It’s a phrase that sounds dangerously un-jaded, even hopelessly hopeful, and after seeing the sublime new musical “Allegiance” you just might be moved to embrace it: “From the past / we can learn at last.”
That’s a lyric from “Second Chances,” a song that goes a long way toward embodying what makes this show, now receiving its world-premiere production at the Old Globe Theatre, such a stirring and worthwhile work.
Imagine you were told by the country in which you were born and raised that you had only a few days to sell your home and all your possessions, minus of what you could carry with you. Imagine that you were then transported hundreds of miles away and forced to live in cramped barracks where you would swelter during the summer and freeze during the winter, month after month, year after year. Imagine what kind of country that would be and how you would feel about the land you had believed with all your heart was your own.
A stellar performance by the cast of “Allegiance — A New American Musical” plus opportunity to see Lea Salonga and George Takei perform in person make The Old Globe’s production something that should not be missed.
Allegiance – A New American Musical is not George Takei’s story, but Mr. Takei was among the 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent who were held in internment camps during World War II. Now, Mr. Takei, who will forever be also known as “Star Trek’s” Sulu, is starring at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in a lush and romantic musical version of a family’s story set against a shameful time in U. S. history.
During World War II, 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes in California, Washington and Oregon and enter internment camps. It’s a heady subject for a musical, and one handled with surprising deftness in this powerful new musical Allegiance at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.
The book, by Jay Kuo, Lorenzo Thione, and Marc Acito, follows the travails and triumphs of the Kimura family, three generations of farmers in 1941 Salinas until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changes their lives.
With stories of every stripe and subject being produced for the musical stage these days, one shouldn’t have to ask “How can they make a musical out of the injustice of interning native-born American citizens into forced relocation camps during WWII?” Fair question. The answer is: before you complain or dismiss the effort, go see this powerful and cathartic musical, which is beautifully staged, with triple-threat actors, who sing, who dance, and who also touch the heart.
“Allegiance,” the Old Globe’s new musical, focuses on World War II, but it wasn’t as positive and fun loving as “The Sound of Music.” Instead of a nanny in Germany, “Allegiance” portrays the grim reality of Japanese internment camps here in America during the war.
Original shows don’t come along all that often these days. Sure, The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse have nurtured some fine award-winning musicals and plays through the years, but compared to the many revivals and shows surrounding known music on Broadway, an original musical is hard to come by.
Early in Allegiance – A New American Muscial, a frightened young mother acknowledges George Takei’s character, Ojii-San, with a single word – gaman. “It means endurance with dignity,” says Kei (Lea Solanga) when her brother Sam (Telly Leung) asks about the word. The time is 1942. The scene is the train station where thousands of Japanese American families are being removed from their homes and transferred to internment camps.
Somehow you would think a musical about an Asian-American family forced to move to a Japanese internment camp would be an angry and emotionally draining experience, leaving theatergoers feeling as if they just got punched in the gut. However, a big surprise about The Old Globe’s production of “Allegiance – A New American Musical” is how optimistic and uplifting the storyline plays out.
A stellar performance by the cast of “Allegiance — A New American Musical” plus opportunity to see Lea Salonga and George Takei perform in person make The Old Globe’s production something that should not be missed.
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Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’ an affecting success. Old Globe’s smart, soulful, world-premiere musical shines.
The UT-San Diego review of Allegiance calls it a sublime musical that manages to thread together myriad themes — of family strife, politics, patriotism, racial prejudice — into a beautifully unified exploration of what it means to be true to something.
It’s a phrase that sounds dangerously un-jaded, even hopelessly hopeful, and after seeing the sublime new musical “Allegiance” you just might be moved to embrace it: “From the past / we can learn at last.”
That’s a lyric from “Second Chances,” a song that goes a long way toward embodying what makes this show, now receiving its world-premiere production at the Old Globe Theatre, such a stirring and worthwhile work.
Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’ is moving, thought-provoking story of patriotism, loss
The North County Times review of Allegiance calls it moving, and "in impressively polished shape, with a multilayered, clearly plotted, well-paced book. In other words, bring your Kleenex, you're going to need it."
SAN DIEGO – In the publicity photos for “Allegiance —- A New American Musical,” it appears to be the story of a Japanese-American family struggling to hold itself together in an internment camp during World War II.
Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’ Powerful and Entertaining
Acito, Kuo, and Thione have created a musical that educates, moves, and entertains, particularly as performed by a stellar cast under the inspired direction of Stafford Arima at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre.
Imagine you were told by the country in which you were born and raised that you had only a few days to sell your home and all your possessions, minus of what you could carry with you. Imagine that you were then transported hundreds of miles away and forced to live in cramped barracks where you would swelter during the summer and freeze during the winter, month after month, year after year. Imagine what kind of country that would be and how you would feel about the land you had believed with all your heart was your own.
Allegiance Review: Allegiance extends its bow at Globe
Emotionally, Allegiance is an atomic bomb of a piece, dredging up even more guilt over our country’s egregious wartime acts.
A stellar performance by the cast of “Allegiance — A New American Musical” plus opportunity to see Lea Salonga and George Takei perform in person make The Old Globe’s production something that should not be missed.
Allegiance Review: Allegiance – A New American Musical at The Old Globe
San Diego's Old Globe Theatre production of Allegiance is a lush and romantic musical version of a family's story set against a shameful time in U. S. history.
Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’
The heart and soul of the show is the touching performance of Salonga, who shines in her many duets with Leung and belts her one solo "Higher" out of theater.
During World War II, 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes in California, Washington and Oregon and enter internment camps. It’s a heady subject for a musical, and one handled with surprising deftness in this powerful new musical Allegiance at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.
The book, by Jay Kuo, Lorenzo Thione, and Marc Acito, follows the travails and triumphs of the Kimura family, three generations of farmers in 1941 Salinas until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changes their lives.
Allegiance Review: World Premiere Musical At San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre
Go see this powerful and cathartic musical, which is beautifully staged, with triple-threat actors, who sing, who dance, and who also touch the heart.
With stories of every stripe and subject being produced for the musical stage these days, one shouldn’t have to ask “How can they make a musical out of the injustice of interning native-born American citizens into forced relocation camps during WWII?” Fair question. The answer is: before you complain or dismiss the effort, go see this powerful and cathartic musical, which is beautifully staged, with triple-threat actors, who sing, who dance, and who also touch the heart.
Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’
The musical was moving to me even though I’m not 60, and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a romantic drama about a black eye on America’s history that should be taken seriously.
“Allegiance,” the Old Globe’s new musical, focuses on World War II, but it wasn’t as positive and fun loving as “The Sound of Music.” Instead of a nanny in Germany, “Allegiance” portrays the grim reality of Japanese internment camps here in America during the war.
Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’ has some kinks, but is still enjoyable
Allegiance will most surely make its way to Broadway... See it now when you don’t have to spend the money on a flight and hotel in New York. The cast alone is worth the ticket price.
Original shows don’t come along all that often these days. Sure, The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse have nurtured some fine award-winning musicals and plays through the years, but compared to the many revivals and shows surrounding known music on Broadway, an original musical is hard to come by.
Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’ A New Musical and a Story to Remember
The great opportunity of the past is that we learn from our mistakes so as not to repeat them. Allegiance – A New American Musical is an important story in our country’s history and one that deserves to be heard. May none of us ever forget.
Early in Allegiance – A New American Muscial, a frightened young mother acknowledges George Takei’s character, Ojii-San, with a single word – gaman. “It means endurance with dignity,” says Kei (Lea Solanga) when her brother Sam (Telly Leung) asks about the word. The time is 1942. The scene is the train station where thousands of Japanese American families are being removed from their homes and transferred to internment camps.
Allegiance Review: ‘Allegiance’ entertains and informs
“Allegiance” works so well because it’s a celebration of humanity. I highly recommend this piece of theater, but for added appreciation, it’s best to attend with someone you care about. Hopefully, it will go to Broadway and “live long and prosper.”
Somehow you would think a musical about an Asian-American family forced to move to a Japanese internment camp would be an angry and emotionally draining experience, leaving theatergoers feeling as if they just got punched in the gut. However, a big surprise about The Old Globe’s production of “Allegiance – A New American Musical” is how optimistic and uplifting the storyline plays out.
Allegiance Review: Don’t miss Old Globe’s “Allegiance”
A stellar performance by the cast of “Allegiance — A New American Musical” plus opportunity to see Lea Salonga and George Takei perform in person make The Old Globe’s production something that should not be missed.
A stellar performance by the cast of “Allegiance — A New American Musical” plus opportunity to see Lea Salonga and George Takei perform in person make The Old Globe’s production something that should not be missed.