Amon Miyamoto

Amon Miyamoto (; born January 4, 1958, in Tokyo) is a theater director. He has directed numerous productions in Japan and worldwide, including musicals, straight plays, opera, kabuki, and other art genres. In 2004, he became the first Japanese director to direct a musical on Broadway when he directed the revival of Pacific Overtures. That production received four Tony Award nominations.

Miyamoto made his directing debut with his original musical I Got Merman, winning the National Performing Arts Festival Award. He is a recipient of the Matsuyo Akimoto Award of the Asahi Performing Arts Awards. He served as the inaugural artistic director of Kanagawa Arts Theater (KAAT) from 2010 to 2014.

Amon made his North American opera-directing debut in 2007 with the US premiere of Tan Dun's Tea: A Mirror of Soul at the Santa Fe Opera. His recent works in New York include The Temple of the Golden Pavilion at Lincoln Center Festival. His European opera credits include: The Magic Flute (Landestheater Linz in Austria), Le Pavillon d’Or (Opéra national du Rhin in France), Parsifal, and Madame Butterfly (Semperoper in Germany) which is also planned for the San Francisco Opera in 2023 and the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen in 2024. He directed the pre-Broadway world premiere of The Karate Kid: The Musical on May 25, 2022, in St. Louis.

Biography Career highlights 1987: Made a debut as a director with the original musical I GOT MERMAN, and received the Agency for Cultural Affairs' National Arts Festival Award the next year 1998: Made a film directing debut with BEAT which was officially invited to the Venice International Film Festival 2001: Directed I GOT MERMAN at The Rich Forum Theatre, Stamford, CT, USA 2004: Directed and choreographed a revival production of Pacific Overtures on Broadway, and became the first Asian director on Broadway 2004: Directed Into The Woods in Tokyo, Japan, for which he received the Matsuyo Akimoto Award of the Asahi Performing Arts Awards 2005: Pacific Overtures was nominated under four categories for the Tony Awards 2007: Directed the U.S. premiere of TEA: A Mirror of Soul at The Santa Fe Opera, NM, USA 2008: Directed the world premiere of the original musical Up In The Air at The Kennedy Center, WA, USA 2010: Inaugurated as the first artistic director of the Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAT) 2010: Directed the West End production of The Fantasticks, London, UK 2011: Directed The Temple of The Golden Pavilion, a play based on a novel of the same title by Yukio Mishima, adapted by Serge Lamothe, as the inaugural production of the Kanagawa Arts Theatre 2011: The Temple of The Golden Pavilion was invited to Lincoln Center Festival in NY, USA 2013: Directed the Canadian premiere of TEA: A Mirror of Soul at the Vancouver Opera, Canada 2013: Directed Mozart's opera “DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE” (The Magic Flute) at The Landestheater Linz, Austria 2016: Directed the off-Broadway production of DRUM TAO's DRUM HEART in New York, NY, USA 2016: Directed the special cultural program The Land of the Rising Sun at the World Form on Sport and Culture, an official kickoff event toward Tokyo 2020 Olympics & Paralympics games and more. 2016: Directed YUGEN: The Hidden Beauty of Japan, the world's first 3D live theater featuring the Japanese Noh theater in Singapore. 2017: Directed a reading performance of Fanatic Artist Hokusai, an original play about the later life of Hokusai, at the British Museum's Great Court. 2018: Directed the opera “The Temple of The Golden Pavilion“, based on the novel by Yukio Mishima, at Opéra national du Rhin in Strasbourg and Mulhouse, France. 2018: Directed YUGEN: The Hidden Beauty of Japan at the Royal Opera of Versailles. The special one night performance was attended by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan.

