Pacific Overtures


Chromolume Theatre
Dec. 1 - Dec 23, 2017

Music and Lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim
Book by
John Weidman

 

 

 

 

 

Set in 1853 Japan, this musical, written by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, follows the difficult Westernization of Japan, told from the point of view of the Japanese. In particular, the story focuses on the lives of two friends caught in the change. This is the first production of Pacific Overtures presented in Los Angeles since 1998.

 

CAST/CREW BIOS

 

 

 

Reviews

Neal Weaver of Stage Raw raves "Recommended!"

Steven Stanley of StageSceneLA says "[Sondheim] fans will find much to admire in this full-length intimate staging."

broadwayworld.com says "Thanks to [James] Esposito's brilliant casting and small stage direction, the production shines."

MORE REVIEWS

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FAQ

Where are you located?
We currently are a company without a home. You can reach us at P.O. Box 61964, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

What time should I arrive at the theatre?
Generally speaking, it is best to arrive at the theatre roughly 15-30 minutes before your performance.

Does the theatre have wheelchair access?
Yes.

Can my child/baby attend the theatre?/Is the show appropriate for children?
It is Chromolume Theatre's policy that no babies in arms may be allowed to attend. Further, we do not permit children under the age of four (4) to attend. This is to ensure that all customers enjoy the show. Young children are admitted but are not encouraged to attend unless the parent is confident the child will not distract other members of the audience. Everyone must have a valid ticket and occupy a seat. Accompanying adults will be asked to remove any noisy children. Generally, Chromolume Theatre produced productions are appropriate for school age children, while visiting productions can vary in appropriateness. Regardless, you should probably check with the Box Office when you order your tickets whether the production you are attending is appropriate for your child.

Are your actors professional?
In most cases, yes. Most, if not all, of the actors who perform in our shows are members of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and/or American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Do your musicals have live musicians or taped accompaniment?
All of Chromolume Theatre's produced musicals include a single piano, or a small orchestra, usually five pieces. We do not use taped accompaniment at any of our performances. Any visiting production may use taped accompaniment.

Whom do I contact to usher for one of your performances?
If you wish to usher for one of our performances, contact our House Manager.

How can I purchase tickets for one of your productions?
There are three ways to purchase tickets for Chromolume Theatre produced performances (please note that visiting productions' methods may vary):

  • Purchase them online through our secure server
  • Purchase them in person at the Box Office
  • Purchase them over the telephone by calling (323) 510-1651 x202

Where do I pick up my tickets?
You can pick them up at the Box Office on the date of your performance.

Where is the Box Office located?
The Box Office is located immediately as you enter the theatre, to your right. The Box Office is open one hour prior to performance.

When are auditions for your performances?
Audition dates and times vary depending on the production. You can browse our Audition Page to check out when an upcoming audition is occurring and what to prepare for said audition.

Do you do only do musicals?
Chromolume Theatre's production productions are not only musicals. Occasionally, we will produce a play or a play with music. Visiting productions can vary anywhere between performance art to fully staged musicals.

Where can I find rental information?
To rent our theatre or to find out more information, you can check our Rental Page or call us at (323) 510-1651.

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AUDITIONS

Chromolume Theatre does not currently have any auditions scheduled.

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AUDITIONS

Chromolume Theatre does not currently have any auditions scheduled.

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Cast/Crew Bios

Paul Wong, Reciter
Pacific Overtures

Paul is thrilled to revisit the rarely performed Pacific Overtures in the role of the Reciter after appearing in the Ovation Award winning most recent previous Los Angeles production nearly 20 years ago in many (MANY) ensemble roles. Pacific Overtures is also his first repeat of 13 different Stephen Sondheim shows in his credits, also including the Ovation Award winning production of Sweeney Todd (Anthony), the US Premiere of the revised Anyone Can Whistle (George) and the full production LA Premiere of Passion (Sgt. Lombardi, Fosca's Father, Vocal Director). Appropriately, his solo show is titled SIMPLY SINGING SONDHEIM...ALMOST consisting of autobiographical stories told mostly through Sondheim's words and music. Paul is the winner of the NAACP Theatre Award for Best Music Director for Chromolume's own Do Lord Remember Me and the Vee-Cee Award for Memorable Performance by an Actor for A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Hysterium). Proud member of Actors Equity Association. Deepest gratitude to his parents for the gift of music as a child, to James and Daniel and the entire Chromolume staff for this wonderful opportunity, to Joshua, Jake and Rikki for artistic guidance, to everyone at Across the Board for being in my corner, to Tomm, Buddy and to all his friends and family for love and support, and to Mako, on whose shoulders we all stand. www.Paul-Wong.com. Follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @PaulWongActor.


