Norika Fujiwara to appear in her 1st Broadway musical

Friday 18th April, 06:00 PM JST

TOKYO —

Actress Norika Fujiwara, 36, will appear in her first Broadway musical, “The DROWSY Chaperone,” next year. Fujiwara, who plays the main character Janet Van De Graaff, said, “I have already started voice and dance training. But my biggest challenge is to get more flexibility in my body. Since this is my first experience as a leading actor in a play, I’m going to make every possible effort so that people can enjoy the musical.”

Director Amon Miyamoto, 50, who visited New York with Fujiwara to see “The DROWSY Chaperone” on Broadway, said, “She made a big decision to challenge a very difficult role. I think she can do it.”

The musical is scheduled to start its run in January, 2009, at Nissei Theater in Tokyo.

13 Comments

ToughGuyBanker at 10:25 PM JST - 18th April

The musical is scheduled to start its run in January, 2009, at Nissei Theater in Tokyo.

So it's not Broadway. Try again.
Dubya at 11:28 PM JST - 18th April

“She made a big decision to challenge a very difficult role. I think she can do it.”

Don't you just hate it when Japanese misuse the verb "to challange"?
greenteaonsens at 12:28 AM JST - 19th April

So it's gonna be entirely in Japanese in Japan? Wow, she's really "challenging" herself with that project...

Yet another Japanese who can't cut it abroad in the English language.
rjd_jr at 01:19 AM JST - 19th April

Norika is beautiful and talented, and good for her to take on this role. Not only is she a great humanitartian, building schools for needy children in Cambodia and other acts of generosity, she's quite talented as an actress. No doubt she will be great in this one. By the way, this IS a Broadway musical, because, surprise, it is a musical that has its original run on Broadway. The term has nothing to do with its current location. Nice try though.
MPLS2 at 01:48 AM JST - 19th April

The musical is scheduled to start its run in January, 2009, at Nissei Theater in Tokyo.

So it's not Broadway. Try again.

They never mentioned she was going to Broadway, only she was to star in a Broadway musical which is correct to say..
Himajin at 07:53 AM JST - 19th April

Yes, it is correct, but leave it to those here to leave no nit unpicked, even imagined ones.
blvtzpk at 08:52 AM JST - 19th April

Nitpicking? When the title states "Norika Fujiwara to appear in her 1st Broadway musical" most would assume that the show was on Broadway. Does the local high school's yearly production of "Guys and Dolls" allow the kiddies to say that they've appeared in a Broadway musical given that it has appeared at some point in history on Broadway? Give me a break! Take out 'Broadway' from the title and make it more realistic and less misleading.
Nessie at 09:18 AM JST - 19th April

A Broadway musical. And I painted the Sistine Chapel with DaVinci...online using a photo of it and PhotoShop. Nit approved, BLV.

Anyway, it's a musical that's a piss-take on Broadway cliches. I saw it on Broadway (the one in New York). The question is, can Norika sing? Because it's a fairly demanding vocal role. As for flexibility, it's not a particularly physical role. More singing than dancing. And I wonder how well it will translate into Japanese, since they're making fun of older musicals, and not the Lion King Cats Phantom Saigon that j-audiences are more familiar with.
borscht at 12:31 PM JST - 19th April

When I read the headline I thought, great! I've seen some of Norika's bad English in the movies (obviously katakana-ized) and wished her well on this... oh, wait, she's not appearing ON Broadway - the avenue of hopes and dreams but in a Broadway (used as an adjective) musical. In Tokyo. In Japanese.

I too doubt being in 'Guys and Dolls' in high school allows one to say you've been in a Broadway musical. But. Good luck to her.
pathat at 02:04 PM JST - 19th April

Why cant Norika take Daniel Radcliffes part on Broadway later this year? I`d like to see her shed her clothing. "Singing In The Buff On Platform 9 And 3/4" sounds like a good title to me.

She said a number of years ago that she wants to make it in the U.S. I can`t think of a better way to get instant, maximum exposure of your talents, Norika. Take my advice and good luck!
RomeoRamenII at 04:39 PM JST - 19th April

Anyone remember Norika's bid to be a "Bond Girl" a few years ago? Heh, she wound up making a Z-grade movie with Coolio in Hong Kong.

RR
borscht at 06:28 PM JST - 19th April

I remember that Coolio flick. That's the one where Norika katakanaizes her way through English. Nice smile though.
Ultradude at 10:44 AM JST - 21st April

Something Potemkin village about her, never liked her. Seems to ape Hollywood actresses. I predict she'll divorce within a couple of years.