Hayao Miyazaki fans, get ready to be transported to the otherworldly realm of Spirited Away in a whole new way.
GKids, an animation company, announced today that the classic anime film is the next in line to hit the theater stage, thanks to Tony Award-winning genius John Caird. If you’ve ever seen his landmark production of Les Misérables, you already know this is going to be a mind-blowing spectacle.
GKids acquired the North American film audiovisual distribution rights for Spirited Away: Live On Stage and plan on releasing a filmed performance of last year’s hit production of Spirited Away at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo.
The original voice actor who played Yubaba and her twin sister Zeniba in the film, Mari Natsuki, will reprise the role for this stage production.
“We are thrilled to offer this unique opportunity for Studio Ghibli fans in America to experience the stage production that wowed Japanese press and audiences last year,” said GKids’ President David Jesteadt. “This imaginative stage adaptation by the legendary John Caird, featuring two wonderful performances by lead actors Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi, helps bring to life one of the greatest films of all time in a dazzling new way.”
Spirited Away: Live On Stage ran throughout 2022 and is one of two successful stage adaptations of Miyazaki masterpieces. This year, Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company wowed audiences with their critically-acclaimed production of My Neighbor Totoro.