Cesar Cirpriano, Kayama
Pacific Overtures

Excited to return the the Chromolume Theatre after appearing in Hello Again earlier this season. Other theatrical Highlights include: La Cage Aux Folles, Tommy, Chess, Be Like Water, Sweeney Todd, Equus, Romeo & Juliet, Othello, and West Side Story. Has been in the National Tours of The King & I, and Miss Saigon Some Film & TV credits include: Being Mary Jane, New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Parenthood, Dark Intentions, Valley of Angels, Die Fighting, and Welcome to Level 7(full list on imdb). Has also appeared in the web series: Pretty Dudes, In The Moment, Coffee House Chronicles, and How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse. Will next be appearing the the West Coast premiere of Allegience at East West Players. Can Also be found on Billboards, sides of trucks, print ads, and fitness ads.


Daryl L. Padilla, Manjiro
Pacific Overtures

Daryl L. Padilla is a Filipino American Actor. Born in Manila and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Daryl, a shy kid in his youth, began his acting career when he reluctantly auditioned for a school play. Having landed a leading role, he continued to perform in a handful of high school and community productions. Daryl went on to participate in acting showcases, receiving an Honorable Mention in Teen Commercial Acting at the iPOP! Talent Convention in 2007, before finally making the move to Los Angeles in late 2013. Daryl has since been featured in several short films and director reels and has appeared in a number of plays, which include a staged reading of the Sachi Oyama original Pineapple Story and the Robert Allan Ackerman original Blood, which was nominated for 5 Stage Raw Awards, including Best Ensemble. Between jobs, Daryl invests his time into creating his own content, ranging from hosting drawing videos to a self-produced web series and even performing original music on the ukulele. He is currently represented by Angelina Bruno and Andrea Beane at AB2 Talent.


Marcel Licera, Lord Abe, Old Man
Pacific Overtures

Welcome to Kanagawa! Was recently seen this year in back to back hit dramatic & critically acclaimed play FUGU (Stage Raw's top 10 pick wherein he originated the role of Capt. Matsuoka) and the hit musical Letters to Eve, he is glad to be playing his third Japanese role. Marcel dedicates his performance to his parents Dr. Steve Mendoza (deceased) and Lolita Blanchard. He is ecstatic to be in this production alongside very talented actors/singers and wishes to thank Chromolume Theatre's staff and crew for their support. Some past favorite musical productions: The Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast (Beast), Wizard of Oz (Lion), Godspell (Jeffrey), Pinocchio (Fox), Quill and Ink (originated the role of Cook/Falstaff), Abadeha (originated the role of Abak), King and I (King) and Miss Saigon (Engineer). When not performing, he is a United States Postal Service mailman and on hiatus as a psychotherapist intern. Marcel was a former National Teen LEGO Champion of his native Philippines and is a member of SAG/AFTRA. Love and Thanks to his Angels--- Carmen, Lulu and Iris. First aspire, then inspire!


Peter Jeensalute, Mother, American Admiral
Pacific Overtures

Peter Jeensalute: Educator, Advocator, Motivator. With a bachelor's degree in Theater Arts from LMU, Peter had the opportunity to study performance in Bonn, Germany, with a brief stint at the Moscow Art Theater in Russia. Post college, Peter entered the education field, beginning his teaching career at his elementary alma mater, and moving to his high school alma mater to run the theater program. He continued his Masters in Secondary Education: English through LMU, when he became the Director of Public Relations and Marketing for the high school. He moved to the Tarzana Community and Cultural Center as the Executive Director, adding to his body of work within the community. Peter started his own consulting business (The World Ablaze) for branding and marketing, using educational theories as a foundation for business development. Selected roles: Joe Pitt (Angels in America), Cinderella's Prince (Into the Woods), Richie (A Chorus Line). Selected directorial credits: A Few Good Men (Sorkin), Dead Man Walking (Robbins), Moon Over Buffalo (Ludwig).


Daniel Koh, Madam, British Admiral
Pacific Overtures

Daniel Koh is delighted to be performing with Chromolume for the first time as part of this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime show! Recent productions that he has had the joy to both perform in and music direct include [title of show], Seussical, Company, Peter and the Starcatcher and The Addams Family, all at the Morgan-Wixson Theater in Santa Monica. Other favorite productions that he has previously either music directed or performed in include Chicago, Urinetown, The Theory of Relativity, Once Upon a Mattress, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors and Children of Eden. Daniel received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the Yale School of Music and he is currently serving as the Director of Choral Activities and Music Director of Productions at Windward School. He is also a founding member of the Contemporary Choral Collective of Los Angeles (C3LA).


