By Lia Chang AsAmNews Arts and Entertainment Reporter
A star-studded gathering to celebrate the official Broadway debut of Allegiance was held immediately after Sunday’s opening night performance at the Longacre Theatre.
The new American musical Allegiance stars Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) in her long-awaited return to Broadway, Star Trek icon George Takei in his Broadway debut at age 78, Broadway and Glee star Telly Leung and Michael K. Lee. Inspired by Takei’s real-life experience as a Japanese American during World War II, Allegiance is the story of one family’s resilience in the face of seemingly-insurmountable odds.
Michael K. Lee, Lea Salonga and Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Allegiance features a book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima directs, with Andrew Palermo as choreographer.
Check out all of the festive party pictures at the Bryant Park Grill below.
Jay Kuo and Marc Acito. Photo by Lia Chang
George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
George Takei and Brad Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Lea Salonga. Photo by Lia Chang
Lea Salonga. Photo by Lia Chang
Lea Salonga. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael K. Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Kim Varhola and her husband Michael K. Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Greg Watanabe. Photo by Lia Chang
Greg Watanabe. Photo by Lia Chang
Greg Watanabe and Sara Clement. Photo by Lia Chang
Katie Rose Clarke. Photo by Lia Chang
Katie Rose Clarke and her husband Chris Rogers. Photo by Lia Chang
Stafford Arima. Photo by Lia Chang
Stafford Arima and Lorenzo Thione. Photo by Lia Chang
Lorenzo Thione. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Prince and Lorenzo Thione. Photo by Lia Chang
Scott Watanabe and Sam Tanabe. Photo by Lia Chang
Scott Wise, James Wise, Elizabeth Parkinson and Savannah Wise. Photo by Lia Chang
Savannah Wise. Photo by Lia Chang
Christopheren Nomura. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcus Choi, Belinda Allyn, Aaron J. Albano, Dan Horn and Owen Johnston II. Photo by Lia Chang
Darren Lee, Margo Seibert and Sam Tanabe. Photo by Lia Chang
Catherine Ricafort, Janelle Dote, Elena Wang, Manna Nichols, Rumi Oyama, Belinda Allyn and Momoko Sugai. Photo by Lia Chang
Catherine Ricafort. Photo by Lia Chang
Belinda Allyn and Manna Nichols. Photo by Lia Chang
Belinda Allyn and Manna Nichols. Photo by Lia Chang
Rumi Oyama. Photo by Lia Chang
Janelle Dote, Jonathan Portman, Federico Bertè and Elena Wang. Photo by Lia Chang
Samantha Jo Palermo and Andrew Palermo. Photo by Lia Chang
Trip Langley and Chris Kong. Photo by Lia Chang
Makiko Shibuya and guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Laura Bergquist. Photo by Lia Chang
Jeff Saver and Rhyn Saver. Photo by Lia Chang
Alejo Vietti and Donyale Werle. Photo by Lia Chang
Allegiance illuminates one of American history’s lesser known chapters as it tells the story of Sam Kimura (Takei), transported back nearly six decades to when his younger self (Leung) and his sister Kei (Salonga) fought to stay connected to their heritage, their family, and themselves after Japanese Americans were wrongfully imprisoned during World War II. An epic story told with great intimacy, Allegiance explores the ties that bind us, the struggle to persevere, and the overwhelming power of forgiveness and, most especially, love.
