If you missed out on George Takei’s Allegiance during its acclaimed, but brief, Broadway run, Fathom Events is giving you an opportunity to see the musical — that made Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda sob — in a cinema near you!
Just saw @allegiancebway.
Sobbing.
There is nothing like the power of an insanely talented company telling their story. Bravo @GeorgeTakei!— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 9, 2015
Starting today, October 26, advanced tickets are now on sale for a one-night-only showing of Allegiance on December 13 in select cinema houses nationwide.
Inspired by the life of its creator and star George Takei, Allegiance is the culmination of a decades-long dream to tell his story on a Broadway stage. A journey that was captured as part of the documentary To Be Takei, by the way.
And to get you psyched for the theatrical debut of the Broadway musical, here’s the cast of Allegiance joining Lin for a #Ham4Ham performance of the song “Gaman!”
Allegiance is the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese-Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. Sam Kimura seeks to prove his patriotism by fighting for his country in the war, but his sister, Kei, fiercely protests the government’s treatment of her people. An uplifting testament to the power of the human spirit, Allegiance follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves. Legendary performer George Takei — (Star Trek, Heroes), who was himself an internee as a child, stars alongside Tony® winner Lea Salonga — (Miss Saigon, Mulan) in this enthralling and epic new musical. But as long-lost memories are unlocked, Sam finds that it is never too late to forgive and to recognize the redemptive power of love.
GOT MY TICKET!
George said starring in the play was his way of apologizing to his father. In his own words there’s nothing more arrogant than an idealistic teenager, as a teenager he asked his father about their time in the internment camp and accused him of not doing anything about it his father retorted he would have done something if he didn’t have family to protect.
was some drama getting my ticket (thanks carmkie ugh) but once i sat down and the play started, all was good. the men were gorgeous, the women could BLOW and the story was so touching. it was at times too real for my sensitive ass and almost walked out twice and had bring out the tissues. whew! it was an experience. they did not pull their punches man. LOVED IT! hoping that this gets some life later on and people start doing their own productions of Allegiance like they do the wiz, or addams family. its not only a story that needs to told and needs to be heard its just a great great show and love the music. soundtrack? GOT IT!
Because I dont want to be too spoilery this will be
a relatively short review. Yes I know its a Broadway
musical but I did see it in the movie theater
therefore will be referring to it as a movie.
I loved this film.
Going in I didnt know what to expect. Was hoping to
enjoy it and prayed that it would be good and I got
more than I bargained for.
The night started out terribly. Printer ran out of
ink so couldn’t print my ticket but no biggie, just
use the confirmation number. NOPE. lol the theater
couldn’t find my purchase in their system.
Dishearted and angry just as I was about to go home
I got in the long line of the ONE working kiosk. I
was already there so what did I have to lose right?
SUCCESS! I got my ticket just in time to make it
just as George Takei’s introduction was ending.
PHEW!
So let’s get the negatives out of the way.
The production value is pretty low here. Like I said
earlier I didn’t know what to expect going in but
with “Broadway musical” in the heading I was
thinking of something on the level of a “Matilda” or
a “Lion King”. Instead it came off more like a local
theater production. Once the show starts this is
easily overlooked and mostly forgotten but it is
noticeable.
That literally is the only complaint I have.
This is not just hyperbole: this film is a spiritual
awakening. Yes I knew the horrors my brothers and
sisters faced during this time. I’ve read the
history texts, seen the documentaries and spoken to
elders from both Japanese and Japanese-American .
sides of the fence. Its one thing to KNOW, but to
witness it happening? To be transported back in time
and be immersed into the lives of the Kimura family?
At times it was just too real. They definitely did
not pull their punches. The language, violence, and
the conditions of internment camps were so visceral
I thought about leaving several times in the
beginning. I was enraged, saddened, in tears BUT I
was also inspired, filled with hope, and laughed. We
truly go on a journey with this cast and they all
deserve to be applauded for their incredible work.
No asian talent in America Hollywood? See Allegiance
and be proven wrong.
Though there are other great characters in the show
(my favorite being Frankie played by Michael K. Lee)
who more then get their shine, this really is about
the Kimura family, in particular siblings Sammy
(played by Telly Leung) and Kei (played by the diva
herself Lea Salonga, singing voice of “Mulan” and
“Jasmine”). Right away I loved Kei and disliked
Sammy but as the film went on the characters are
developed to show a duality to their personas. Kei
isn’t just the doting mother figure for Sammy or the
sweet compassionate girl we first meet. Nor is Sam
just a slacker with little respect for his Japanese
heritage. Through this tragedy they both find a
hidden strength to compact against the injustice of
the internment camps and though they are fighting
for the same thing they both have different views on
how to win back their freedom. None of these
characters are simply black and white, another
reason writers Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo
Thione should be praised.
It was brave and thought proking of them to not just
paint things as “government is evil, japanese
americans good”. There are those Japanese-Americans
who formed a resistance, who protested against their
mistreatment but equally it was shown those who took
on this burden, who dispite the treatment of them or
their family stood as proud americans and
volunteered to fight for a country that had taken
their homes, land and in some cases their lives.
They showed how everyone had valid points for the
stances they made.
I would be remiss to not mention the music. One
thing I was hoping to hear were songs in Japanese
(my favorite singer is Utada Hikaru so sue me lol).
I get that with “Gaman” and “Ishi Kara Ishi”, both
which are very inspirational. Though those are the
two songs that resonated with me the most
(especially “Ishi Kara Ishi”, which brings me to
tears every time) its the songs “Do Not Fight The
Storm” and “Higher” that are the show stoppers. The
performances both visually and vocally are top notch
and the stories in the lyrics just ring with so much
truth. The musical numbers are very subdued with
only a few having any dance numbers in them, the
power is in the message in the words. All substance,
no flash.
If you can find a way to catch this film or the
musical live I highly recommend it. And dont forget
the soundtrack! Now available on Amazon and Itunes.