A musical with book by John Weidman, Pacific Overtures traces the history of Japan from the first contact with America (via Commodore Matthew Perry) through the modern age. The "development" of the country is represented by two characters, Kayama Yasaemon, a traditional samurai, and his friend Manjiro, a fisherman who had been shipwrecked in Boston, where he embraced Western ways. As Japan becomes more Westernized, Kayama embraces the new culture while Manjiro rejects it, rediscovering his roots. All this is acted out against a backdrop of the greater changes in Japan, as the Japanese and the world powers all try to capitalize on the opening up of Japan. Includes the songs "Poems," "Pretty Lady," and "Someone in a Tree."

Opened January 11, 1976 at the Winter Garden Theatre
Ran for 193 performances
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by John Weidman
Additional Material by Hugh Wheeler
Produced by Harold Prince in association with Ruth Mitchell
Directed by Harold Prince
Choreography by Patricia Birch
Scenic Production Designed by Boris Aronson
Costumes Designed by Florence Klotz
Lighting Designed by Tharon Musser
Kabuki Consultant - Haruki Fujimoto
Makeup and Wigs Designed by Richard Allen
Masks and Dolls by E.J. Taylor
Dance Music by Daniel Troob
Musical Direction by Paul Gemignani
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea
There Is No Other Way
Four Black Dragons
Chrysanthemum Tea
Poems
Welcome to Kanagawa
Someone in a Tree
Lion Dance
Please Hello
A Bowler Hat
Pretty Lady
Next

Prayers

Recordings:
Original Broadway Cast Recording, 1976 (RCA Victor RCD1-4407)
Original London Cast Recording (English National Opera), 1987 (TER 2 1152)

Tony Awards
Best Costume Design (Florence Klotz)
Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson)

Rights controlled by Music Theatre International

Reciter
Mako

Abe, First Councillor
Yuki Shimoda

Manjiro
Sab Shimono

Second Councillor
James Dybas

Shogun's Mother
Alvin Ing

Third Councillor
Freddy Mao

Kayama
Isao Sato

Tamate, Samurai, Storyteller, Swordsman
Soon-Teck Oh

Samurai
Ernest Abuba
Mark Hsu Syers

Servant
Haruki Fujimoto

Observers
Alvin Ing
Ricardo Tobia

Fisherman
Jae Woo Lee

Merchant
Alvin Ing

Son
Timm Fujii

Grandmother
Conrad Yama

Thief
Mark Hsu Syers

Adams
Ernest Abuba

Williams
Larry Hama

Commodore Perry
Haruki Fujimoto

Shogun's Wife
Freda Foh Shen

Physician
Ernest Harada

Priests
Timm Fujii
Gedde Watanabe

Soothsayer
Mark Hsu Syers

Sumo Wrestlers
Conrad Yama
Jae Woo Lee

Shogun's Companion
Patrick Kinser-Lau

Shogun
Mako

Madam
Ernest Harada

Girls
Timm Fujii
Patrick Kinser-Lau
Gedde Watanabe
Leslie Watanabe

Old Man
James Dybas

Boy
Gedde Watanabe

Warrior
Mark Hsu Syers

Imperial Priest
Tom Matsusaka

Nobles
Ernest Abuba
Timm Fujii

American Admiral
Alvin Ing

British Admiral
Ernest Harada

Dutch Admiral
Patrick Kinser-Lau

Russian Admiral
Mark Hsu Syers

French Admiral
James Dybas

Lords of the South
Larry Hama
Jae Woo Lee

Jonathan Goble
Mako

Japanese Merchant
Conrad Yama

Samurai's Daughter
Freddy Mao

British Sailors
Timm Fujii
Patrick Kinser-Lau
Mark Hsu Syers

Proscenium Servants, Sailors, and Townspeople
Susan Kikuchi
Diane Lam
Kim Miyori
Freda Foh Shen
Kenneth S. Eiland
Timm Fujii
Joey Ginza
Patrick Kinser-Lau
Tony Marinyo
Kevin Maung
Dingo Secretario
Mark Hsu Syers
Ricardo Tobia
Gedde Watanabe
Leslie Watanabe

Musicians
Fusako Yoshida (Shamisen)
Genji Ito (Percussion)

“I found [the Sondheim Celebration's Company] to be completely delightful. Almost all of the numbers excited and energized me, and most of the scenes were about as pitch-perfect as you can get. I just sat there with a big smile on my face the whole show.

Which is not to say that it is perfect...”
- popcornonmyknees

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