Not Held at Japan Society – The Opening of Japan: Broadway revival of Pacific Overtures

The Opening of Japan: Broadway revival of Pacific Overtures

An evening of discussion, a/v presentation, and live performance segment presented by the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center

Monday, November 22, 7 – 8:45 pm

This extraordinary evening celebrating the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s 1976 musical masterpiece, Pacific Overtures will feature a live performance segment from the upcoming production at the Roundabout Theatre, a stunning audio/visual presentation, and a lively discussion between Amon Miyamoto, director of the revival, and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, Dr. John W. Dower of MIT. Just like the musical, the evening will explore the cultural interactions and conflicts that resulted from the Opening of Japan by Commodore Perry and his “Black Ships” in 1853. Miyamoto will speak about his unique staging of the show, which won raves when presented in Tokyo, at the Lincoln Center Festival and at the Kennedy Center’s Sondheim Celebration, and he will compare and contrast it with Hal Prince’s 1976 production. Dr. Dower will present extraordinary artwork from both sides of this historic encounter, based on his and M.I.T.’s “Black Ships and Samurai” exhibition and web site. Parts of the exhibition will be displayed in the lobby, and Japan expert and author Dr. Carol Gluck of Columbia University will moderate.

With Amon Miyamoto, the foremost director of musicals in Japan and the first Japanese director ever on Broadway; Dr. John W. Dower, Elting T. Morison Professor of History, MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Dr. Carol Gluck, George Sansom Professor of Japanese History, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University; Michael Wolk, producer, Gorgeous Entertainment.

CUNY Graduate Center
365 Fifth Avenue
Free, suggested donation of $10 guarantees a seat.

(212) 817-8215, or [email protected]

Co-Sponsored by the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center; Gorgeous Entertainment; MIT “Visualizing Cultures Black Ships and Samurai” Project; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Apple Computer; Columbia University; The Graduate Center CUNY Ph.D. Program in Theatre; the Roundabout Theatre Company, the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan in New York.