The Four Immigrants: An American Musical Manga
Book, Music & Lyrics by Min Kahng
Based on Manga Yonin Shosei by Henry Kiyama
Translated as The Four Immigrants by Frederik L. Schodt
Follow the adventures of Charlie, Frank, Fred and Henry, four turn-of-the-20th-century Japanese immigrants, as they pursue their American dreams in the face of all manner of obstacles from The Great Quake of 1906 to anti-Japanese prejudice. Driven by a vaudeville- and ragtime-inspired score, this comic-strip-on-stage goes beyond the cartoon frame, exploring what it means to find home in a foreign land.
Musical / 2.5 hours including intermission
Jul-Aug 2017. World Premiere, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Nov 2019. Concert Reading, Artists At Play with USC Visions & Voices, Cammilleri Hall, Los Angeles, CA
Productions
Apr 2014. Writers Retreat, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Jan 2015. Excerpt Reading, Musical Café Showcase
Dec 2015. Staged Reading, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Aug 2016. Staged Readings, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley New Works Festival
Apr 2017. Workshop, Playwrights Foundation
Development
2019. Richard Rodgers Award Finalist
2018. San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award - Original Script, Original Music, Entire Production
2017. Theatre Bay Area Award for World Premiere Musical
2017. Edgerton Foundation New Play Award
2017. NAMT Production Grant
2015. NAMT Writer’s Residency Grant
Awards & Honors
Watch. World Premiere Trailer
Listen. Original Cast Album on SoundCloud
Interview. Feature on CBS Bay Area
Media
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley World Premiere
Photo by Kevin Berne
L to R: Phil Wong, James Seol, Sean Fenton, Hansel Tan