General Ticket Sales Start Tomorrow, June 6 (Sat)! Interview Video of Koji Yamamoto Released & Full Cast Announced! Koji Yamamoto, Yuriyan Retriever, and Broadway Casts 'Strip Down' Common Sense!?

Based on the 1997 film, the brilliant comedy musical 'The Full Monty,' nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, has brought laughter and tears to audiences worldwide. This Broadway musical will be reborn as a Japan-US co-production in the summer of 2026. Ahead of general ticket sales starting tomorrow, June 6 (Sat), an interview video with Koji Yamamoto, who plays the lead role of Jerry, has arrived! Koji Yamamoto, who gave his all in the 2024 Japan-US co-production musical 'RENT,' talks about why he accepted the offer for 'The Full Monty.' The full cast, including the ensemble and the child actor (playing Nathan), has also been announced. Please check the official website for details. Live music, performance entirely in English, with Japanese subtitles. Official HP: https://fullmonty2026.jp Koji Yamamoto Interview Video: ● What is the musical 'The Full Monty'? A Broadway musical based on the 1997 British film of the same name, with the setting moved to Buffalo, a small town in New York State. It premiered on Broadway in October 2000 and was nominated for nine Tony Awards the following year in 2001, including Best Musical. Besides the Tony Awards, it was also nominated for the Drama Desk Awards (1 win, 10 nominations), the Outer Critics Circle Awards (1 win, 6 nominations), and the Drama League Awards, receiving high acclaim. In Japan, it was performed as a touring production in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka in 2002. A Japanese-language version (directed by Yuichi Fukuda, starring Takayuki Yamada) was staged in 2014. And in the summer of 2026, a new 'The Full Monty' will be born, performed by the first-ever Japan-US joint cast. The lead role of Jerry will be played by Koji Yamamoto, who also appeared in the Japan-US co-production 'RENT' (2024) and has established an international reputation. Yuriyan Retriever, currently based in Los Angeles and active globally as a comedian, actor, and film director, will make her musical debut in this production. Furthermore, talented Broadway cast members will gather, unleashing energy that transcends borders. A story of male friendship and rebirth, told entirely in English. Laugh, bare it all, and take a bold step forward. Please experience 'The Full Monty' at the theater. Comment from Koji Yamamoto (Jerry): While I have some anxiety about the major challenge of performing with an American cast and entirely in English, after my experience in the Japan-US co-production 'RENT' two years ago, I am approaching this with a more relaxed feeling. The joy of taking on the challenge outweighs the anxiety, and I feel I can approach it with a sense of 'Nothing to Lose,' which is only possible now. I want to embody the courage and positive energy of taking a step forward from rock bottom and baring one's soul, as depicted in 'The Full Monty,' and deliver a performance that reaches straight to the audience's hearts. Comment from Yuriyan Retriever (Georgie): I am so happy to be able to stand on the musical stage I have always admired! Thank you so much. It's my first musical, and it's entirely in English! My hometown is NYC (Yoshino-cho, Nara Prefecture), so my first language is Japanese. I will do my best to play Georgie so that everyone can enjoy it!! Please look forward to it! Thank you very much! See you soon! Comment from Trey Ellet (Director): 'The Full Monty,' which premiered on Broadway in 2000, is a very charming and highly accomplished work, but it unfortunately lost the Tony Award race to 'The Producers.' After that, a national tour began, but due to the impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, it faced a difficult path. I myself played the role of Ethan in that tour as an actor, and I am truly happy to see this wonderful work come to light again. The courage to take a step forward – this is a theme that never fades with time. This work delivers that message lightly, along with plenty of laughter. Together with Koji Yamamoto, with whom I worked on 'RENT' in 2024, Yuriyan Retriever, who continues to challenge the world with laughter, and the Broadway cast, we will deliver the best laughter and emotion. Although it is a work from over 25 years ago, it has the universal power to make audiences see themselves in the characters, laugh, and cry. Please enjoy it. ● Story Buffalo, a suburban city in New York State. Jerry, who worked at a now-closed steel mill, is unemployed and spends his days at the employment office. He can't even afford the education costs for his only son, Nathan, and is in danger of losing custody to his ex-wife, Pam. At the employment office, his best friend Dave and former boss Harold, among other former colleagues, are also looking for work. One day, Jerry and Dave witness a group of women getting excited over a male strip show. Among them is Dave's wife, Georgie. Shocked by their enthusiastic talk about the male strippers' physiques, Jerry gets the idea that they could make some money by stripping. The members who gather include Dave, who is self-conscious about his body; the shy Malcolm; Harold, the former boss with ballroom dancing experience; the older Horse; and the confident Ethan – a group of men with diverse circumstances and personalities. While struggling with unfamiliar dance moves, they gradually open up to each other. Eventually, they decide to take on the bold idea of 'baring it all,' but various obstacles stand in their way. Can these six men break out of their shells and take the step that will change their lives?! ● The Film 'The Full Monty' Release: 1997 British Film Distributor: 20th Century Fox Director: Peter Cattaneo Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy Cast: Robert Carlyle / Tom Wilkinson / Mark Addy / Steve Huison / Paul Barber / Hugo Speer / Emily Woof / William Snape © 2026 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. Streaming now on Disney+ Star Performance Overview Japan-US Co-production Broadway Musical 'The Full Monty' August 19 (Wed) - September 7 (Mon), 2026, 24 performances total Venue: Tokyo International Forum, Hall C September 10 (Thu) - September 14 (Mon), 2026, 7 performances total Venue: Shinkabukiza Book: Terrence McNally Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek Based on the film 'The Full Monty' Direction: Trey Ellet Choreography: Paul McGill Music Supervisor: Katherine A. Walker Orchestrations: Harold Wheeler Vocal & Incidental Music Arrangements: Ted Sperling Dance Music Arrangements: Zane Mark Cast: Koji Yamamoto, Adam Chanler-Berat, Greg Hildreth, Yuriyan Retriever