Moyoco Anno's 'Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen' Musical Opens Off-Broadway in October

A musical adaptation of Moyoco Anno's manga Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen will premiere in New York City this fall. The English-language production, titled MEMOIRS OF AMOROUS GENTLEMEN, begins previews on September 25 and officially opens on October 15 at a new venue in Chelsea.

The show is scheduled for a long run through January 3, 2027. It will be the first extended Off-Broadway run for a musical based on a Japanese manga. Tickets go on sale August 20 via the official website.

Sophia Anne Caruso will star as the protagonist, Colette. Caruso originated the role of Lydia Deetz in the Broadway musical Beetlejuice and has appeared in Netflix's The School for Good and Evil and the live-action ONE PIECE series. She is set to release her debut album, ON ECSTATIC, in September 2026.

Choreography and direction is by Rob Ashford, known for his work on Frozen. Music and lyrics are by Duncan Sheik, a Tony and Grammy winner for Spring Awakening. The book is by Leah Nanako Winkler, who also wrote the musical adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians.

The production will be staged at a newly built theater called The Night Egg, located within the Culture Club at 530 W. 27th Street. The venue's name is taken from the brothel in Anno's original story. The location was previously home to the immersive theater phenomenon Sleep No More.

A short anime film based on the manga is now on Studio Khara's official YouTube channel with English subtitles.

Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen was serialized in the magazine FEEL YOUNG from 2013 to 2018. The two-volume story, set in early 20th century Paris, follows a sex worker named Colette and won the Excellence Award at the 23rd Japan Media Arts Festival.

The musical project began development in 2020.

Source: PR Times via 株式会社コルク