John Sala, Warrior, Russian Admiral
Pacific Overtures

John Sala has appeared in Urinetown (Cupcake Theatre) as Caldwell B. Cladwell and Starting Here, Starting Now (East/West Players). He was the host and narrator of Come What May (El Cid) with jackbenny. He has toured as Monsieur Beaux Artes in TJ3's The Crayon Court. He is excited not only excited to appear in his first Sondheim show but make his debut with the Chromolume Theatre Welcome to Japan!


Julia May Wong, Tamate, Young Boy
Pacific Overtures

A haiku:
About to give up,
Chromolume came to save her.
Honored. Humbled. Thanks.


Gibran Mahmud, Fisherman, Dutch Admiral
Pacific Overtures

Indonesian-American Tenor Gibran Mahmud's 2017-2018 Season include engagements with Chromolume Theatre, Long Beach Opera, a world premier at the American Composers Concert in Hollywood, and more. Gibran's recent credits include singing in the professional opera choruses of Los Angeles Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Dayton Opera. He has performed a variety of principal opera and musical theatre roles ranging from Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos to Marius in Les Mise´rables. Gibran has sung with the summer programs of SongFest as a fellow in the Professional Program and for The VOICExperience Foundation with Sherrill Milnes. He has placed in competitions and received awards from the Center Stage Opera Vocal Competition, Classical Singer Competition, and Buckeye NATS. Gibran also recently world premiered the role of George Power in the new highlights show Hail Poetry! with the Gilbert & Sullivan company Opera A La Carte. Mr. Mahmud hails from Dayton, OH and is an alumnus of USC Thornton School of Music (MM) and Miami Universty (BM). www.gibranmahmud.com


Kevin Matsumoto, Commodore Perry, French Admiral
Pacific Overtures

Kevin is a musical theatre performer from Monterey, California. He has most recently been seen as Man-Seok in Ezekiels Theatre's Son of Man and favorite past stage roles include Skimbleshanks in Cats, Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins and Shan-Yu in Mulan. He moved to Los Angeles last year to attend college at the Relativity School where he is working towards earning his BFA in Contemporary Musical Theatre. When he is not rehearsing or performing he spends his time playing guitar and continuing on his quest to find the best ice cream place in California. He is thrilled to join this revival as a member of this cast and would like to thank his mentors, friends, and family for helping him, being a constant source of encouragement, and for being able to put a smile on his face. He hopes you enjoy the show and thanks you for coming.


Reuben Uy, Madam, British Admiral u/s
Pacific Overtures

Reuben Uy is an actor of the stage, film and TV. After years of working as an actor in the Philippines, he is now based in Los Angeles. He is of Chinese descent from both parents and his mother is half Filipino. Selected Credits include: TV: John Enochty in Bosch. THEATER: Etienne in East West Players' La Cage Aux Folles, Laertes Hamlet, Argan Le Malade Imaginaire, Benedick Much Ado About Nothing, Eilert Loevborg Hedda Gabler, Stanley Kowalski A Streetcar Named Desire, Luke Altar Boyz. FILM: JJ in Metro Manila, Audience Award winner in the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Ty in Zoombies. IG: @reubenuy.


James Esposito, Director
Pacific Overtures

Pacific Overtures was the second show James saw as a child in the late 70s and was his introduction to Stephen Sondheim's work. He has seen the show a few times and is honored to direct the first production in LA in 19 years. He also directed last season's production of Songs For A New World for Chromolume Theatre, and will direct next season's production of Dessa Rose. He is a founding member of Chromolume Theatre and is currently the V.P. of Operations. Sound design credits include Zanna, Don't!, Next Thing You Know, Bird, Prez, Do Lord Remember Me, Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know, Merrily We Roll Along, Capsized Floatsam, Greek Tragedy, Musical of Musicals, the Musical, Altar Boyz, and Strip, the latter of which he also directed. Scenic Design credits include the NAACP Award Winning production of Do Lord Remember Me and Love Songs - A Musical, both for Chromolume Theatre. On stage, his credits include Company (Bobby), City of Angels (Munoz), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Thurio), Forever Plaid (Sparky), Fiddler on the Roof (Twice!), Cinderella and Chess just to name a few.


