We’ve got first-look images of the stage production of Spirited Away, the theatrical adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki‘s critically acclaimed film. The stage work heavily features puppetry to keep true to the otherworldly look of the most notable spirits from the beloved animated flick.
Spirited Away (2002) is the Studio Ghibli movie about 10-year-old Chihiro (Daveigh Chase/Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis/Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi), who decide to take a shortcut during their move and find a seemingly abandoned amusement park.
After her parents are cursed for eating the food of the spirits and turned into pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Jason Marsden/Miyu Irino). He hides her away in the bathhouse, a resort for supernatural beings needing a break from the mortal realm. Chihiro surrenders herself to serve in the bathhouse, working to free herself and her parents.
It’s currently at Tokyo’s Imperial Theatre, but the production will stop in Osaka in April, Fukuoka in May, Sapporo in June and Nagoya in June through July. We don’t know about all of you, but I’d clean out 100 slime-filled tubs or walk hundreds of miles of waterlogged track to go to this show. A massive round of applause to the stage team who pulled off this stunning, dream-like production!
Director: John Caird
Puppetry designer/director: Toby Olie
Set design: Jon Bausor
Choreography: Shigehiro Ide
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