angeles premiere, Allegiance has a fairly sturdy book and some fine uplifting music, but is not without its flaws.

Photo Flash: George Takei Returns to ALLEGIANCE for Los Angeles Premiere at East West Players

East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) present stage, television, and film star George Takei in the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance.

BroadwayWorld.com's Upcoming Events calendar for the week - updated on 2/24/2018.

BWW Morning Brief October 19th, 2017: TORCH SONG Opens, Broadway Unites for Puerto Rico, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: TORCH SONG opens, Broadway unites for Puerto Rico, and more!

Original Broadway Cast Members to Join George Takei in ALLEGIANCE's Los Angeles Premiere

East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) are pleased to announce that for the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance, stage and screen star George Takei will be joined by Broadway cast members Elena Wang as Kei Kimura, Greg Watanabe as Mike Masaoka, Scott Watanabe as Tatsuo Kimura, and Janelle Dote as Hanako.

New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP), America's preeminent Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company presents a new mounting of the time-honored classic, The Mikado.

Special invitational presentations of THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF PRINCE JEN, a new musical based on the novel by Lloyd Alexander, are set for today (Monday) and tomorrow at MTC Studio 1 (311 West 41 Street).

Special invitational presentations of THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF PRINCE JEN, a new musical based on the novel by Lloyd Alexander, are set for November 14th and 15th at MTC Studio 1 (311 West 41 Street). Music for THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF PRINCE JEN is by Daniel Green, with book & lyrics by Lezlie Wade. The presentations will be directed by Brian Hill.

Just ahead of previews, Broadway Bounty Hunter writer, Joe Iconis gives viewers a sneak peek into his 'future Tony Award-winning' musical.  Broadway Bounty Hunter features music and lyrics by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, The Black Suits, Bloodsong of Love), book by Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin (author of Denton Little's Deathdate) and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Off Broadway: Once Upon A Mattress), and choreography by Jeffrey Page (Broadway's Violet). Joel Waggoner (BSC's Presto Change-O, Southern Comfort) serves as music director.

On the final episode of Trek to Broadway, join the company of Allegiance for all the excitement of Opening Night on Broadway. Go backstage as the cast tries to stay calm and prepare for their official debut while the fervor of celebrities and special guests arriving on the red carpet outside the Longacre Theatre. For many of those involved, opening night is a huge milestone. As their seven-year journey to the Broadway stage culminates in this night, tune in to see what happens when their dreams become a reality. 

Below, go behind-the-scenes of Broadway's ALLEGIANCE with Episode 7 of the musical's 'TREK TO BROADWAY', titled 'Put on a Happy Face,' which takes a closer look at the preview period!

ALLEGIANCE stars George Takei and Telly Leung stopped by GOOD DAY NEW YORK today to discuss the new musical and its long journey to Broadway. Check out the interview below!

On yesterday's WENDY WILLIAMS, TV legend George Takei stopped by to talk about making his Broadway debut in the original musical ALLEGIANCE.

ALLEGIANCE stars George Takei and Lea Salonga talk about their emotional journey to Broadway and how they have used the power of social media to promote their new show.

Below, go behind-the-scenes of Broadway's ALLEGIANCE with Episode 5 of the musical's 'TREK TO BROADWAY', titled 'The Point of No Return,' featuring interviews with the cast and creative team, plus some rehearsal footage!

Broadway's Allegiance, a new musical inspired by Takei's true-life story, opens on November 8, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Previews begin October 6. It features a book by Marc Acito and music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima (London's Ragtime, Off-Broadway's Bare, Carrie, Altar Boyz) directs. The company put on a press preview yesterday, and BroadwayWorld brings you interviews with the company and a sneak peek of the cast in action below!

Broadway's Allegiance, a new musical inspired by Takei's true-life story, opens on November 8, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Previews begin October 6. It features a book by Marc Acito and music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima (London's Ragtime, Off-Broadway's Bare, Carrie, Altar Boyz) directs. The company put on a press preview earlier today, and BroadwayWorld brings you fully-staged footage of Lea Salonga, Telly Leung, Katie Rose Clarke and more in action below!

Below, get a sneak peek behind the scenes of Broadway's ALLEGIANCE with Episode 4 of the musical's 'TREK TO BROADWAY', titled 'The Point of No Return,' featuring interviews with the cast and creative team, plus some rehearsal footage!