Daniel Yokomizo, Musical Director
Pacific Overtures

Daniel is incredibly excited to be working with Chromolume Theatre for his fifth professional show! He has worked as a muysic director for Chromolume on Edges, Songs For A New World and Zanna, Don't and with Art in Relation on It's Only Life. He currently works as an accompanist, and is trying to get his original music published. Daniel is also currently learning Japanese at El Camino Community College.


Michael Marchak, Choreographer
Pacific Overtures

From Philadephia by way of Rhode Island, Michael studied theatre and chemistry at USC. He was last seen on Chromolume's stage playing Mark in Altar Boyz. Having started his dance training at sixteen years old, Michael found a true passion for storytelling through the use of movement. Ballet quickly became a favorite as he trained in jazz, tap and dabbled in hip-hop. Michael works extensively on stage with Crown City Theatre in North Hollywood having recently appeared in Nosferatu during the 2017 Hollywood Fringe. Past productions: Crown City's The Fantasticks (Matt), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Miles Gloriosus), Cabaret (Ernst, Emcee); San Diego Musical Theatre's White Christmas (dance ensemble, quintet) and A Chorus Line (Mike), Sweeney Todd (Moonlight), Legally Blonde (Moonlight), A Chorus Line (Mark, Morgan Wixon Theatre), Sound of Music (3D Theatricals), The Real Love (Pasadena Civic Auditorium), Once Upon a Mattress (Cabrillo). On-Camera: Competent Charlatan Productions' Bizaria short as well as the part of Ronnie in the feature movie musical Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting. When Michael isn't in the theatre, he spends his time recording and performing with his boy band, Echo V (@echovmusic). This is Michael's second time choreographing for Chromolume – having choreographed Zanna Don't earlier this year – and he couldn't be more thrilled and grateful to Chromolume for giving him this opportunity to dive into Sondheim and Kabuki Theatre! Enjoy! @michaeljmarchak "You've got talent. Don't give up."


Hector Figueroa, Scenic Design
Pacific Overtures

Hector Figueroa is a Latin-American scenic designer. He is known for his work on Strength of this Nation, Polygon, and Attic, the latter of which resulted in winning the LAVC Award for Scenography. Figueroa's other work includes Bye Bye Birdie, and Shrek the Musical. Follow on IG: Creativityinabottle


Kara McLeod, Costume Design
Pacific Overtures

Kara McLeod has been working in theater for a million years, or about 30, depending on how you count it. Currently, when not working on shows, she teaches at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Concordia University and Santa Ana College. Pacific Overtures is the second show she has done with Chromolume Theater, and she's excited to be back with such a great team!


Jesse Baldridge, Lighting Design
Pacific Overtures

After working on board the Celebrity cruise ship 'Eclipse' for almost a year, Jesse is eager to be designing back on land again. Since graduating from CalArts in 2015 under the tutelage of professional lighting designer Anne Militello, he has worked with the Luminario Ballet, S.O.S. Entertainment, 4Wall Entertainment, Echo Theatre and also assisted with productions at the Los Angeles Opera, Yeager Designs, & Diavolo Dance Studios. He has designed for various theatre productions, music performances, art installations, and hopes to someday work on more immersive projects such as themed architecture, landscape, tradeshows, conventions, and theme parks.


Veronica Vasquez, Stage Manager
Pacific Overtures

Veronica Vasquez is a highly experienced stage manager with various credits. She began her stage management career as an Assistant Stage Manager for Malibu Playhouse's production of Love Letters with Sam Elliot & Katherine Ross. Since then has served as Assistant Stage Manager for The Musical Theatre Guild's production of The Pajama Game. Veronica first gig as a Stage Manager was with the Playwrights Arena's @thespeedofJake, she's then Stage Managed the Center Stage Opera for The Best of Broadway, Vol. II & III, Cosi Fan Tutte: The School of Lovers, La Cenerentola, and Romeo et Juliette. Veronica first started with Chromolume Theatre's 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival production, Edges, and then stayed for Zanna, Don't! She is happy to return once again for Pacific Overtures.


Louis Lake III, Asst. Stage Manager
Pacific Overtures

Louis is a hard-working individual, who loves working as a Stage Manger and Actor. He would like to thank Veronica Vasquez and James Esposito for bringing him on board this beautiful production. He would also like to say thank you to the wonderful cast for making the magic of Pacific Overtures come to life.


