2020 JOHNNY MERCER WRITERS COLONY
Goodspeed Musicals is the first of its kind in the country dedicated solely to the creation of new musicals, providing a sanctuary for composers, lyricists, and librettists to embark on new musical theatre work in an environment rich with creative energy.
Musical adaptation of NY Times Best Seller, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. 1942 wartime Seattle. 12 year old Henry, a Chinese American boy, has a secret love of jazz music and his best friend is a black jazz saxophone player. Henry's life is turned upside down when he meets Keiko, a Japanese American girl and the only other Asian kid in school. A multi-generational story about fathers and sons, coming of age, Seattle jazz, racism, blind patriotism. and unbreakable bonds.
Theatre 71, NYC - October 2019
NYC Reading - 5th Avenue Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Co., Ann Ramsey-Jenkins
Director & Book by Lainie Sakakura
Music & Lyrics by Paul Fujimoto
Cantonese Consultant Fenton Li
Music Supervisor & Dance Arrangements Sam Davis
Percussion Kory Grossman
Stage Management Anita Shastri, Nicole Marcon
Documentarian Lia Chang
Cast - Jane Bernhard, Darius de Haas, Carly Gendell, Rick Faugno, Kenny Ingram, Sala Iwamatsu, Spencer Jones, Kathleen Kwan, Darren Lee, Jonny Lee Jr., Fenton Li, Jason Ma, Zach Mackiewicz, Mary Beth Purdy, Alex Sanchez, Avelina Sanchez, Isabela Sanchez, Ian Saraceni, Virginia Woodruff, Timothy Yang
New Amsterdam Theatre, NYC December 2018
Dir/Chor Alex Sanchez
Written/Co-conceived by Lainie Sakakura
Co-conceived by Telly Leung
43 Asian American Broadway Performers: Aaron J. Albano, Sandra Allen, Susan Ancheta, Alan Ariano, Paula Chin, Marcus Choi, Adrianne Chu, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Ali Ewoldt, Takayo Fischer, Lydia Gaston, Sally Hong, Joomin Hwang, Jason Garcia Ignacio, Sabrina Imamura, Miho Imoto, Alvin Ing, Nina Zoie Lam, Telly Leung, Jose Llana, Baayork Lee, Jodi Long, J. Elaine Marcos, Paul HeeSang Miller, Carol Gordon Morra, Kumiko Nakagawa, Ashley Park, Vicki Racimo, Catherine Ricafort, Lainie Sakakura, Rommy Sandhu, Herman Sebek, Shawnee Smith, Riza Takahashi, Yuka Takara, Robert Tatad, Virginia Wing, Mae Wong, Ericka Yang, Warren Yang, Kelli Youngman, Lisa Yuen,Minami Yusui.
THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET
Playroom Theater, NYC - September 2018
Produced by Lainie Sakakura
General Manager Joey Monda
Director Darren Lee
Book by Lainie Sakakura
Music & Lyrics by Paul Fujimoto
Cantonese Consultant Fenton Li
Music Supervisor Mark Hummel
Stage Manager Debora Porazzi
Documentarian Lia Chang
Cast - Alan Ariano, Jane Bernhard, Rick Faugno, Kenny Ingram, Telly Leung, Fenton Li, Jeffrey Li, Carol To Moy, Mary Beth Purdy, Alex Sanchez, Avelina Sanchez, Yuka Takara, Allyson Tucker, Joshua Turchin
ALVIN ING - GOT A LOT OF LIVIN' TO DO
The Duplex, NYC - May 2016
Written, Produced, Directed by Lainie Sakakura
Music Direction & Piano Thomas Conroy
Bass Vince Fay
Cast - Alvin Ing, Darren Lee, Jose Llana, Hazel Anne Raymundo, Virginia Wing
THE ING AND OUT OF ALVIN - Journey of a Cockeyed Optimist
Don't Tell Mama, NYC - October 2015
Written & Directed by Lainie Sakakura
Music Direction & Piano Sarah Brett England
Drums Kory Grossman, Bass Vince Fay