Early life and education

Miyamoto was born to parents who ran a café named “Sugawa” (now “Sabou Erika”) across from the Shinbashi Enbujō, one of the most prominent kabuki theaters in Tokyo. As a child, he paid frequent visits to the Shimbashi Enbujō as well as movie theaters, Kabuki-za, and other theaters under the influence of his mother who was a former dancer of the Shochiku Revue Company. In kindergarten, he began to study (Nihon Buyō) at Fujima School of Japanese Dance where Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII was one of his peers. Around that time, he became absorbed in Hollywood films and began to learn about musicals. When he was in elementary school, he began practicing Tea ceremony. He was brought up right in the middle of Hanamachi, a Japanese courtesan and geisha district.

While in high school, he was cast as the leading role in the school's theater club production of Godspell in which he made his acting debut. This musical received positive reviews and was featured in the Kinema Shunpo magazine. He proceeded to attend Tamagawa University, where he majored in Theater in the College of Arts. In the middle of his senior year, he was cast as a dancer in the musical Pippin.

Early career He debuted as a dancer in 1980. He performed in musicals such as Hair, Annie Get Your Gun, and Chicago, and devoted his time to dance and choreography. He visited New York repeatedly, and studied in London for two years beginning in 1985.

He made his directing debut with his original musical I Got Merman in 1987. The following year, he received the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Performing Arts Festival Award.

International career highlights Film “BEAT” In 1998, Miyamoto made his film-directing debut with BEAT which was officially invited to the 55th Venice International Film Festival's International Film Critics' Week.

Musical “Pacific Overtures” In 2000, Miyamoto directed the musical Pacific Overtures at The New National Theater, Tokyo. During the run of the production, Stephen Sondheim, the composer of the musical, was in Tokyo participating in an award ceremony of the Praemium Imperiale ("World Culture Prize in Memory of His Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu"), and John Weidman, the lyricist of the musical, was also in Tokyo for a musical produced by Shiki Company. Both of them came to see Miyamoto's production of Pacific Overtures. Sondheim, whom Miyamoto worships, spoke very highly of the production and Miyamoto’s direction during his speech at the ceremony of the Praemium Imperiale, instead of taking about his own achievements. In 2002, Miyamoto’s Pacific Overtures was presented at the Lincoln Center Festival, and then at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. In 2004, Miyamoto made his Broadway debut with Pacific Overtures as the first Asian director on Broadway. In 2005, the production was nominated for Tony Awards under four categories.

Musical “I Got Merman” In 2001, Amon was in New York City to direct I Got Merman at the Rich Forum Theater, Stamford Center in Connecticut. The production opened only a few days after the September 11 attacks. On the morning of the terrorist attacks, Miyamoto was at the Grand Central Terminal, heading to the rehearsal. Even though the show did open, Miyamoto felt extremely stressed and left for Bangkok, Thailand two weeks later to escape from the chaos. On his first day in Bangkok, he was severely injured in a car accident but miraculously escaped death.

Contemporary Opera “TEA: A Mirror of Soul” In 2007, upon composer Tan Dun’s recommendation, Miyamoto directed the first opera style production of TEA: A Mirror of Soul, premiered at the Santa Fe Opera in the U.S. The revival production was presented at Opera Company of Philadelphia (conducted by Tan Dun himself) in the U.S. in 2010 and at the Vancouver Opera in Canada in 2013.

Musical “Up in the Air” Up in the Air is a musical based on “Boonah, the Tree-Climbing Frog,” a book by Tsutomu Minakami. Henry Krieger, the composer of Dreamgirls wrote the music, and the production had its world premiere at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2008.

Musical “The Fantasticks” He made his West End debut with The Fantasticks in June 2010.

Play “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion” Inaugurated as the Artistic Director of Kanagawa Arts Theatre in April 2010, he directed The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, a play based on the novel by Yukio Mishima, as the venue's inaugural production in January 2011. In July, it was presented at the Lincoln Center Festival as Miyamoto's second production at the festival (following Pacific Overtures). Following the successful run in the U.S., the production was revived in Japan (Tokyo and Osaka) in January 2012.

Opera “DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE” (The Magic Flute) In 2013, he directed Mozart's opera DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (The Magic Flute) at the Landestheater Linz in Austria.

