We Want to Stage Original Japanese Musicals 50 Years from Now ~ Musical Company It's Follies [April Dream]

All Staff Co., Ltd., Musical Company It's Follies (Taito-ku, Tokyo) endorses April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day to share dreams. This press release is the dream of "Musical Company It's Follies."

With the Dawn of Original Japanese Musicals

Taku Izumi, the founder and composer of It's Follies, released the musical "Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o (Look Up at the Stars in the Night)" with Mr. Rokusuke Ei in 1960. Since then, Taku Izumi dedicated his life to creating original Japanese musicals, composing 131 musicals, as currently confirmed, until his death in 1992.

Furthermore, while creating original musicals, Taku Izumi recognized the importance of training musical actors. Centered around graduates of Izumi Music Academy, he founded Gekidan Follies, a theater company specializing in musicals, in 1977. In the same year, they staged their inaugural performance, the musical "Akuma ni Natte Mimasenka (Would You Like to Be a Devil?)" at Atelier Fontaine.

"Utamaro" Musical Achieves 16 Performances in 6 US Cities

In 1988, the musical "Utamaro" received an invitation, and Gekidan Follies successfully completed a long-cherished tour of 16 performances in 6 cities across the United States. It was a moment that proved original Japanese musicals could succeed even in America, the home of musicals.

Inheriting Taku Izumi's Legacy

On May 11, 1992, Taku Izumi passed away at the age of 62, his work unfinished. Gekidan Follies changed its name to Musical Company It's Follies (It's is an abbreviation of Izumi Taku's) and continued its activities. Inheriting Taku Izumi's will, they committed to continuing to create original Japanese musicals.

In 2027, It's Follies Will Celebrate its 50th Anniversary

In July 2012, with the closure of Fontaine Building, the company relocated its base to Kuramae, Taito-ku. Although they lost Atelier Fontaine, a legacy of Taku Izumi, they continue to perform nationwide, primarily in Tokyo.

Next year, in 2027, we, It's Follies, will celebrate our 50th anniversary. Currently, approximately 50 troupe members, ranging from their 20s to 60s, are active.

Musicals, once a distant art form for Japanese people, have now become a familiar form of entertainment for many. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the pioneers who laid the foundation and to all the audience members who have come to the theater.

Our Dream: Continuing to Weave Stories for 50 Years into the Future

In 2027, It's Follies will reach a significant milestone: its 50th anniversary.

Our dream is that even 50 years from now, original Japanese musicals will continue to be staged, healing and encouraging people's hearts.

While carefully preserving the songs left by Taku Izumi, we will also create new musicals that resonate with the hearts of people living in the present age.

We will continue to deliver "musicals that touch the heart," valuing Japan's unique sensibility.