Sakamoto's Zorro Press Conference
These are some of the newspaper articles on the press conference to announce Sakamoto-kun's Zorro:
It was announced on the 10th that V6's Sakamoto Masayuki will be in the production of 「ZORRO」 the musical. He will be playing the role of a knight in a mask who tries to fight evil. Since joining Johnny's in 1988, this is the first time ever he won a role through auditioning for it. 「This is a major turning point for me. I will put in my body and soul in living up the challenge」 he says enthusiastically about this challenge that comes to him in his late 30's.
Just like the Zorro of the dramas & films, which had Alain Delon and Antonio Banderas playing the part, this Zorro depicts the same hero with almost superhuman strength. The original play started in 2008 in London, and it is 1 biliion production that boasts of flamenco dances, not just from the main actors, but from the ensemble too.
Sakamoto says 「He reminds me of my father」 when talking about mustachioed Diego, who is the alter ego of Zorro, and thus Sakamoto will be playing both roles. The role requires fencing and flamenco skills, of which Sakamoto says 「It has been 7, 8 years since I last did it」 and of course flying. The minute 「PAL JOEY」 ends it's run in October, he will start practising for the role.
Although he had thought of marrying prior to turning 40 next year, 「I am very happy to have been given this chance to do something I love. I guess my private life will come next」. By the way, for himself, his real life hero is Higashiyama Noriyuki, who shared with him these words of wisdom, 「If you try your best, for sure people will be able to see that」
Source: Chunichi Sports
Sakamoto Masayuki of the popular group 「V6」 will be the main actor for 「Zorro The Musical」 which will be playing at the Nissay Theatre (next year Jan 13th to Jan 28th) The popular musical enjoyed a long run in London, and this will the first time it is played in Japan. It will be directed by the original producers from England, who were charmed by Sakamoto's talents and thus chose him to play the role of the extraordinary hero. This will be a very much looked forward to production from Toho, who had brought in 「Miss Saigon」 and 「Les Miserables」 prior to this.
For Sakamoto, next year will be his 20th anniversary treading the boards, as he had acted in butai since even before V6 made its debut. On the day of this interview, at the fringe of his own personal turning point (turning 40), he enthusiastically feels that 「This will be my turning point forward」.
The infamous 「Zorro」 of books, films and TV. The musical started its run at London's West End in July 2008, and closed its curtains for the final time in the March of next year, a record long run of 9 months. It received many nominations of awards by UK's theatrical bodies. Toho signed up the play to agreements in line with that of 「Les Mis」and 「Miss Saigon」. The director, Christopher Renshaw and the choreographer Rafael Armago invited with them, many of the original London staff over.
The audition took place in January of this year, with English staff in attendance. This is the first time, since he joined Johnny's in 1988, for Sakamoto to accept the audition. Looking back, he says, 「I was half tempted to just run away from the chance and half tempted to grab the role with both hands」, but his voice and his appearance enchanted Mr. Renshaw so much that he promptly said 「It can only be him」.
The play, with the theme of saving the poor and vanquishing the powerful, is based on the infamous 「Gipsy Kings」 music. Singing, swordplay action, flamenco, etc., with dance being the integral theme, it involves flying without safety harnesses and magic.
In preparation for the practises that commence in Nov, he is going to the gym daily to ensure that his body looks great in the typical black suit. He will be loading up on protein, 「I hope to be able to put on 4 kg」. He would also like to practise on fencing, but 「it is difficult to find within the Tokyo metropolis」. On the 8th of this month, he climbed up Mt Fuji's summit for the first time in his life, with 3 of his friends, and pledged the oath of success for the butai there.
His first appearance was in the butai 「Okuni」 in 1992, and then in 1993 he became the assistant of Shonentai's Higashiyama Noriyuki, but around that time he was facing the dilemma of continuing on as is. From now on, whether he will be appearing in butais every year, 「Whether this play is a success, I guess it will determine the path from now on. This will be the unmasking.」
From breakup to makeup: With regards to the expose on him and Nakazawa Yuko dating, 「If work is fulfilling, it goes to follow that my private life will be smooth sailing too. Right now, I just want to concentrate on devoting my life and soul to work, but what follows after I can't tell. 」. On the report about V6 disbanding, 「That only served to bring us together. It is a piece of news that we should be thankful for, as it bonded us closer as a group. 」 It seems that it increased the members' time together, going for drinks when time permits.
Source: Hochi
Some snippets of things Sakamoto said, published by other newspapers:
Here's the official webpage. Not much visuals, though.
