Allegiance
Allegiance is inspired by stories from actor George Takei’s life, specifically during World War II when Takei and his family, along with 120,000 Japanese and Japenese-American citizens, were incarcerated in camps within the United States.
Stage Production Notes
George Takei was five years old in 1942 when his family were taken from their Los Angeles home to an internment camp in Arkansas, where they lived imprisoned for the next four years. In 2008, George Takei was encouraged to tell his story by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione after they witnessed Takei being moved to tears at a performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical In the Heights.
The subsequent musical, Allegiance, with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo, and book by Kuo and Lorenzo Thione, became Takei’s “life’s mission to bring this story to a wider audience.”
The first reading was held in 2009 at the Japanese American National Museum. After the reading, writer Marc Acito was bought on to the creative team.
Directed by Stafford Arima (Ragtime), choreography by Andrew Palermo, and music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Lynne Shankel, Allegiance premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in September 2012. The creative team also included set designer Donyale Werle, costumer Alejo Vietti, lighting designer Howell Binkley, sound design Jonathan Deans, projection artist Darrel Maloney, and music director Laura Bergquist. The cast featured George Takei (Sam Kimura), Lea Salonga (Kei Kimura), and Telly Leung (Young Sammy).
While George Takei received positive reviews for his performance of Sam and Ojii-San, the show overall received tepid reviews. The LA Times stated that it lacked “consistent focus, tone or musical idiom,” while Variety claimed the show “settles for glib, superficial gestures.” Stage and Screen summarized that “The visuals are memorable, but the musical is soon forgotten.”
Despite what the critics had to say, Allegiance broke box office records at the Old Globe Theatre.
After a two-and-a-half year gap, rewrites and further workshops, a Broadway transfer was announced.
The Broadway production opened on October 6, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre. The New York opening marked Takei’s Broadway debut (at the age of 78), and a return to Broadway for Tony winner Lea Salonga.
The show garnered mediocre reviews. New York TImes theatre critic Charles Isherwood claimed the show struggled to find a balance between storytelling and entertainment.
With stiff competition from Hamilton, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Color Purple, the show struggled to attract audiences. While the house numbers were small, the audiences received the show enthusiastically. This is supported by numbers on Show-Score, where 92% of Show-Score members gave the score a positive rating.
After 37 previews and 113 performances, Allegiance closed on Broadway on February 14, 2016.
A new production of Allegiance is scheduled to open in the West End in January 2023. The production will once again feature George Takei (Sam Kimura/Ojii-chan) and Telly Leung (Sammy Kimura) reprising their original roles, with Aynrand Ferrer (Kei Kimura), Iroy Abesamis, Mark Anderson, Masashi Fujimoto, Megan Gardiner, Raiko Gohara, Eu Jin Hwang, Hana Ichijo, Misa Koide, Patrick Munday, Rachel Jayne Picar, Sario Solomon, Joy Tan, and Iverson Yabut.
Filmed Production Notes
In September 2016, it was announced a filmed live cinema screening of Allegiance would take place at the end of the year. The screening was billed as George Takei’s Allegiance: The Broadway Musical on the Big Screen, and included an introduction from Takei, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette.
The film was co-produced by Sing Out, Louise! Productions, who also filmed Bandstand - another musical set in World War II.
The screening took place on December 13, 2016 in sold-out cinemas around the United States. The screening briefly held the record for the highest grossing Broadway film for Fathom Events, but was superseded by Disney's Newsies in February 2017.
An encore screening took place on February 19, 2017, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the internment of Japanese Americans, or Executive Order 9066.
Another encore screening, featuring additional footage, was held on December 7, 2017 to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day.
In October 2018, it was announced that Allegiance would receive encore screenings in the United States on December 11. In addition to the encore screening, Fathom Events hosted a new documentary, Allegiance to Broadway, screening on December 4, 2018.
From April 1, 2020, Allegiance was made available in a 2-disc Limited Edition Collector Box Set available for order through the musical's official website. The special edition box set was priced at $169.99US. A box set with a book signed by George Takei was priced at $299.99US.
