A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

See What I Wanna See

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  2w, 3m

Michael John LaChiusa, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Takashi Kojima

A musical about lust, greed, murder, faith and redemption, based on three short stories by the Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

See What I Wanna See

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature), Period, Docudrama/History
See What I Wanna See

Details

Summary

See What I Wanna See, a musical about lust, greed, murder, faith and redemption, was named by New York Magazine as one of the Best Musicals of 2005 and nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical. It is based on three short stories by the Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa and unfolds like a classical Japanese screen painting. In Kesa and Morito, set in medieval Japan, two lovers sing of the ecstasy and torment of their illicit affair and their determination to end it that night. R Shomon, set in 1951, New York City, follows the investigation of a crime of passion and the witnesses' contradicting versions of the event. An innocent bystander, a cunning thief, a flirtatious wife, a psychic and even the ghost of the murdered man are all caught in a web of deceit. Gloryday, set in present-day New York City, introduces a priest during a crisis of faith after a terrible tragedy strikes the city. Disillusioned and angry, he plays a practical joke and posts an anonymous letter in Central Park, declaring that Christ will appear, rising from the pond. On the day of the miracle, a storm blows through the Park, and only the priest sees his lie become a truth.

History
See What I Wanna See was presented by the Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Mara Manus, Executive Director) in New York City, opening on October 30, 2005. It was directed by Ted Sperling; the set design was by Thomas Lynch; the costume design was by Elizabeth Caitlin Ward; the lighting design was by Christopher Akerlind; the sound design was by Acme Sound Partners; the musical staging was by Jonathan Butterell; the orchestrations were by Bruce Coughlin; the musical director/conductor was Chris Fenwick; the music coordinator was Seymour Red Press; and the Production Stage Manager was Heather Cousens.
Performing Groups

Cast Breakdown: 2 women and 3 men, with doubling.

Kesa and Morito
Kesa
Morito

R shomon
The Janitor
The Thief
The Wife
The Husband
The Medium

R shomon
The Preist
Aunt Monica
A CPA
An Actress
A Reporter

Kesa and Morito is set in medieval Japan
R shomon is set in 1951, New York City
Gloryday is set in the present, New York City

  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

“[Michael John LaChiusa] wrote just the sort of show I want to see: a chamber musical of constantly changing textures and intense colours about infidelity, faith and different versions of the truth.” — The Stage

“The score is exceptional… Here is a truly innovative show.” — Broadway World

Videos

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    See What I Wanna See

Music

Music Samples

1. ''Kesa'' - Kesa
2. ''The Janitor's Statement'' - The Janitor
3. ''The Thief's Statement/She Looked At Me'' - The Thief
4. ''See What I Wanna See'' - The Wife
5. ''Big Money'' - The Thief, The Husband
6. ''The Park'' - The Thief, The Wife
7. ''You'll Go Away With Me'' - The Thief
8. ''Murder'' - The Thief
9. ''Best Not To Get Involved'' - The Janitor
10. ''The Wife's Statement'' - The Wife
11. ''Louie'' - The Wife
12. ''The Medium and the Husband's Statement'' - The Janitor, The Medium, The Husband
13. ''Quartet. You'll Go Away With Me (reprise)'' - The Husband, The Wife, The Thief, The Medium
14. ''No More'' - The Wife, The Thief, The Medium, The Husband
15. ''Simple As This'' - The Husband, The Medium
16. ''Light in the East/Finale Act 1'' - Ensemble
17. ''Morito'' - Morito
18. ''Confession/Last Year'' - Priest, Aunt Monica
19. ''The Greatest Practical Joke'' - Aunt Monica
20. ''First Message'' - Priest
21. ''Central Park'' - CPA
22. ''Second Message'' - Priest, Actress
23. ''Coffee'' - Actress
24. ''Gloryday'' - Ensemble
25. ''Curiosity/Prayer'' - Reporter, Actress, CPA, Priest
26. ''Feed The Lions'' - Priest, CPA, Actress
27. ''There Will Be A Miracle'' - Aunt Monica
28. ''Prayer (reprise)'' - Priest, Actress, CPA, Reporter
29. ''Rising Up/Finale Act 2'' - Ensemble

  • Musical Style Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Minimal
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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6   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal & performance)

1   Reed 1 – Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Shakuhachi, Bamboo Flute(s), Soprano Sax & Alto Sax
1   Reed 2 – Bassoon, Bass Clarinet & Bari Sax
2   Percussion 1&2 – Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone, Bells, Glock, Crotales, Chimes, Timpani, Glass Chimes, Boobams, Suspended Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal (w/ chain), Suspended Cymbal (w/bow), Tam-Tam, Small Gong, Bowed Cymbal, Large China Cymbal, Toy Crash Cymbal, Wooden Rattle, Wicker Shaker (Caxixi), Double Caxixi, Small Shaker, Large Shaker, Small Japanese Shaker, Pod Rattle, Rock & Roll Tambourine
Tambourine, Big Japanese Bass Drum (Taiko), Japanese War Drums, Bass Drum, Lo Hand Drum, Hand Drums, Large Drum, Low Drum, Bongos, Djembe, Bell Tree, Mark Tree, Cow Bell, Temple Blocks, Kabuki Blocks, Piccolo Wood Block, Anvil, Slapstick, Vibraslap, Triangle, Water Phone, Flexatone, M’bira (Kalimba), Guiro, Ratchet, Gamelan Bowls & Rain Stick
1   Drums – Drum Set, China Cym., Triangle, Djembe, Rainstick, Kabuki Bock, Waterphone & Pod Rattle
1   Bass – Acoustic & Electric

6   Piano-Vocal (rehearsal & performance)

Scripts

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Authors

Michael John LaChiusa

Michael John LaChiusa

Michael John LaChiusa – composer, lyricist and librettist – established himself as a powerful presence on the American musical theatre scene after winning Off-Broadway’s 1993 Obie Award for his musicals First Lady Suite and Hello Again. Six years later, LaChiusa was represent ...

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Ryunosuke Akutagawa

Ryunosuke Akutagawa

Ryunosuke Akutagawa committed suicide in 1927 at the age of thirty-five, but he accomplished much during his short writing career. Excelling in the finely crafted short tale, Akutagawa also wrote poetry and several acclaimed prose works. After honing his skills on mostly impe ...
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