New Manga musical 'Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen' to open off Broadway this fall

Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen is the first Manga graphic novel to be developed into an American musical in the English language. The original novel was written by Moyoco Anno.

New musical Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen will premiere off Broadway at new venue The Night Egg at the Culture Club. The show will begin performances this fall.

With music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik, and a book by Leah Nanako Winkler, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen is the first Manga graphic novel to be developed into an American musical in the English language. The original novel was written by Moyoco Anno.

The show is set in 20th-century Paris and follows young dreamer Colette, who finds her power through writing. While working at Night Egg, she begins chronicling the worlds of her eccentric clients, turning perversions into art. But behind her writing, Colette has a lingering, destructive attachment she cannot outrun: to her childhood love Léon.

New venue The Night Egg is named after a reference to the club in the Japanese Manga, and is located in the former home of the 90’s Twilio Nightclub, Sound Factory, and the 14-year run of Punchdrunk immersive show Sleep No More.

The creative team includes direction and choreography by Tony, Olivier and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford and music supervision by Or Matias.

Sheik said: “When Rob Ashford approached me about possibly writing the score for a story based on a famous Manga written by Moyoco Anno, I was flattered but a bit flummoxed. But once I got rolling along with Leah’s guidance and excellent ideas about how to adapt it, I was hooked.

"We all felt a more unique venue was best suited to this kind of production, where the audience has some freedom of movement and is not bound to a velvet seat. I am truly excited to help put this work in front of an audience, especially with this amazing group of creatives who comprise the team."

Additional details, including dates and casting, are yet to be announced.

Check back for Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen manga graphic novel. (Courtesy of Moyoco Anno, Shodensha)