THE RAFU MARKET

Scott Watanabe as Tatsuo Kimura, George Takei as Ojii-chan, Jordan Goodsell as Hakujin, Elena Wang as Kei Kimura, and Ethan Le Phong as Sammy Kimura in the Los Angeles premiere of Allegiance starring George Takei at the Aratani Theatre, co-produced by East West Players and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. (Photo by Michael Lamont) Last opportunity to see the musical as it finishes its Los Angeles run this weekend. Published on March 29, 2018 By GWEN MURANAKA RAF

Kei Kimura (Elena Wang, center) and Frankie Suzuki (Eymard Cabling, second from left) in the musical number “Paradise.” By J.K. YAMAMOTO, Rafu Staff Writer With rehearsals in full swing, the cast of the Los Angeles production of “Allegiance” met with local media on Feb. 8 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. Directed by Snehal Desai, producing artistic director of East West Players, the musical will begin previews on Feb. 21 and officially open on Feb. 28 a

George Takei (center) joined the cast of John Doyle’s revival of “Pacific Overtures.” (Classic Stage Company) By J.K. YAMAMOTO, Rafu Staff Writer George Takei discussed his just-concluded run with “Pacific Overtures” in New York and his upcoming appearance in the Los Angeles premiere of “Allegiance” during a visit to the Japanese American National Museum on June 24. The actor and activist was at JANM for a meet-and-greet with museum members, which included a tour of the exhib

BOUND FOR LITTLE TOKYO: “Allegiance” tells the story of a Japanese American family caught up in the turbulent events of World War II. The Broadway run starring George Takei and Lea Salonga was followed by two sold-out showings in theaters nationwide. East West Players, JACCC team up for Los Angeles premiere of musical inspired by George Takei’s camp experiences East West Players (EWP) and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) are pleased to announce the Los An

The cast of “Allegiance,” including Lea Salonga (fourth from left), George Takei and Telly Leung, takes a curtain call. By FRANK ABE, Special to the Rafu Shimpo SPOILER ALERT: This theater review reveals an absurd central plot point. Don’t dismiss the problem with the new musical “Allegiance” as just one of historical inaccuracies — although it is riddled with them. The real issue is the fabrication of events that were impossible within the reality of America’s concentration

Floyd Mori (Center) and granddaughter Maiya Larsen with “Allegiance” star George Takei. By FLOYD MORI Having heard about the somewhat negative portrayal of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and one of its early leaders, Mike Masaoka, in the musical “Allegiance,” I was a bit skeptical about seeing the show. However, I bought tickets and went to see it in New York City. Mike Masaoka was a personal friend who had lived in Utah, where I was born and raised. He and his