Japanese Noh Theatre x 3D Live Theatre “YUGEN The Hidden Beauty of Japan” In 2016, he created and directed YUGEN: The Hidden Beauty of Japan, the world's first 3D live theater featuring Japanese Noh theater at the Singapore River Nights Festival.

Opera “The Temple of The Golden Pavilion” In 2018, he directed the opera The Temple of The Golden Pavilion, based on the novel by Yukio Mishima, at Opéra national du Rhin in Strasbourg and Mulhouse, France.

Japanese Noh Theatre x 3D Live Theatre “YUGEN The Hidden Beauty of Japan” In 2018, he directed YUGEN: The Hidden Beauty of Japan at the Royal Opera of Versailles. The special one night performance was attended by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan.

Selected works Opera / Operetta TITLESTAFF/ CASTOpera: Mozart's “Le Nozze di Figaro”2016.7 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Sascha Goetzel, Set Design by Neil Patel, Produced by Tokyo NikikaiOpera: Mozart's “DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE” (The Magic Flute)2015.7 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo2013.9 THE LANDESTHEATER LINZ, Austria (World Premiere)Directed by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, Set Design by Boris Kudlichka, Costume Design by Masatomo Ota, Visual design by LUNAPARKOpera: Tan Dun's “TEA: A MIRROR OF SOUL”2013.5 Vancouver Opera, CANADAOriginal Direction by Amon Miyamoto, Directed by PAUL PEERS, Music by Tan Dun, Book by Tan Dun and Xu Ying, Conducted by JONATHAN DARLINGTON, Set Design by Rumi Matsui, Costume Design by Masatomo Ota, Lighting Design by Drew Billiau, Starring: CHENYE YUAN, NANCY ALLEN LUNDY, ROGER HONEYWELL, KIRK EICHELBERGER, NING LIANGNeo Opera: “Madame Butterfly X”2012.11 KAAT (Kanagawa Arts Theatre), KanagawaDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Music by Giacomo PucciniOpera: Mozart's “Le Nozze di Figaro”2011.4 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, Set Design by Neil Patel, Produced by Tokyo NikikaiOpera: Mozart's “Le Nozze di Figaro”2006.9 Bunkamura Orchard Hall, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Manfred Honeck, Set Design by Neil Patel, Produced by Tokyo Nikikai, Orchestra: Yomiuri Nippon Symphony OrchestraOpera: Mozart's “Le Nozze di Figaro”2002.2 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Manfred Honeck, Set Design by Neil Patel, Produced by Tokyo Nikikai, Orchestra: Yomiuri Nippon Symphony OrchestraOpera: Tan Dun's “TEA: A MIRROR OF SOUL”2010.1 The Academy of Music, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Music by Tan Dun, Book by Tan Dun and Xu Ying, Conducted by Tan Dun, Set Design by Rumi Matsui, Costume Design by Masatomo Ota, Lighting Design by Drew Billiau, Produced by Opera Company of PhiladelphiaStarring: Kelly Kaduce, Haijing Fu, Roger Honeywell, Kirk Eichelberger, Nancy MaultsbyOpera: Tan Dun's “TEA: A MIRROR OF SOUL”2007.7 The Santa Fe Opera, New Mexico, US (U.S. Premiere)Directed by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Lawrence Renes, Set Design by Rumi Matsui, Costume Design by Masatomo Ota, Lighting Design by Rick FisherStarring: Kelly Kaduce, Haijing Fu, Roger Honeywell, Christian van Horn, Nancy MaultsbyOpera: Verdi's “La Traviata”2009.2 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Antonello Allemandi, Set Design by Rumi Matsui, Costume Design by Shinjiro Asatsuki, Produced by Tokyo Nikikai, Orchestra: Tokyo PhilharmonicOpera: Mozart's “Così fan tutte”2006.11 Nissey Theatre, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Pascal Verrot, Set Design by Neil Patel, Produced by Tokyo Nikikai, Orchestra: Tokyo PhilharmonicOpera: Mozart's “Don Giovanni”2004.7 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Conducted by Pascal Verrot, Set Design by Neil Patel, Lighting Design by David Lander, Produced by Tokyo Nikikai, Orchestra: Tokyo PhilharmonicOperetta: Original “Pinocchio”1990 Aoyama Enkei Theatre, TokyoDirected and Adapted by Amon MiyamotoOperetta: Lehar's “The Merry Widow”1989 Nagoya City Art and Creative CenterDirected, Choreographed, Lyrics Translated and libretto written by Amon MiyamotoOpera: Donizetti's “L’elisir d’amore”1988 Aoyama Theater, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto

Straight Play

Musical

Kabuki TITLESTAFF/ CAST“Nihon Mukashibanashi”2018.1 Shimbashi Embujo, TokyoDirected by Amon MiyamotoStarring: Ebizo Ichikawa, Shido Nakamura and others“Ryugu Monogatari” “Momotaro Onigashima Gaiden”2015.6 Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, TokyoDirected by Amon MiyamotoStarring: Ebizo Ichikawa and others“Hanasaka Jiisan”2013.8 Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, TokyoDirected by Amon MiyamotoStarring: Ebizo Ichikawa, Kataoka Ainosuke VI, and others

Noh TITLESTAFF/ CAST“YUGEN”2018.9 Royal Opera of Versailles, FranceDirected by Amon Miyamoto“YUGEN: The Hidden Beauty of Japan”2016.10 Asian Civilisations Museum, SingaporeDirected by Amon Miyamoto

Non Verbal Performance TITLESTAFF/ CAST“SUPERLOSERZ SAVE THE EARTH“2015.12.5-15 New National Theatre, Tokyo, 2016.1.7-11 Theater BRAVA!, OsakaDirected by Amon MiyamotoDRUM TAO “DRUM HEART” (Hyakkaryoran Nippon Drum Emaki)2015.7.16-26 The Galaxy Theater, Tokyo, 2015.5.5-2016.1.17 National Tour (Japan), 2016.2.11-14 Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NY, USADirected by Amon Miyamoto, Costume Design by Junko Koshino, Set Design by Rumi Matsui“TEE! TEE! TEE!”2014.7.6-9.1 OkinawaDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Choreographed by Rino Nakasone

Special Event TITLESTAFF/ CASTHibiya Festival Opening Show2018.4 Tokyo Midtown HibiyaDirected by Amon MiyamotoWorld Forum on Sport and Culture - Cultural Program “The Land of the Rising Sun”2016.10 Grand Hyatt Hotel TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Starring Ichikawa Ebizō XI, Ryohei Suzuki, Maki Mori, Blue Tokyo, Wrecking Crew Orchestra/EL Squad and othersCommemorative Ceremony of the 150th Anniversary of the Opening of the Port of Yokohama “VISION ! YOKOHAMA”2009 National Convention Hall, Pacifico YokohamaBook and Directed by Amon Miyamoto

Reading

Revue TITLESTAFF/ CAST“HELLO KITTY DREAM REVUE [ONE]”2000 Sunrio Puro Land, TokyoScript, Lyrics, Translation, Music Arrangement, Set Design, and Direction by Amon Miyamoto

Dance TITLESTAFF/ CAST“THE 7 DEADLY SINS e.t.c”1998 Art Sphere, TokyoDirected by Amon Miyamoto, Book by Bertolt Bercht, Music by Kurt Weill

Film TITLESTAFF/ CAST“BEAT”1998 officially invited to The 55th International Venice Film Festival for International Critics' WeekWritten and Directed by Amon Miyamoto Drama Boogie Woogie (2023), Kaoru Hujimura

Straight Play (as a performer) TITLESTAFF/ CAST“METAMORPHOSIS”1992 Art Sphere, TokyoBook by Kafka, Directed by Steven Berkoff, Performed by Amon Miyamoto and others