Celebrate AAPI Month with Frank Wildhorn
Audiences throughout China, Japan and Korea have had a constant stream of Frank Wildhorn musicals to choose from over the past two decades. Classics like Jekyll & Hyde and Bonnie & Clyde have been running for years and original commissions like Death Note, Mata Hari, Your Lie In April, The Man Who Laughs and others are born out of Asia and migrate onto the musical theatre stages in other countries. With over 20 productions in Asia, Wildhorn has been called, “the most popular musical composer in Korea” by the Korea Times and similarly lauded by others.
“He has four shows simultaneously running in Korea: Locally produced musicals “Mata Hari,” “The Man Who Laughs” and “Death Note” are playing in Seoul while “Jekyll and Hyde” is touring around the country. This tops Wildhorn’s 1999 record of when he had three shows — “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” “Jekyll and Hyde” and “Civil War” — on Broadway at once.”
Jekyll and Hyde
Listen to the Jekyll and Hyde Japanese cast recording that was recorded in 2003. Most recently celebrating a successful 20 year run this April in Japan.
Death Note: The Musical
“Death Note offers a glimpse at the future of musicals.”
Death Note The Musical, adapted from the popular shōnen manga Death Note. Premiered exclusively in Japan and South Korea in 2015, after an initial reading in NYC in 2014. Death Note was named Best Musical 2023 at the Korean Musical Awards.
Mata Hari : The Musical
This production marked the third revival of Mata Hari’s story, this time as a musical with composition by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy, libretto by Ivan Menchell and arrangements by Jason Howland. Korean Lyrics by Kwon Eun Ah and book by Lee Dan Bi.
Never Say Goodbye
Never Say Goodbye directed by Koike. Staged in 2006 at the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka, Hyōgo. Composition by Frank Wildhorn lyrics and libretto by Shûichirô Koike.
Yoka Wao starred.
Mitsuko : The Musical
Set in the 18th century, Mitsuko Aoyama centers around the first Japanese woman to marry a Westerner. Material from the show was premiered at the "Mitsuko Musical Concert" in Vienna produced by Kyodo Tokyo.
Your Lie In April
Your Lie In April an adaptation of Naoshi Arakawa's masterpiece manga of the same title, centers around a piano prodigy Kosei Arima. Composition by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Tracy Miller & Carly Robyn Green with Frank Wildhorn, and libretto by Riko Sakaguchi.
Your Lie In April Anime News Network review called it, “ a ‘universal’ story that is refreshingly brought together by the many brilliant songs with countless ‘take-home tunes’".
The Man Who Laughs
The Man Who Laughs musical is inspired by French writer Victor Hugo’s 1869 novel with composition by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy and libretto Robert Johanson. The show premiered at Bluesquare Interpark Hall in Seoul, South Korea in 2018.
Reviews stated, “The musical The Man Who Laughs is a work loved by top stars and is recognized for all its work beyond perfection.”
The Man Who Laughs won 6 Awards at the 7th Ye-Green Musical Awards, 3 Awards at the 3rd Korean Musical Awards the 6th E-Daily Cultural Awards and the 14th Golden Ticket Awards and achieved the first “Grand Slam”.
No Longer Human
No Longer Human music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Tracy Miller & Carly Robyn Green, libretto by i Wen Ya (文雅) & Zhang Mingzhu (章明珠). Premiered in December 2021 in Shanghai at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.
“Frank Wildhorn, who composed music for popular musicals such as ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, ‘Monte Cristo’, ‘XCalibur’, ‘Death Note’, and ‘The Man Who Laughs’, conducted a group interview with the domestic media on the 23rd. The modifier “The most loved musical composer in Korea” always follows him. It is no exaggeration to say that his music is played every night in Korean musical theaters. If you look at just one day from the 1st of next month, there are four places: Seoul Arts Center (‘Death Note’), Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (‘The Man Who Laughs’), Charlotte Theater (‘Mata Hari’), and Daejeon Arts Center (‘Jekyll and Hyde’). His music meets an audience of 7000~8000 people. ”
Fist of the North Star
Opening night of Fist of the North Star at Tokyo's Nissay Theatre. The musical is an adaptation of Buronson and Tetsuo Hara's Fist of the North Star.
Cyrano
Based on a play of the same name written by Edmond Rostand in 1897, Cyrano stars Takeshi Kaga, Douglas Sills, Linda Ederand and is produced by Toho Company, HoriPro, and Fuji Television. After a successful run in Tokyo in 2009 at the Nissay Theatre, the show played at the Umeda Art Theatre in 2013 and then tour Japan.
Xcalibur : The Musical
Xcalibur, an original new musical, composition by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Robin Lerner, libretto by Ivan Menchell, and orchestration and arrangements by Koen Schoots. Many popular K-POP artists have starred as the four rotating King Arthur’s including VIXX's Ken, INFINITE's SungKyu, JYJ's Kim JunSu, BTOB's EunKwang, and SEVENTEEN's DK.
This July, Takarazuka Diva Revue will debut in Japan with an all-female company.
Monte Cristo : The Musical
Monte Cristo: The Musical by composition by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics by Jack Murphy with libretto by Jack Murphy. Falsely accused of colluding with the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte in 19th century France, newlywed seaman Edmond Dantès suddenly finds himself thrown into a Mediterranean island prison without a trial.
Dracula
Yoka Wao starred in the 2011 production of Dracula in Japan. Book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton with music by Frank Wildhorn.
Celebrating the Past and Future
As of 2023, around 20 original Frank Wildhorn musicals have opened throughout Asia, more than any other American composer.
And More…
Carmen
Gold: Camille Claudel
Passage Through The Light (Takarazuka) Scott and Zelda
The Last Kiss (Rudolf)
Victor/Victoria
Wonderland