After researching the 1939 Broadway musical, The Hot Mikado, Bell and Bowman created a new adaptation, Hot Mikado, which ran from March 18–July 27, 1986 at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC. Bell directed and choreographed the production.
CVU Drama
Directed by Sebastian Ryder
Assistant Director Joann Frymire
Music Director Nate Venet
The Show's Synopsis & Plot
The lights rise on the mahogany and neon town of Titipu, where the zoot-suited gentlemen of Japan are swinging, scatting, and living their lives in song (“We Are Gentlemen of Japan”). They are interrupted by the entrance of Nanki-Poo, a fresh-faced rock-crooner who demands to know where to find Yum-Yum, the beautiful ward of a tailor named Ko-Ko. Nanki-Poo explains that he met Yum-Yum a year ago while playing second trumpet – an instrument that he plays without much talent - in the Titipu big band (“A Wand’ring Minstrel I”). It was love at first sight, but hopeless, since she was engaged to her older guardian, Ko-Ko. However, Nanki-Poo has recently heard the happy news that Ko-Ko has been condemned to death by the almighty Mikado for breaking the law against flirting, and has rushed to Titipu in order to marry Yum-Yum.
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