A stand-alone DVD was later made available for $19.99US.
New streaming service Broadway On Demand announced Allegiance would be available to stream for 10 days from May 29, 2020. Viewers were able to purchase the stream for $14.99 US, which included access to behind-the-scenes footage and a red carpet pre-show hosted by Playbill and Telly Leung, and featuring other members of the cast. After the premier on May 29, rentals were available until June 23, 2020 for $8.99 US and provided 48 hours access.
Allegiance was available to stream worldwide (with the exception of Asia) on BroadwayHD from March 18, 2021.
Allegiance is available on DVD, BroadwayHD, and on Broadway on Demand.
George Takei was five years old in 1942 when his family were taken from their Los Angeles home to an internment camp in Arkansas, where they lived imprisoned for the next four years. In 2008, George Takei was encouraged to tell his story by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione after they witnessed Takei being moved to tears at a performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical In the Heights.
The subsequent musical, Allegiance, with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo, and book by Kuo and Lorenzo Thione, became Takei’s “life’s mission to bring this story to a wider audience.”
The first reading was held in 2009 at the Japanese American National Museum. After the reading, writer Marc Acito was bought on to the creative team.
Directed by Stafford Arima (Ragtime), choreography by Andrew Palermo, and music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Lynne Shankel, Allegiance premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in September 2012. The creative team also included set designer Donyale Werle, costumer Alejo Vietti, lighting designer Howell Binkley, sound design Jonathan Deans, projection artist Darrel Maloney, and music director Laura Bergquist. The cast featured George Takei (Sam Kimura), Lea Salonga (Kei Kimura), and Telly Leung (Young Sammy).
While George Takei received positive reviews for his performance of Sam and Ojii-San, the show overall received tepid reviews. The LA Times stated that it lacked “consistent focus, tone or musical idiom,” while Variety claimed the show “settles for glib, superficial gestures.” Stage and Screen summarized that “The visuals are memorable, but the musical is soon forgotten.”
Despite what the critics had to say, Allegiance broke box office records at the Old Globe Theatre.
After a two-and-a-half year gap, rewrites and further workshops, a Broadway transfer was announced.
The Broadway production opened on October 6, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre. The New York opening marked Takei’s Broadway debut (at the age of 78), and a return to Broadway for Tony winner Lea Salonga.
The show garnered mediocre reviews. New York TImes theatre critic Charles Isherwood claimed the show struggled to find a balance between storytelling and entertainment.
With stiff competition from Hamilton, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Color Purple, the show struggled to attract audiences. While the house numbers were small, the audiences received the show enthusiastically. This is supported by numbers on Show-Score, where 92% of Show-Score members gave the score a positive rating.
After 37 previews and 113 performances, Allegiance closed on Broadway on February 14, 2016.
A new production of Allegiance is scheduled to open in the West End in January 2023. The production will once again feature George Takei (Sam Kimura/Ojii-chan) and Telly Leung (Sammy Kimura) reprising their original roles, with Aynrand Ferrer (Kei Kimura), Iroy Abesamis, Mark Anderson, Masashi Fujimoto, Megan Gardiner, Raiko Gohara, Eu Jin Hwang, Hana Ichijo, Misa Koide, Patrick Munday, Rachel Jayne Picar, Sario Solomon, Joy Tan, and Iverson Yabut.
Filmed Production Notes
In September 2016, it was announced a filmed live cinema screening of Allegiance would take place at the end of the year. The screening was billed as George Takei’s Allegiance: The Broadway Musical on the Big Screen, and included an introduction from Takei, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette.
The film was co-produced by Sing Out, Louise! Productions, who also filmed Bandstand - another musical set in World War II.
The screening took place on December 13, 2016 in sold-out cinemas around the United States. The screening briefly held the record for the highest grossing Broadway film for Fathom Events, but was superseded by Disney's Newsies in February 2017.
An encore screening took place on February 19, 2017, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the internment of Japanese Americans, or Executive Order 9066.
Another encore screening, featuring additional footage, was held on December 7, 2017 to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day.
