New manga musical 'Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen' in development

Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen is the first Japanese manga to be adapted into an American musical and follows Colette, a young sex worker living in early 20th-century Paris.

A new musical based on the Manga graphic novel Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen by Moyoco Anno is in development. The show will have music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) and a book by Leah Nananko Winkler.

Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen is the first Japanese manga to be adapted into an American musical and follows Colette, a young sex worker living in early 20th-century Paris. It was serialized in a Manga magazine from 2013 to 2018, and later published as a two-volume set.

Additional creative team includes music direction, conducting, and vocal and incidental music arrangement by Or Matias, and direction/choreography by Tony, Olivier and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford.

Executive Producer Antonio Marion said: “Memoirs is a bold, sensual, and innovative new work that pushes the boundaries of conventional musical theater. Duncan and Leah have expertly taken Moyoco Anno’s Manga series and given it new life for the stage - all through the unparalleled direction and choreography of Rob Ashford.”

Check back for information on Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen manga graphic novel. (Courtesy of Moyoco Anno, Shodensha)