“The Four Immigrants: An American Musical Manga”

Min Kahng (Book, Music & Lyrics)

Based on Manga Yonin Shosei by Henry Yoshitaka Kiyama

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley

The story of immigrants arriving on the shores of the Golden State is told with songs that often sound as all-American as “Yankee Doodle” – songs with notes of jazz, ragtime, country-western, and even Sousa-like march beats.  And the many songs of this new musical are actually hummable, remaining upon leaving as fun earworms (something often not true in today’s new musicals).  Add to all these elements a cast that is to a person phenomenally stellar and a director (Leslie Martinson) who orchestrates the story’s telling with daring deftness, an open heart, and a penchant for allowing much wit even against dire adversity.  The resulting prediction is that Min Kahng’s (book, music, lyrics) new musical, The Four Immigrants: An American Musical Manga, appears destined to be another widely recognized success in a long-line of over sixty world premieres as TheatreWorks Silicon Valley opens its 48^th season.

For my full review, please click to Talkin’ Broadway:  http://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/sanjose/sj93.html