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Haruki Fujimoto (藤本 治貴) was a Japanese-born theatre performer, dancer, choreographer, and teacher.


Career

Born in
Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 1,199,391. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was US$61.3 billion as of 2010. Kazumi Matsui has b ...
, and educated in Osaka at the Hanayagi Dance School, he had a career in America. As a dancer, Fujimoto took part in experimental and modern choreography, dancing with the companies of both
Donald McKayle Donald McKayle (July 6, 1930 – April 6, 2018) was an American modern dancer, choreographer, teacher, director and writer best known for creating socially conscious concert works during the 1950s and '60s that focus on expressing the human con ...
and
Sophie Maslow Sophie Maslow (March 22, 1911 – June 25, 2006) was an American choreographer, modern dancer and teacher, and founding member of New Dance Group. She was a first cousin of the American sculptor Leonard Baskin. Born in New York City in 1911 b ...
. Fujimoto made his Broadway debut in 1966 in the original production of '' It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman'' directed by
Harold Prince Harold Smith Prince (born Harold Smith; January 30, 1928 – July 31, 2019), commonly known as Hal Prince, was an American theatre director and producer known for his work in musical theatre. One of the foremost figures in 20th-century theat ...
. He also performed on national tours of
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever ''On a Clear Day You Can See Forever'' is a musical with music by Burton Lane and a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner based loosely on ''Berkeley Square'', written in 1926 by John L. Balderston. It concerns a woman who has ESP and has been ...
,
The Music Man ''The Music Man'' is a musical theatre, musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns a confidence trick, con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and ...
, and Funny Girl, as well as the original production of
Chu Chem ''Chu Chem'' is a musical with a book by Ted Allen, lyrics by Jim Haines and Jack Wohl, and music by Mitch Leigh. Background Allen's inspiration was a trip to Kaifeng Fu (''prefecture''), China, the site of a major Jewish migration in the 10th ...
, which closed during its tryout phase prior to reaching Broadway. Ten years after "Superman", Fujimoto returned to Broadway, reuniting with Prince for the musical ''
Pacific Overtures ''Pacific Overtures'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by John Weidman, with "additional material by" Hugh Wheeler. Set in nineteenth-century Japan, it tells the story of the country's westernization starting ...
'', with music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...
and a book by
John Weidman John Weidman (born September 25, 1946) is an American librettist and television writer for ''Sesame Street''. He has worked on stage musicals with Stephen Sondheim and Susan Stroman. Career Weidman was born in New York City and grew up in Westport ...
. ''Pacific Overtures'' used a blend of
kabuki is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...
and Western theatre techniques to tell the story of Japan's opening from 250 years of isolation. In addition to being the kabuki consultant, dance captain, assistant to the choreographer, and playing various silent roles as a member of the company (including Kayama's servant, a rickshaw operator, and a dancer in the finale), Fujimoto created the role of Commodore
Matthew Calbraith Perry Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was a United States Navy officer who commanded ships in several wars, including the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He led the Perry Expedition that Bakumatsu, ended Japan ...
. The role was silent, standing on stage for most of its scenes with outside sound effects used to simulate the commodore's commands, but Act I ended with a unique and rousing "
Lion Dance Lion dance ( zh, s=舞狮, t=舞獅, p=wǔshī, c=, first=t) is a form of traditional dance in Culture of China, Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a Asiatic lion, lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good l ...
" which foreshadowed the influence of America within Japan, a key theme of the show and in Act II. Choreographed by
Patricia Birch Patricia Ann Birch (born October 16, 1934) is an American dancer, choreographer, film director, and theatre director. Early life Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Birch began her career as a dancer in Broadway musicals, including '' Brigadoon'', '' ...
with dance music by Daniel Troob, the Lion Dance received mentions in two reviews by ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''; both the mixed review from
Clive Barnes Clive Alexander Barnes (13 May 1927 – 19 November 2008) was an English writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977, he was the dance and theater critic for ''The New York Times'', and, from 1978 until his death, the ''New York Post''. Barnes had sign ...
and the negative review from
Walter Kerr Walter Francis Kerr (July 8, 1913 – October 9, 1996) was an American writer and Broadway theatre critic. He also was the writer, lyricist, and/or director of several Broadway plays and musicals as well as the author of several books, general ...
.Kerr, Walter. ''The New York Times'', "'Pacific Overtures' Is Neither East Nor West", January 18, 1976. The dance was enough to earn Fujimoto a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, being the only performer from the show to earn a nomination (two other actors,
Mako Iwamatsu was a Japanese-American actor, credited mononymously in almost all of his acting roles as simply Mako (マコ), pronounced "MAH-ko". His career in film, on television, and on stage spanned five decades and 165 productions. He was an Academy Aw ...
and Isao Sato were nominated for
Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cere ...
). He lost to George Rose for his performance in a revival of ''
My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical theatre, musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story, based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion (play), Pygmalion'' and on the Pygmalion (1938 film), 1938 film ...
''. Fujimoto can still be seen as the cover art for the original cast album of ''Pacific Overtures''. Certified as a Natori in Japanese dance, Fujimoto taught at
Hollins University Hollins University is a private university in Hollins, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1842 as Valley Union Seminary in the historical settlement of Botetourt Springs, Virginia, Botetourt Springs, it is Timeline of women's colleges in the Un ...
in Virginia from 1970-1990. He died on October 12, 2006.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fujimoto, Haruki Fujimoto Year of birth missing 2006 deaths Japanese expatriates in the United States People from Hiroshima Kabuki actors Japanese male dancers Hollins University faculty