In October 2018, it was announced that Allegiance would receive encore screenings in the United States on December 11. In addition to the encore screening, Fathom Events hosted a new documentary, Allegiance to Broadway, screening on December 4, 2018.
From April 1, 2020, Allegiance was made available in a 2-disc Limited Edition Collector Box Set available for order through the musical's official website. The special edition box set was priced at $169.99US. A box set with a book signed by George Takei was priced at $299.99US.
A stand-alone DVD was later made available for $19.99US.
New streaming service Broadway On Demand announced Allegiance would be available to stream for 10 days from May 29, 2020. Viewers were able to purchase the stream for $14.99 US, which included access to behind-the-scenes footage and a red carpet pre-show hosted by Playbill and Telly Leung, and featuring other members of the cast. After the premier on May 29, rentals were available until June 23, 2020 for $8.99 US and provided 48 hours access.
Allegiance was available to stream worldwide (with the exception of Asia) on BroadwayHD from March 18, 2021.
Allegiance is available on DVD, BroadwayHD, and on Broadway on Demand.
Allegiance Production Credits
Opening Date: Nov 8, 2015
Closing Date: Feb 14, 2016
Air date: Dec 13, 2016
Medium: cinema
Where to watch: DVD, BroadwayHD, and Broadway on Demand
Theatre: Longacre Theatre
Producer: Sing Out, Louise! Productions and ATA
Book: Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, Lorenzo Thione
Music and Lyrics: Jay Kuo
Director: Stafford Arima, Film: Lorenzo Thione
Musical Director: Laura Bergquist
Orchestrations: Lynne Shankel
Choreography: Andrew Palermo
Scenic Design: Donyale Werle
Costume Design: Alejo Vietti
Lighting Design: Howell Binkley
Sound Design: Kai Harada
Projection Design: Darryl Maloney
Hair and Wig Design: Charles G. LaPointe
Make-Up Design: Joe Dulude, II
Stage Manager: Peter Wolf
Cast: Lea Salonga (Kei Kimura), George Takei (Sam Kimura/Ojii-chan), Telly Leung (Sammy Kimura), Katie Rose Clarke (Hannah Campbell), Michael K. Lee (Frankie Suzuki), Chritopheren Nomura (Tatsuo Kimura), Greg Watanabe (Mike Masoka) Darren Lee (Dr. Tanaka/Ben Masoka), Rumi Oyama (Mrs. Tanaka), Catherine Ricafort (Betsy Tanaka), Scott Watanabe (Mr. Maruyama), Janelle Toyomi Dote (Mrs. Maruyama/Executor), Aaron J. Albano (Tom Maruyama), Momoko Sugai (Peggy Maruyama) Marcus Choi (Johnny Goto), Elena Wang (Nan Goto), Dan Horn (Private Evans/Recruiting Officer/Big Band Singer), Scott Wise (Director Dillon/Farmer/Photographer), Kevin Munhall (Private Knight/Federal Agent/Tule Lake Guard)
Opening Date: Nov 8, 2015
Closing Date: Feb 14, 2016
Air date: Dec 13, 2016
Medium: cinema
Where to watch: DVD, BroadwayHD, and Broadway on Demand
Theatre: Longacre Theatre
Producer: Sing Out, Louise! Productions and ATA
Book: Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, Lorenzo Thione
Music and Lyrics: Jay Kuo
Director: Stafford Arima, Film: Lorenzo Thione
Musical Director: Laura Bergquist
Orchestrations: Lynne Shankel
Choreography: Andrew Palermo
Scenic Design: Donyale Werle
Costume Design: Alejo Vietti
Lighting Design: Howell Binkley
Sound Design: Kai Harada
Projection Design: Darryl Maloney
Hair and Wig Design: Charles G. LaPointe
Make-Up Design: Joe Dulude, II
Stage Manager: Peter Wolf
Cast: Lea Salonga (Kei Kimura), George Takei (Sam Kimura/Ojii-chan), Telly Leung (Sammy Kimura), Katie Rose Clarke (Hannah Campbell), Michael K. Lee (Frankie Suzuki), Chritopheren Nomura (Tatsuo Kimura), Greg Watanabe (Mike Masoka) Darren Lee (Dr. Tanaka/Ben Masoka), Rumi Oyama (Mrs. Tanaka), Catherine Ricafort (Betsy Tanaka), Scott Watanabe (Mr. Maruyama), Janelle Toyomi Dote (Mrs. Maruyama/Executor), Aaron J. Albano (Tom Maruyama), Momoko Sugai (Peggy Maruyama) Marcus Choi (Johnny Goto), Elena Wang (Nan Goto), Dan Horn (Private Evans/Recruiting Officer/Big Band Singer), Scott Wise (Director Dillon/Farmer/Photographer), Kevin Munhall (Private Knight/Federal Agent/Tule Lake Guard)
Take a listen to episode 44 of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast to hear composer Jay Kuo talk about the creation of Allegiance and how and why it was filmed on Broadway!
