“Ukiyo Hotel Project”
Playwright Shoiko Kawada’s Ukiyo Hotel Project was launched in 2018 to adapt the 2015 short musical Ukiyo Hotel into a full-length production.
In 2019, a tryout performance was held in collaboration with composer Kazune Tanaka, but the 2020 main production was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the musical live show Ukiyo Hotel Bar was staged, followed by the short musical collection YOKOHAMA Short Stories in 2022.
In 2023, a new tryout musical, Gilles de Rais: I Am the Flea of the Brothel, set in Paris during World War I, was unveiled. Kazune Tanaka received the “2023 All About Musical Awards” Staff Prize, garnering critical acclaim. Additionally, it received high praise by winning the Mini Theater Award at the “Musical Awards TOKYO 2024 Pre-Season.”
“Gilles de Rais: I Am the Flea of the Brothel”
You can download the PDF materials.
1. Concept: The Worldview of the Work
Set in France during World War I, this original musical is narrated from the perspective of a flea who falls in love with a human girl, exploring the fragility and beauty of love and life. Inspired by the French novel “I Am a Flea,” which in turn inspired Natsume Sōseki’s “I Am a Cat,” the story aims to depict the significant impact that even the smallest and most noble beings can have on the world.
2. Overview of the Work
- Genre: Original Musical (Trial performance completed)
- Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Music: 20 original songs
- Band: 6 members (Piano/Conductor, Violin, Reed, Bass, Guitar, Drums)
- Cast: Minimum of 4, main cast of 6–9, with additional ensemble members as neededウィキペディア+35thavenue.org+3NPR+3
Trial Performance Casting (Reference)
- Yuki Okamoto: Gilles de Rais (a flea who escapes from the flea circus “Cirque Ptolemaic”)
- Saho Aono: Christelle Renaud (a young prostitute)
- Elizabeth Marie: Bella (a cat living in Paris’s pleasure district) / Flea / Chorus
- Tomomi Oto: Ruben Lavoisier (a young soldier) / Flea / Chorus
- Daisuke Kaneko: Jekyll (male flea) / Count Jean-Baptiste François Joseph de Rozier (Christelle’s patron) / Paul Arnoux (driver) / Man / Flea / Flea #250001–#500000 / Flea #200001–#400000 / Chorus
- Noriyuki Konishi: Georges Valentin (ringmaster of Cirque Ptolemaic) / Louis Fouquet (owner of Café Fouquet’s) / René Viviani (doctor) / Man / Noble / Flea / Flea #750001–#1000000 / Flea #600001–#800000 / Chorus
- Emi Kuriyama: Françoise Thomas (maid of the count’s household) / Alice Dubois (nurse) / Man / Noble / Flea / Flea #500001–#750000 / Flea #1–#200000 / Chorus
- Atsushi Tanaka: Briki (manager of Maison de la Raison) / Lucas Fournier (deliveryman) / Noble / Flea / Flea #400001–#600000 / Chorus
- Madoka: Mélusine Bertrand (Valentin’s new lover) / Giselle (female flea) / Man / Noble / Flea / Flea #1–#250000 / Flea #800001–#1000000 / Chorus
Plot Summary
- Spring: Gilles de Rais, a star high-jumping flea at Cirque Ptolemaic, shares a special bond with his caretaker, Christelle. When Christelle is betrayed by her lover, ringmaster Valentin, she kills him, burns down the circus, and flees to Paris with Gilles.
- Summer: Christelle becomes a popular prostitute at Maison de la Raison. She meets and falls in love with Ruben, a medical student and soldier. They marry before he departs for war. Gilles vows to protect Christelle.
- Autumn: Christelle is invited to Count Rozier’s mansion, where she is mistreated and confined. Gilles travels to the battlefield to check on Ruben, who is recovering from shell shock.
- Winter: As the war ends, Christelle awaits news from Ruben. Gilles returns, and together with Ruben, they plan to escape Paris. Bella, the cat, leads a flea uprising that overthrows their oppressors. Gilles, having fulfilled his purpose, peacefully passes away.
3. Trial Performance Record
- Date: December 2023
- Venue: Lazona Kawasaki Plaza Sol (approx. 150 seats)
- Attendance: Approximately 900 over 6 performances
- Audience Satisfaction: 94% average rating
4. Expected Performance Style
- Suitable for small to medium theaters
- Minimalist sets, with emphasis on music, acting, and lighting
- Flexible direction to accommodate various interpretations
- Adaptable for studio performances, workshops, and graduation productions
5. Co-Production Models (Examples)
- Provision of script and music, with your company leading production
- Joint investment and co-production
- Collaborative development from workshops to prototype performances
We are open to flexible arrangements to suit your company’s style.
6. Usage Fees and Rights Conditions (Royalties)
- Script Usage Fee: 3% of production costs
- Music Usage Fee: 5% of production costs
Based on standard commercial musical rates. Minimum guarantee amounts may apply depending on production scale. Re-runs, streaming, and filming rights are negotiable.
7. Production Team
- Script: Shoko Kawada
- Composer: Kazune Tanaka (Awarded “2023 All About Musical Award” Staff Prize)
- Lyricist: Azusa Fujikura
- Choreography: Mayu Suetomi (Performed in “Spirited Away,” Assistant Director for NODA MAP)
- Trial Performance Director: Hajime Kikuchi
- Set Design: Megumi Satomori
- Costume Design: Coppelia Circus
8. Future Prospects
- Aiming for full-scale productions beyond initial performances
- Prepared for international performances (translated scripts available)
- Recording in progress (currently with musicians only)
9. Q&A
- Q: Can the script be partially modified?
- A: Yes, performance-related changes can be discussed while maintaining the overall structure.
- Q: Is casting completely open?
- A: Yes, casting is open.
- Q: How much time is needed for scheduling?
- A: Please consult with us.
10. Contact Information
- Email: ukiyohotelproject@gmail.com
- Phone: +81-44-355-9278 (Kawada)
For those interested in scripts and music samples:
We welcome online meetings via Zoom and other platforms.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information.