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"I'm a fragment of the
Day
If I
Weren't who's to
Say
Things would
Happen here the
Way
That they're
Happening?
It's the fragment, not the day
It's the pebble, not the stream
That is happening...
Not the building, but the beam
Not the garden, but the stone
Only cups of tea
And History
And someone in a tree."

"I tried to keep the lyrics haiku-like, and I tried to avoid all words with Latin roots...Romance language roots, to keep it simple but to prevent it from being poesy, as opposed to poetic. Japanese haiku, when translated into English, trembles on the verge of parody: so you have to be very careful about it. And then as the score progresses, the language becomes more Western ---as does the music--after the invasion."

Stephen Sondheim

Pacific Overtures is a presentation of Japanese history from it's opening to the West after 200 hundred years of isolation, by means of Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853, up to the present(although most of the action occurs between Perry's arrival in Japan in 1853, and the restoration of the emperor in 1868). Employing a narrator, and using two characters to represent different sides of Japan, Kayama (the new ways ), and Manjiro (the old), Pacific Overtures weaves through history in vignettes. It has been described as a "historical stage pageant." Sondheim called it "documentary vaudeville."

Production Information

Pacific Ovetures previewed December 4 - 27, 1975 at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington DC . It opened on Broadway January 11, 1976 at the Winter Garden Theatre where it ran for 193 performances. The show closed June 27, 1976; 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. Tony Awards: Best Costume Design (Florence Klotz) Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson).

Production Information: 2004 Broadway Revival

Previews began November 12, 2004 at Studio 54. Opened on December 2, 2004; closed January 30, 2005. Pacific Ovetures ran for 24 previews and 69 performances. Produced by The Roundabout Theatre Company. Todd Haimes: Artistic Director;Ellen Richard: Managing Director;Julia C. Levy: Executive Director of External Affairs;Gene Feist: Founding Director. Produced in association with Gorgeous Entertainment. Directed and choreographed by Amon Miyamoto. Assistant Director: Scott Smith. Associate Choreographer: Darren Lee. Set and Mask Design by Rumi Matsui.Costume Design by Junko Koshino.Lighting Design by Brian MacDevitt. Sound Design by Dan Moses Schreier.Musical Direction by Paul Gemignani. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.

Synopsis
Review:2004 Broadway Revival
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