Ken Werther, Publicity
Pacific Overtures

KEN WERTHER PUBLICITY has been a staple in the Los Angeles performing arts community since 1982. Public relations, producing, directing. As producer: All Your Hard Work; The Good Boy; the Queer Classics productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Taming of the Shrew. Assistant director: Stop the World, I Want to Get Off (Musical Theatre Guild); The Women of Brewster Place (Celebration Theatre); The Woodsman (Coeurage Theatre Company). For a complete listing of PR activities, visit www.kenwerther.com.

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Reviews

 

Neal Weaver of Stage Raw raves...

 

"RECOMMENDED."

 

"Stage Raw Top Ten."

 

"[D]irector James Esposito, choreographer Michael Marchak, and musical director Daniel Yokomizo have scaled down the production with such tact that this production gains in clarity and dramatic power. Particularly in Act 2, the material seems more hard-hitting than it was on Broadway."

 

"Paul Wong brings enormous dignity and authority to the role of the narrator, here called the Reciter. Cipriano is a stalwart Kayama, and Leonardo is a wily and street-smart Manjiro. But the real star of the show is the 8-actor ensemble, whose members play multiple roles with skill and energy."

 

 

Daryl Miller of LA Times says...

 

"Chromolume summons enough style and vision to make its "Pacific Overtures" seem substantial even though all of the elements are small-scale."

 

"[T]he cast includes a standout tenor, Gibran Mahmud, who is wisely deployed as the lead voice on such key songs as the delicate "There Is No Other Way," the alarm-raising "Four Black Dragons" and the luminous yet blood-chilling "Pretty Lady.""

 

"Cesar Cipriano exudes quiet bravery...and Peter Jeensalute...mines the humor of a shogun's scheming mother in "Chrysanthemum Tea.""

 

 

Steven Stanley of StageSceneLA says...

 

"[Sondheim] fans will find much to admire in this full-length intimate staging."

 

"Pacific Overtures scores high marks for style, for its history lesson told through Japanese eyes (foreigners’ attempt to speak Japanese is heard in broken English), and for doing both with an all-Asian cast."

 

"[T]he cast assembled by director James Esposito (doing some imaginative work here) are a talented bunch, each of them offered the chance to shine, both as actors and as vocalists to Daniel Yokomizo’s expert musical direction/piano accompaniment."

 

"[John] Sala and [Julia May] Wong's "Someone In A Tree" is an Act One standout as is [Cesar] Cipriano's "A Bowler Hat" in Act Two"

 

"[Gibran] Mahmud proves the production's finest singer and [Kevin] Matsumoto its finest dancer in a thrillingly graceful, athletic "Lion Dance," just one of Michael Marchak's many choreographic contributions. (A puppet-show sequence is another imaginative winner.)"

 

"Hector Figueroa's Japanese-flavored scenic design [is] one of Chromolume's best."

 

"Kara McLeod scores high marks for her period costumes both realistic and fanciful"

 

"Chromolume Theatre's rarer-than-rare revival is worth a look-see. As for those who truly love the show, they I expect will find themselves in Sondheim heaven."

 

 

Tony Frankel of Stage And Cinema says...

 

"The mostly Asian cast — seven of whom play multiple roles — may not always be polished, but they hit their marks, and in some cases far exceed what one would expect from a semi-professional outing."

 

"This — as with most all Sondheim — is not an easy score to get right, but this ensemble did. I really was most impressed and, more important, I was truly entertained. It’s a ridiculously short run; don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a rarely produced Sondheim gem."

 

 

Shari Barrett of BroadwayWorld says...

 

"[T]hanks to [James] Esposito's brilliant casting and small stage direction, the production shines."

 

"The actors are to be commended for their triple-threat performances using every inch of the small performance space, supported by the very Asian-flavored scenic design by Hector Figueroa and ever-changing colorful lighting design by Jesse Baldridge, which highlight the mood of each scene, with the traditional Japanese costume design by Kara McLeod a joy to behold."

 

 

Earnest Kearney of TVolution says...

 

"Entertaining!"

 

"A testament to a company that has the willingness to stride where others merely cringe."

 

 

Rob Stevens of Haines His Way says...

 

"[T]he intimacy of the space provides you with a crystal clear hearing of one of Sondheim's best scores."

 

"Highlights include the heartbreaking "There Is No Other Way," sung in alternate verses by Daniel Koh and Gibran Mahmud, and the bantering of Cesar Cipriano and Daryl Leonardo in "Poems.""

 

"Musical director Daniel Yokomizo leads the three-piece band and gives the score the proper Japanese flavor."