CATS musical opens in Yokohama Japan

November 11, 10:10 PMJapan Travel ExaminerJoshua Williams

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CATS opened in Yokohama on November 11th.
(Shiki Theatre Company news release)

The world renowned musical CATS opened in Yokohama, Japan on November 11th, 26 years after it first premiered in the country by the Shiki Theatre Company.

CATS is being preformed at the CANON CATS Theatre, a specially designed one-floor building with an 1100 seat capacity. The set design was inspired to look like a city junkyard from the perspective of a cat. Oversized versions of many locally found Yokohama goods are reportedly being used to create a realistic atmosphere, such as a Yokohama Chinese dumpling lunch box, a Yokohama F-Marinos megaphone, and a ‘Tanomaru’ Yokohama 150-years celebration mascot stuffed animal.

The set design is not only limited to the stage itself, the entire theatre is decorated in the CATS motif. The stage is also built to allow for easy interaction between the cast members and the audience.

According to area entertainment news publication Walkerplus, since 1983 CATS has previously played in eight cities around Japan. The sold out opening show in Yokohama was the 7,308th performance in Japan.

To make the musical performances even more authentic to the locality, all aspects of the show are done in Japanese, including the songs.

The Shiki Theatre Company has been holding plays and musicals around Japan for 56 years. Other current Shiki productions include, AIDA in Tokyo, Beauty and the Beast in Kyoto, The Phantom of the Opera in Nagoya, and Wicked in Osaka. All Shiki performances are done in Japanese.

Tickets for CATS or any of the other Shiki production can be ordered by phone, online at the official Shiki Theatre Company website, or at the door. For more information visit their website.

CATS is currently scheduled to be performed in Yokohama until May 30th, 2010. Performances last approximately two and a half hours with intermission. Ticket prices range from 3,000-9,800 yen (about $33-109 USD). The CANON CATS Theatre is about a 10 minute walk from the east exit of Yokohama Station, or a two minute walk from exit 1 or 2 of Shin-Takashima Station.

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