Theater News

Akira Takarada to Star in Japanese Musical Freddie the Leaf

Akira Takarada (center) and company
in Freddie the Leaf
(© Keiichi Shimada)
Akira Takarada (center) and company
in Freddie the Leaf
(© Keiichi Shimada)

Screen actor Akira Takarada, best known for his roles in the Godzilla films series, will star in the U.S. Premiere of the family-friendly Japanese musical Freddie the Leaf, to play John Jay College’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater, August 13-15.

Adapted from Leo Buscaglia’s best-selling novel, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for all Ages, the show is written and directed by Takashi Inuishi, conceived by Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, with music and lyrics by Shoichi Tama. The cast also features 21 Japanese teens and children.

The musical tells of the short life of Freddie, a leaf, and the other leaves on the tree, and is a touching story about the cycles of nature. The production is presented in Japanese with English supertitles.

The design and production team consists of Shintato Saiki (set), Shigeru Yamada (lighting), Tomoko Hontani (costumes), Eiichi Saneyoshi (sound) and Nana Mirai (translator).

For more information, visit tkonyc.us.