Allegiance after party at Bryant Park Grill in New York on November 8, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
Allegiance after party at Bryant Park Grill in New York on November 8, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
Allegiance after party at Bryant Park Grill in New York on November 8, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
Lea Salonga with her mother Ligaya Alcantara Imutan and her husband Robert Chien. Photo by Lia Chang
Victor Lirio, Robert Chien with his wife Lea Salonga and Bryce Goodwin. Photo by Lia Chang
Lea Salonga, Paul Nakauchi, Kay Trinidad and Mike Karns. Photo by Lia Chang
Sam Tanabe, Lea Salonga, Liz Casasola, Guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Bryce Goodwin and Victor Lirio. Photo by Lia Chang
Paul Nakauchi and George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Floyd Sklaver, Paul Nakauchi and Marc Acito. Photo by Lia Chang
Victor Lirio, Paul Nakauchi and Liz Casasola. Photo by Lia Chang
Elliott Masie, Melinda Doolittle, Cathy DiMiceli Masie and guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Elliott Masie, Katie Rose Clarke and her husband Chris Rogers. Photo by Lia Chang
Elliott Masie and Melinda Doolittle. Photo by Lia Chang
Max Von Essen and guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Momoko Sugai, Rumi Oyama, Greg Watanabe, Chris Nomura and Elena Wang. Photo by Lia Chang
Carolyn Watanabe, Jodi Long, Tamlyn Tomita and Miiko Watanabe. Photo by Lia Chang
Laura Heywood and Jay Kuo. Photo by Lia Chang
Matt Blank and Paul HeeSang Miller. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcus Choi and Don Aoki. Photo by Lia Chang
Robert Anthony Jones and Garth Kravits. Photo by Lia Chang
Scott Wise and Darren Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Stafford Arima and his family. Photo by Lia Chang
Paul Nakauchi and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
The cast features George Takei as Sam Kimura/Ojii San; Lea Salonga as Kei Kimura; Telly Leung as Sammy Kimura; Katie Rose Clarke as Hannah Campbell, Michael K. Lee as Frankie Suzuki, Christópheren Nomura as Tatsuo Kimura; and Greg Watanabe as Mike Masaoka. The ensemble will feature Aaron J. Albano, Belinda Allyn, Marcus Choi, Janelle Dote, Dan Horn,Owen Johnston, Darren Lee, Manna Nichols, Rumi Oyama, Catherine Ricafort, Momoko Sugai,Kevin Munhall, Elena Wang, Scott Watanabe, Sam Tanabe and Tony winner Scott Wise.
Michael K. Lee and Lea Salonga. Photo by Lia Chang
Taye Diggs and Michael K. Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael K. Lee with his mom. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael K. Lee with his wife Kim Varhola and their parents. Photo by Lia Chang
Stafford Arima and Michael K. Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Scott Watanabe and Michael K. Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Kim Varhola with her husband Michael K. Lee and Victor Lirio. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael K. Lee and Ann Safran Dalin. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael K. Lee and Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung and his parents. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung and James Babcock. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Telly Leung and Stephen Flaherty. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung, Stephen Flaherty and James Babcock. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung and Jodi Long. Photo by Lia Chang
It was a reunion for Jodi Long, Kim Varhola, Telly Leung and Lea Salonga, who all appeared in David Henry Hwang’s revisal of Flower Drum Song on Broadway in 2002.
Jodi Long and Lea Salonga. Photo by Lia Chang
Kim Varhola, Michael K. Lee and Jodi Long. Photo by Lia Chang
George Takei, Jodi Long, Lea Salonga and Marc Acito. Photo by Lia Chang
Tamlyn Tomita and George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Tamlyn Tomita and Lorenzo Thione. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung and Tamlyn Tomita. Photo by Lia Chang
Allegiance has implemented a digital lottery for $39 seats available each day via allegiancemusical.com/lottery. Entries can be submitted the day of the preferred performance, either by 11AM for matinees or 3PM for evening performances. Winners will be notified via email or text, depending on what they select during the entry process, and winners may purchase up to 2 tickets which will be held at the box office. Allegiance will also offer a limited number of $39 rush tickets for patrons 35 years old and under for each performance beginning at the opening of the box office each day. There will be a limit of 2 tickets per customer. Cash or credit cards will be accepted for all lottery and rush tickets, and seat locations will vary depending on availability.
RE: Partying with George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leong and Michael Lee and the cast of Allegiance Opening night: ” fought to stay connected to their heritage, their family, and themselves after Japanese Americans were wrongfully imprisoned during World War II”
Wrongfully accused? What about the Japenese Imperialism, torturing and the raping of Korean women?
And yet Japan still has not formally apologize to Korea and it’s horrendous (similar to the Holocaust) treatment.
I’m only bringing this up because this article stated that comment above.
RE; Kody comment on partying with cast of Allegiance:
I think you may be confusing Japanese Americans with the Japanese and members of the Imperial Army. This is why we need shows like Allegiance.
RE: Partying with George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leong and Michael Lee and the cast of Allegiance Opening night: ” fought to stay connected to their heritage, their family, and themselves after Japanese Americans were wrongfully imprisoned during World War II”
Wrongfully accused? What about the Japenese Imperialism, torturing and the raping of Korean women?
And yet Japan still has not formally apologize to Korea and it’s horrendous (similar to the Holocaust) treatment.
I’m only bringing this up because this article stated that comment above.
RE; Kody comment on partying with cast of Allegiance:
I think you may be confusing Japanese Americans with the Japanese and members of the Imperial Army. This is why we need shows like Allegiance.
RE: Partying with the cast of Allegiance: Japanese-Americans.. Japanese Imperial Army.. Totally different entity group.