Beth Winter

...yeah. I need some time to think this through.

Some things, I really like. The reason Tomomin initially caught my attention was not her goofiness, but the fact that she's one of those girls who gives all to her role, allowing it to subsume her. Onstage, Yumeno Seika isn't there, and this is a very Yukigumi thing.

Similarly, I think Masako will do nicely in Hoshigumi (giving Toyoko someone to bounce off of) and MiyaRuri in Tsukigumi - Hoshi just has too many people and she hasn't been well-utilised lately; Mii-chan's situation in Sora was the same. Dai-chan I'm not sure about - there's going to be Tomomin and Koma above her and Kingu gaining fast. I'm curious about Serika Toa in Hanagumi. Dammit. Have to start watching them.

But I'm... annoyed about the Senka transfers. I know, I've been talking for ages about how Senka needs new blood, but it rubs me the wrong way to take Ema Naoki and Asuka Yuu away from troupes that they've been with for respectively 30 and 35 years. Let them retire with the people who care for them, would you?

Micchan... I'm hoping it's a New Senka thing, Tom-style, stealing All The Shows. And better than the dreaded alternative!

Toyoko's Mr Darcy in a Bow/Nippon Seinenkan show, while Chie has what looks like a self-titled concert with an Umeda/Nippon Seinenkan run. Alike to Komu's Albatross, Wataru's Across! and Saeko's Nettaiyawa. And she's just had a music video, big box and everything.

If not for the fact Chie's November on the 2012 big calendar, I'd say she'd be out by August, leaving Toyoko to take over. But now... oh, Hankyu, making us speculate so much ~.~

Like everyone else's, my spider sense is tingling about the title and summary of Yuuhi's next Grand Theatre revue - if it showcases her talents as a Nice Guy and is done by Fuji-sensei, I guess the retirement announcement should come mid-A Beautiful Life? A tails-musical in the first half will showcase her style, I hope, and if anyone could do a musical about tailors, it's Ueda Keiko-sensei. And hey, no Masatsuka-S for a final show - I really approve of that.

And Canary means that Eritan's hanging around for 2012 at least ♥

However, OCEAN'S ELEVEN. Can we rename it the SHOW OF CAPSLOCK already and be done with it? ;) Unless Hoshigumi steals someone from Senka, it's going to be Junko-san as Saul, Chie gets Danny of course, and then my dream cast would be Toyoko!Benedict, Tomomin!Rusty, Beni!Linus and Makaze!... Ohdear. Basher, Frank, Virgil? Only Renta would be a fantastic Basher, and if Junko-san's Reuben instead, that opens up Makaze!Saul, which would fit with the RIDICULOUS.

...Is Hankyu switching to actual casting by merit? Because I have no other explanation for the Romeo to Juliette cast.

It's going to be glorious. Kitarou as the main antagonist, allowed to let go of all the stops? Yes, please. Also a yes, please on Hiromi as the substitute antagonist after Tybalt's death, of course.

Saou Kurama as the Nurse will be - interesting, because it's a very major role and in a show with three mature female roles I guess it's Hankyuu-style to give the one with most singing to an otokoyaku in a skirt. Chigi!Mercutio I pretty much guessed, though I was betting on Mattsu being Tybalt rather than Benvolio. Still, all good. And Oonagi Mao's Prince has me intrigued - she really caught my eye in Karamazov, she has the charisma to carry opening a show.

And then there is Sakina as Death and Cecil as Love. Ah. Yes. That, I've got to see :D

Skyscraper Rhapsody looks immensely fun. I need to acquire a Sky Stage recording in due time!

And the new posters for Anna Karenina are gorgeous, proving that feminity can be elegant and tragic. Of course, for me, Ichiro's is the focus. Four years of family life have only made her face warmer, like marble polished by touches. ♥

Anna Karenina, in which Maki is returning to the stage, sharing the title role with Sena Jun.

Maki interviewing the 78th hatsubutai class - see what shy girl she approaches at the end :D

(And bonus part two, in which at 4:10 a current top star gets to ask her question.)

