Broadway Musical “Pacific Overtures” Live in SF (May 30-June 15)
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Brava Theater | 2781 24th St, San Francisco, CA
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Submitted by the Event Organizer
Broadway Musical “Pacific Overtures” Live in SF (May 30-June 15)
An unforgettable Broadway musical Pacific Overtures is back in the Bay Area after 22 years! Don’t miss this rarely-staged Sondheim masterpiece, with a book by John Weidman, presented by Kunoichi Productions!
Pacific Overtures
May 30-June 15, 2025 | 7:30p
Brava Theater, 2781 24th St., SF
Get Tickets – $25-75 (sliding scale) – Use Discount Codes: PACIFIC18 for under 18 ($20); PACIFIC30 for under 30 ($30)Schedule:
- Preview Night: Thursday, May 29, 2025
- Opening: Friday, May 30, 2025
- Closing: Sunday, June 15, 2025
- Wednesday – Saturday: 7:30p, Sunday at 2p
ABOUT THE SHOW
Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman (authors of Assassins) mix elements of Kabuki theatre with the conventions of the Broadway musical in Pacific Overtures, a highly original, inventive, powerful, educational and surprisingly humorous theatrical experience. Considered by many to be the artistic pinnacle of the legendary Sondheim/Prince collaborations, this exploration of culture and imperialism pushes the boundaries of musical theatre further than ever before.
Commodore Matthew Perry’s 1853 mission to open trade relations with isolationist Japan through gunboat diplomacy forges an unlikely friendship between the samurai, Kayama, and the Americanized fisherman, Manjiro. Kayama and Manjiro – and all of Japanese society – must face the wave of Westernization that follows.
Pacific Overtures explores how structures of power are dislodged and replaced by one another, be it in the name of modernity, imperialism, or survival. It presents a range of characters who see their lives upended in the face of global upheaval. The grandiose aesthetics of kabuki embellish the story in larger-than-life scope as the characters struggle to reconcile tradition with modernity, the world around them rapidly transforming through the inevitable ebb and flow of history.
In Pacific Overtures we of Kunoichi Productions see ourselves reflected, grappling with our hybridity.
As natives, professionals in, and subject matter experts of traditional Japanese theatrical forms such as noh, kyogen, and kabuki, our production team brings to bear a fuller understanding of the cultural aesthetics Sondheim and Weidman employed in the foundations of the piece. As modern artists, we not only our traditions, but also mastery of ballet, modern dance, and contemporary visual art.
Featuring:
- Lawrence-Michael C. Arias* as Abe
- Faustino Cadiz III as Swing
- Keiko Shimosato Carreiro* as the Reciter
- Edward Im as the Boy
- Sarah Jiang as Tamate
- Stephen Kanaski as the Warrior
- Ryan Marchand as Perry
- Eiko Moon-Yamamoto as the Shogun’s Mother
- Nick Nakashima* as Kayama
- Vinh G. Nguyen* as Manjiro
- Mayadevi Ross* as the Madame
- Julia Wright as Swing
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
This outstanding ensemble will play over 50 roles to bring this rarely-done Sondheim work to vibrant life.
- Directed by Nick Ishimaru
- Music Direction by Diana Lee
- Choreography by Megan and Shannon Kurashige of Sharp & Fine
- Cultural Advising by Ken Kanesaka
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Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: $25*
