Photos: HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET Performs To Sold Out Audience; Producers Eyeing Full Production

Director Lainie Sakakura and music director Brian Walters led the staged benefit at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute.

By: Marissa Faith Curley May. 31, 2026

A special staged benefit concert of the new musical "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" based on Jamie Ford's New York Times bestselling novel took place May 23 and 24 at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. Producers eyeing Full Production. Check out the photos below!

The cast was led by Rich Ceraulo Ko and Darius de Haas and featured Rick Faugno, Tinka Gutrick Dailey, Kate Jaeger, Keita Kawahara, Kathleen Kwan, Jonny Lee Jr, Sam McCulley, Shaunyce Omar, Cyana Paolantonio, Morgan Claire Roberts, Isa Noriko Sanchez, Jimmy Shields, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Owen Yen, and Minami Yusui.

The musicians for the concert presentation include Kenneth Aramaki, Jonah Byrne, Paul Fujimoto, Merwin Kato, Jarrett Mason, and Kellen White.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet features book, direction, and choreography by Lainie Sakakura, with music, lyrics, and orchestrations by Paul Fujimoto. The creative team also includes Brian Walters (Music Direction/Supervision), Fenton Li (Cantonese Consultant), Sam Davis (Dance Arrangements), Rick Faugno (Co-Choreographer), Camilla Tassi (Projection Design), Jessica Trundy (Lighting Design), Ari Lindholm (Sound Design/Technical Director), Keith Yamaguchi (Event Coordinator/Nisei Veterans Committee Foundation ) and the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute facility team.

Photos by Matt Masuoka, Rick Wong, Sharon Hasegawa

The production was produced by SAKACHEZ fiscally sponsored by New York Live Arts 501c3, supported by Seattle community members, and made possible by angel donors Louise & David Wright.

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Darius de Haas, Keita Kawahara, Isa Noriko Sanchez

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Isa Noriko Sanchez, Keita Kawahara

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Sam McCulley, Isa Noriko Sanchez, Keita Kawahara

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Kathleen Kwan, Owen Yen, Keita Kawahara

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Jarrett Mason, Kenneth Aramaki, Merwin Kato, Jonah Byrne, Rich Ceraulo Ko, Brian Walters

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Keita Kawahara, Isa Noriko Sanchez, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Jimmy Shields, Rick Faugno

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Keita Kawahara, Isa Noriko Sanchez

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Jamie Ford with HOTCOBAS Band

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Rich Ceraulo Ko, Kenneth Aramaki, Jarrett Mason, Merwin Kato, Paul Fujimoto

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Full Company

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Minami Yusui, Isa Noriko Sanchez, Keita Kawahara

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Keita Kawahara, Owen Yen, Kathleen Kwan

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Rick Faungo, Owen Yen, Cyana Paolantonio

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Morgan Claire Roberts, Jonny Lee Jr, Rich Ceraulo Ko

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Rich Ceraulo Ko, Jonny Lee Jr

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Rick Faugno, Owen Yen, Keita Kawahara, Sam McCulley

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Keita Kawahara, Isa Noriko Sanchez

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Rick Faugno, Nathaniel Tenenbaum

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Shaunyce Omar

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Darius de Haas, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Keita Kawahara, Isa Noriko Sanchez

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Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Darius de Haas

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Cyana Paolantonio, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Jimmy Shields, Darius de Haas, Minami Yusui, Rick Faugno

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Keita Kawahara, Shaunyce Omar, Cyana Paolantonio, Isa Noriko Sanchez, Jimmy Shields, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Jimmy Shields, Darius de Haas, Minami Yusui,

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Keita Kawahara, Isa Noriko Sanchez, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Jimmy Shields, Rick Faugno

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Rich Ceraulo Ko, Jonny Lee Jr

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Owne Yen, Kathleen Kwan, Keita Kawahara

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Darius de Haas, Keita Kawahara

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Keita Kawahara, Sam McCulley

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Isa Noriko Sanchez, Keita Kawahara, Kate Jaeger

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Brian Walters, Sam McCulley, Keita Kawahara

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Darius de Haas, Keita Kawahara

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Isa Noriko Sanchez, Rich Ceraulo

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Kenneth Aramaki

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Jamie Ford

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Merwin Kato

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Jarrett Mason

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Merwin, Paul Fujimoto, Kellen White

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