by N.A.P
“World Of Dreams ~ Takarazuka Revue Alumni Show ~” will be held on Thursday, March 19th, at the Meydenbauer Center Theatre in Bellevue. Produced by Sakiko Flower, the show will star Takarazuka Revue Alumni Rei Ayaka, Nijino Yumeka and Nanami Shiho and Tama Mayura. The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female theatre company, born over a century ago and still flourishing today, entertaining millions of fans each year. The actresses perform everything from lavish Western-style musicals to traditional Japanese shows to comic book and novel adaptations, along with many of their own original works. The show here will be more casual and smaller scaled than the original Takarazuka Revue, so the audience will be able to enjoy Takarazuka’s unique performance in a homey environment.
The World of Dreams Seattle performance is the troupe’s second, after the great success of the show held in December 2017. “We want to use the experience of the last performance, rehearsing with the lighting designer, the sound crew, and the veterans from the Takarazuka Revue and putting in a lot of effort to make sure the audience enjoys itself,” Sakiko Flower, a Seattle resident and producer of both Takarazuka shows here, says with enthusiasm. Flower is from Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture and always felt close to the Takarazuka Revue when growing up. Several decades later, after watching a Takarazuka Revue DVD recommended by a friend, she was blown away by the overwhelming performance. After that, she took to the Internet and started connecting with U.S.-based fans. It was then that she started thinking about an opportunity for American fans of the revue to bring Takarazuka to Seattle. Once she consulted an acquaintance who managed the entertainment office of the Takarazuka Alumni, she had the good fortune of soliciting their collaboration, which resulted in the 2017 Seattle performance. “At the Seattle performance, even if you don’t speak the language, you could easily enjoy the show. Singing and dancing were at the center. I am confident that people you bring will find it very fun,” Flower says. “In Japan, it’s difficult even getting a ticket to the theater, so this is a great chance for new fans to get a taste of what the Takarazuka performance is all about. And for long-time fans, there is enhanced content that they will enjoy.”
A new event that wasn’t part of the 2017 program is the “Dance with the Takarassiene” workshop to be held the day before the performance on Wednesday, March 18 at 6pm. You’ll learn simple dance steps, and get the rare opportunity to dance on stage with former Takarassiene dancers. Those attending the workshop will receive a free pen light they can use to cheer on the revue the following day. The workshop, where former Takarazuka performers will directly teach you the choreography, is open to everyone, no matter their age, gender, or nationality.
Tickets are available online at bit.ly/WorldOfDreamsSeattle. For more information, contact Sakiko Flower (flowersanseattle@gmail.com).