*stares* Okay, they're keeping Death and it's Makaze. I'll be rolling around laughing here ---->

Mickey got Paris ♥ Yay for a grown-up role. Other very very yay casting is Yuzurun as Mercutio, paired with Toyoko's Benvolio. Looks like they're going for the Paris cast all the way, with a bouncing crazy Mercutio versus a calmer Benvolio that's in over his head. Except for Junna!Prince of Verona - don't think it's likely for them to keep the opening and power songs, might be too major a role for her.

Shirahana Remi's role as Nurse means a transition to upperclassman roles. Can't say I'm surprised, but she'll slay that role, opposite Kumichou as Friar Laurence (and hey, she gets groped by Yuzurun!Mercutio).

And then of course there are the leads. I so called Teru!Tybalt.

I fear this may be a DVD I'm bound to get :)

Nine, nine good people. On a par with recent top star retirements, I guess, even with the wonderful people who left with Yumiko. We'd better get a lot of 96ths to make up for it!

Manami Sora is going to be missed - a solid upperclassman. She really caught my eye in Zorro, with how dignified she was as the priest. Plus she was Mizu's kurotenshi ♥

Saika Ryou nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw the first 彩 kanji ;) That's a Hoshikage no Hito rewatch coming up. Her batchmate Shiyuu Mirei's leaving too, and that's one more incentive to find the ShinYukiBeth shininkouen.

And speaking of batchmates, we're losing a slew of 90ths along with Mika. Yuuzuki Rena, Azusa Haruki <3 and Yoshino Honoka. And Rudou Masa, who we barely got to know. I think she might get a postcard in French from me ;)

...it could have been worse? It speaks of hope, the way we're not bleeding more upperclassmen. And the ones that are staying, I may get to see come October.

Top star retirements require their own post, really. Soon, soon.

Judging by this clip, we're looking at Kaname!Tybalt. Which will be gorgeous :D

(And in this case, bets would be on Toyoko!Prince, Tomomin!Mercutio and Beni!Benvolio...)

I kind of don't believe my eyes, but apparently the new production of Presgurvic's Romeo et Juliette? Japan, Umeda Arts Theatre, Takarazuka Star Troupe. Directed by Koike Shuuichirou, the guy who did all Takarazuka Elisabeths, Legend, Scarlet Pimpernel... take your pick.

I am, in order of importance:

- aflail at not seeing it live
- overjoyed by the fact it'll be Out On DVD and I will be able to acquire it
- cast speculating :D

What Hoshigumi excels at, lately, is drama and fighting. And here we have power ballads galore, several duels, battles on stage, more death than you can shake a stick at...

The cast falls into place. Chie will be Romeo and Nene, Juliette, of course. Kumichou as the Prince making everyone fall in line and opening the show. Tybalt - this has got to be Toyoko, she's so brilliant at being evil. Unless they make it Teru (no slouch at evil-ness), with Toyoko as the Prince - giving Toyoko the extra Prince's songs which often get dropped - which would let Tomomin and Beni be Mercutio and Benvolio. I may be stuck on the Hungarian version, with Kerényi Miklós Máté's Benvolio bouncing all over the place, but Beni would make the sweetest, bounciest Benvolio ever. In which case Kumichou could be the Nurse and break my brain completely if Tomomin!Mercutio hits on her ♥

I'd love it if they keep the French version's ballet-dancer Death. (In Takarazuka terms, think Itsumine Aki in Brothers Karamazov. If they get Itsumine Aki to do it, it would be extra-brilliant.) She might get dropped for the same reason Hungary dropped her - it kind of makes people remember Romeo got molested by Death already last month as Rudolf...

But oh, it's another musical with a metric tonne of roles, with great music and great drama, allowing everyone to show off at their best. What demon did Hoshigumi make a pact with, anyway?

(And for the Takarazuka fans: look up either Les Rois du Monde or Lehetsz Király or Verone/Verona on Youtube, any concert/videoclip/promo version. Especially the latter. These songs are energy personified.)

-crossposted because hey! fandom worlds intertwining!