A few months ago, I saw still photos of a live production of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away on stage. It was impressive seeing how they had adapted the Oscar winning animated film. I really wanted to see the production, but I couldn’t fly over to Japan. Soon the live action Spirited Away is coming to your home with a Blu-ray and digital release. The play had two different actresses in the lead role during the run. You’ll get to see both of their performances. Here is the press release from GKIDS and Shout! Studios with all the details:
 FROM GKIDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH STUDIO GHIBLI PRESENTED BY TOHO SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage THE FIRST-EVER STAGE PRODUCTION OF HAYAO MIYAZAKI’S ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING MASTERPIECE DIRECTED AND ADAPTED BY TONY AWARD®-WINNER JOHN CAIRD ARRIVES ON DIGITAL OCTOBER 24, AND BLU-RAY™ THIS NOVEMBER 14, 2023 |
Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary Academy Award®-winning animated feature is brought to life in Tony Award®-Winner John Caird’s stage adaptation masterpiece, SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage. Filmed during the hit production’s 2022 run at the historic Imperial Theatre in Tokyo, the critically acclaimed stage show will be available on all major digital platforms and on Blu-Ray™ this November 14, 2023 from GKIDS with distribution from Shout! Studios.
The wondrous stage play adaptation entertaining in master puppetry, brilliant costuming, magical sets and enchanting musical numbers is released as two separate filmed performances of the production, starring renowned Japanese actresses Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi, double-cast as the lead heroine Chihiro. Character actor Mari Natsuki, who voiced the sorceress Yubaba and her twin sister Zeniba in the original motion picture, returns to her original role accompanied by voice actor Romi Park double cast as the characters. They are accompanied by a star-studded cast of Japan’s finest actors. Both performances will be available on digital platforms. The Blu-Ray™ will house a 2-disc set to include both versions and can now be pre-ordered on GKIDS.com/SpiritedAwayStage and ShoutFactory.com.
The SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage home entertainment release follows the North American debut earlier this spring with the successful theatrical run at the 2023 Ghibli Fest, boasting overwhelming fan demand and critical acclaim.
SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage – Synopsis:
Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning* animated feature film comes to life in this first-ever stage adaptation full of dazzling sets, captivating musical numbers, and wondrous puppets of beloved characters. Adapted and directed by Tony Award® winner John Caird (Les Misérables), SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage features two unique casts and performances filmed during the show’s acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s historic Imperial Theatre, featuring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro.
SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage with Kanna Hashimoto – Cast:
Chihiro: Kanna Hashimoto
Haku: Hiroki Miura
Kaonashi (No Face): Tomohiko Tsujimoto
Lin/Chihiro’s Mother: Fu Hinami
Kamajî: Satoshi Hashimoto
Yubaba/Zeniba: Mari Natsuki
SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage with Mone Kamishiraishi – Cast:
Chihiro: Mone Kamishiraishi
Haku: Kotaro Daigo
Kaonashi (No Face): Koharu Sugawara
Lin/Chihiro’s Mother: Miyu Sakihi
Kamajî: Tomorowo Taguchi
Yubaba/Zeniba: Romi Park
About GKIDS
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, GKIDS is the producer and distributor of artist-driven and award-winning animation from around the world. The company has scored an astounding 12 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, The Breadwinner in 2018, Mirai in 2019, and Wolfwalkers in 2021. GKIDS handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others; as well as the critically acclaimed television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. Also, GKIDS is the founder and host of ANIMATION IS FILM, the annual LA-based film festival which embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form, and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of the medium to its fullest range of artistic expressions. www.gkids.com
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About Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli is one of the most acclaimed and influential animation studios in the world, inspiring filmmakers and audiences alike over the last 30 years with beloved stories and breathtaking visuals. Under the brilliance of visionary animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki, the studio’s films are known for timeless classics such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Ponyo; and have won countless international awards including an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for Spirited Away, as well as five additional Oscar® nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and The Red Turtle. Director and studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki was separately given an Honorary Award at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards in 2014, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures paid tribute to his artwork with a special exhibit when the Museum opened in September 2021.
About Toho Co., Ltd.
Toho Co., Ltd. is a leading production company of theatre and film in Japan, internationally recognized for the Godzilla series and for Akira Kurosawa’s masterpieces. Its theatrical department has presented numerous original and licensed musicals and plays in Japan, including Broadway and West End imports such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage Aux Folles, RENT, Jekyll & Hyde, Fun Home, Next to Normal, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Jersey Boys, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ghost The Musical, Bullets Over Broadway, Waitress, The Producers, NEWSIES, Guys and Dolls among many others. In 2017, Toho presented a new production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It directed by Michael Mayer, music by Tom Kitt, choreography by Lorin Latarro. Recently, Toho has co-produced the Broadway musical Tootsie. Toho has also produced the Japanese versions of musicals from Central Europe, including Elisabeth, Mozart!, and Rebecca the Musical. Many original musicals and plays have been produced by Toho, including Marie Antoinette and Lady Bess with the creators of Elisabeth, book and lyrics by Michael Kunze and lyrics by Sylvester Levay, the musical adaptation of Roman Holiday, Crest of the Royal Family, music by Sylvester Levay, Your Lie in April, music by Frank Wildhorn, the original manga-based stage production of KINGDOM, and Knight’ Tale, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, book and directed by John Caird. Other previous productions with John Caird include Les Misérables, Beggar’s Opera, Candide, Private Lives, Daddy Long Legs, and Twelfth Night. Toho’s musical productions have been licensed internationally: Marie Antoinette was presented in Germany, Korea and Hungary, and Lady Bess was presented in Switzerland. Coming productions include Moulin Rouge! The Musical, the original manga-based stage production of SPY x FAMILY, and more. For more information, please visit: https://www.toho.co.jp/stage/ (Japanese only)
About SHOUT! STUDIOS
Launched in 2003, Shout! Studios is a multiplatform media company specializing in film and TV distribution, development, and production. The company has evolved with the changing entertainment landscape to excel in all forms of content distribution, including theatrical, digital streaming, broadcast and in-flight licensing, physical media, and more. Shout! Studios owns and manages a large portfolio of contemporary and classic feature films, series, animation, and documentaries. The company’s creative acquisition mandate has established it as a leading independent distributor, with partners and properties including Aardman Animations, ALF, The Carol Burnett Show, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, the Roger Corman New Horizons Pictures Library, GKIDS, ITV Studios, The Johnny Carson Show, LAIKA Studios, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (in partnership with creator Joel Hodgson), and Sesame Street, alongside many others. Shout! Kids focuses on live-action and animated kids and family properties including anime, and the company releases genre and horror films and television shows under the Scream Factory imprint. Shout! Studios also produces, acquires, and distributes new films, and operates the acclaimed streaming service Shout! TV and its family of FAST channels. Shout! Studios is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Studios, visit ShoutStudios.com