Zorro the musical
It was announced on the 10th that V6's Sakamoto Masayuki will be in the production of 「ZORRO」 the musical. He will be playing the role of a knight in a mask who tries to fight evil. Since joining Johnny's in 1988, this is the first time ever he won a role through auditioning for it. 「This is a major turning point for me. I will put in my body and soul in living up the challenge」 he says enthusiastically about this challenge that comes to him in his late 30's.
Just like the Zorro of the dramas & films, which had Alain Delon and Antonio Banderas playing the part, this Zorro depicts the same hero with almost superhuman strength. The original play started in 2008 in London, and it is 1 biliion production that boasts of flamenco dances, not just from the main actors, but from the ensemble too.
Sakamoto says 「He reminds me of my father」 when talking about mustachioed Diego, who is the alter ego of Zorro, and thus Sakamoto will be playing both roles. The role requires fencing and flamenco skills, of which Sakamoto says 「It has been 7, 8 years since I last did it」 and of course flying. The minute 「PAL JOEY」 ends it's run in October, he will start practising for the role.
Although he had thought of marrying prior to turning 40 next year, 「I am very happy to have been given this chance to do something I love. I guess my private life will come next」. By the way, for himself, his real life hero is Higashiyama Noriyuki, who shared with him these words of wisdom, 「If you try your best, for sure people will be able to see that」
Source: Chunichi Sports
Sakamoto Masayuki of the popular group 「V6」 will be the main actor for 「Zorro The Musical」 which will be playing at the Nissay Theatre (next year Jan 13th to Jan 28th) The popular musical enjoyed a long run in London, and this will the first time it is played in Japan. It will be directed by the original producers from England, who were charmed by Sakamoto's talents and thus chose him to play the role of the extraordinary hero. This will be a very much looked forward to production from Toho, who had brought in 「Miss Saigon」 and 「Les Miserables」 prior to this.
For Sakamoto, next year will be his 20th anniversary treading the boards, as he had acted in butai since even before V6 made its debut. On the day of this interview, at the fringe of his own personal turning point (turning 40), he enthusiastically feels that 「This will be my turning point forward」.
The infamous 「Zorro」 of books, films and TV. The musical started its run at London's West End in July 2008, and closed its curtains for the final time in the March of next year, a record long run of 9 months. It received many nominations of awards by UK's theatrical bodies. Toho signed up the play to agreements in line with that of 「Les Mis」and 「Miss Saigon」. The director, Christopher Renshaw and the choreographer Rafael Armago invited with them, many of the original London staff over.
The audition took place in January of this year, with English staff in attendance. This is the first time, since he joined Johnny's in 1988, for Sakamoto to accept the audition. Looking back, he says, 「I was half tempted to just run away from the chance and half tempted to grab the role with both hands」, but his voice and his appearance enchanted Mr. Renshaw so much that he promptly said 「It can only be him」.
The play, with the theme of saving the poor and vanquishing the powerful, is based on the infamous 「Gipsy Kings」 music. Singing, swordplay action, flamenco, etc., with dance being the integral theme, it involves flying without safety harnesses and magic.
In preparation for the practises that commence in Nov, he is going to the gym daily to ensure that his body looks great in the typical black suit. He will be loading up on protein, 「I hope to be able to put on 4 kg」. He would also like to practise on fencing, but 「it is difficult to find within the Tokyo metropolis」. On the 8th of this month, he climbed up Mt Fuji's summit for the first time in his life, with 3 of his friends, and pledged the oath of success for the butai there.
His first appearance was in the butai 「Okuni」 in 1992, and then in 1993 he became the assistant of Shonentai's Higashiyama Noriyuki, but around that time he was facing the dilemma of continuing on as is. From now on, whether he will be appearing in butais every year, 「Whether this play is a success, I guess it will determine the path from now on. This will be the unmasking.」
From breakup to makeup: With regards to the expose on him and Nakazawa Yuko dating, 「If work is fulfilling, it goes to follow that my private life will be smooth sailing too. Right now, I just want to concentrate on devoting my life and soul to work, but what follows after I can't tell. 」. On the report about V6 disbanding, 「That only served to bring us together. It is a piece of news that we should be thankful for, as it bonded us closer as a group. 」 It seems that it increased the members' time together, going for drinks when time permits.
Source: Hochi
Some snippets of things Sakamoto said, published by other newspapers:
- I heard of the auditions from a close friend in the butai circle, and I really wanted to try for it. For overseas butai, an audition is a given thing. I overdid the practising at home, so when I reached the audition, my voice was actually all raspy. (he had to sing 2 songs at the audition)
Here's the official webpage. Not much visuals, though.
Zorro the musical