L-R: Charlie (Hansel Tan), Fred (Sean Fenton), Frank (Phil Wong), and Henry (James Seol). Photo Credit: Kevin Berne
Watch the World Premiere Trailer
Also available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming services!
The Four Immigrants:
An American Musical Manga
Book, Music & Lyrics by Min Kahng
Based on the Manga Yonin Shosei by Henry Kiyama, Translated as The Four Immigrants Manga by Frederik L. Schodt
Recipient of the Theatre Bay Area Award for Outstanding World Premiere Musical!
Recipient of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for Original Script, Original Music, and Entire Production - Bay Area!
Follow the adventures of Charlie, Frank, Fred and Henry – four turn-of-the-20th-century Japanese immigrants – as they pursue their American dreams in the face of all manner of obstacles from The Great Quake of 1906 to anti-Japanese prejudice. Driven by a vaudeville- and ragtime-inspired score, this comic-strip-on-stage goes beyond the cartoon frame, exploring what it means to find home in a foreign land.
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““A powerful slice of Americana””
““A world premiere masterpiece””
LICENSING INFORMATION
The Four Immigrants is available for licensing.
Cast: 8 Asian American Actors (4 male, 4 female)
Music: 6-piece score (Keyboard, Violin, Cello, Reed, Trombone, Percussion)
Duration: 2 hr 30 (including 15-minute intermission)
For more info, please contact:
Elaine Devlin
elaine@edevlinlit.com
(212) 842-9030
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Jul-Aug 2017, World Premiere: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto, CA
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Nov 2019, Concert Reading: Artists At Play/USC Visions & Voices, Cammilleri Hall, Los Angeles, CA
Apr 2017, Workshop: Playwrights Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Aug 2016, New Works Festival: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto, CA
Dec 6, 2015, Staged Reading: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Redwood City, CA
Jan 2015, Excerpt Reading: Musical Cafe Showcase, Musically Minded Academy, Oakland, CA
Apr 2014, Writers Retreat: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Redwood City, CA
AWARDS & HONORS
2019: Finalist for the Richard Rodgers Award
2018: SFBATCC Award Winner for Original Script, Original Music, Entire Production - Bay Area, Entire Production - South Bay Region, Director - Leslie Martinson, and Music Director - William Liberatore
2018: SFBATCC Award Nominee for Ensemble, Choreography - Dottie Lester-White, Costume Design - Noah Marin, Lighting Design - Steven Mannshardt, and Set Design - Andrew Boyce
2017: TBA Award Recipient for World Premiere Musical - Min Kahng
2017: TBA Award Finalist for Production of a Musical, Director - Leslie Martinson, Music Director - William Liberatore, Choreographer - Dottie Lester-White, Ensemble in a Musical, Principal Male Actor - Hansel Tan & Phil Wong, Featured Female Actor - Rinabeth Apostol & Lindsay Hirata
2017: Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, Edgerton Foundation
2017: NAMT Production Grant, National Fund for New Musicals
2015: NAMT Writer's Residency Grant, National Fund for New Musicals
2015: CA$H Grant, Theatre Bay Area