Sources
Articles
Websites
Other
- Laura Collins-Hughes, “George Takei Guides ‘Allegiance,’ a Musical, Not a Starship,” New York Times (Oct 27, 2015)
- Gordon Cox, “Broadway Musical ‘Allegiance’ Starring George Takei to Screen in Cinemas,” Variety (Sept 22, 2016)
- Ruthie Fierberg, “George Takei’s Allegiance Musical Will Return to Cinemas,” Playbill (Jan 5, 2017)
- Andrew Gans, “Watch Trailer for Allegiance to Broadway Documentary,” Playbill (Dec 3, 2018)
- Andrew Gans, "See Who's Joining George Takei and Telly Leung in London Stage Debut of Allegiance Musical," Playbill (Nov 8, 2022)
- Patrick Healey, “George Takei to Star in Broadway Musical About Interned Japanese-Americans,” New York Times (Feb 5, 2015)
- James Herbert, “George Takei taking Old Globe show to Broadway,” The San Diego Union-Tribune (Feb 5, 2015)
- Charles Isherwood, “Review: ‘Allegiance,’ a Musical History Lesson About Interned Japanese-Americans,” New York Times (Nov 8, 2015)
- Michael Paulson, “‘Allegiance’ Announces Broadway Closing Date,” The New York Times (Jan 6, 2016)
- Michael Schulman, “George Takei Is Still Guiding the Ship,” New York Times (June 13, 2014)
- David Rooney, “George Takei Musical 'Allegiance' to Close on Broadway,” The Hollywood Reporter (Jan 1, 2016)
- John Todd, “San Diego Theater Review: ALLEGIANCE (Old Globe),” Stage and Cinema (Sept 24, 2012)
- Bob Verini, “Review: ‘Allegiance’,” Variety (Oct 1, 2012)
- Karen Wanda, “A veteran star's 'Allegiance' to family history; George Takei brings his painful past to bear in a new musical at the Old Globe,” Los Angeles Times (Sept 16, 2012), p.E1
- Anne Marie Welsh, “Theater review: 'Allegiance' gives Japanese internment a soft focus,” LA Times (Sept 20, 2012)
Websites
- Allegiance official website, “Back by Popular Demand,” Accessed via: http://allegiancemusical.com/article/allegiance-film-encore/#44aJ8FpC7VdmZyZZ.97
- Allegiance official website, “From Broadway to the Silver Screen,” Accessed via: http://allegiancemusical.com/article/allegiance-movie/#qFRUBrcHk5e8Qtry.97
- Allegiance "The Broadway Film is Back", Accessed via: http://allegiancemusical.com/article/allegiance-film-encore/#wIScPKA0j2gWSssG.97
- Allegiance Opening night Playbill, Accessed via: www.playbill.com/production/allegiance-longacre-theatre-vault-0000014103
- Show-Score, “Allegiance,” Accessed via: https://www.show-score.com/broadway-shows/allegiance
Other
- Dir. Greg Vander Veer, Allegiance to Broadway: The Dream. The Story. The Journey of A Musical (2018)
Written by Luisa Lyons (January, 2017; updated November, 2022)