Manga Musical Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen Opens

The new off-Broadway production at The Night Egg marks the first English language American musical based on a manga.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Comic Books

Bold vector illustration of vintage theater binoculars on a velvet railing, evoking the opening of an off-Broadway musical adaptation. — Wisevoter’s production of the musical adaptation of Moyoco Anno’s manga, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, officially opens at The Night Egg in NYC. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, an off-Broadway musical based on the manga by Moyoco Anno, officially opens at The Night Egg. The production features a book by Leah Nanako Winkler and music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik.

Why it matters

The show represents a milestone as the first English language American musical adapted from a manga source. It brings the story of the two-volume manga series to a new stage at the former site of the Twilo Nightclub.

The production is based on a two-volume manga series that was serialized from 2013 to 2018. This source material previously earned an Excellence Award at the 2020 Japan Media Arts Festival.

The players

Moyoco Anno

She is the Japanese manga artist who created the original manga series.

Duncan Sheik

He is a singer-songwriter and composer known for his work in musical theater.

Leah Nanako Winkler

She is a playwright recognized for her contributions to contemporary theater.

Rob Ashford

He is an award-winning director and choreographer with extensive experience in stage and film productions.

Sophia Anne Caruso

She is an actress and singer who has performed in notable off-Broadway and Broadway roles.

The details

Directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford, the production stars Sophia Anne Caruso as Colette and Cory Jeacoma as Léon. The musical, which is set in Paris, incorporates musical arrangements and supervision by Or Matias to adapt the Japanese work for New York City audiences.

The manga was serialized from 2013 to 2018.
The source material received an Excellence Award in 2020.
The musical opened at The Night Egg on October 15, 2026.

Culture Shift

This production reflects a broader trend of Japanese manga expanding its reach into Western media markets. By adapting a critically acclaimed manga series for the New York stage, the project taps into the significant $10 billion global manga industry.

Theater enthusiasts can now purchase tickets for the show, which occupies the historic former home of the Twilo Nightclub. The production offers a new way for fans of Japanese literature to engage with the story in a live New York City setting.

The takeaway

This opening marks a unique intersection between Japanese illustrated storytelling and American stage performance. Audience members interested in cross-media adaptations may find this production a key case study in how global literary trends translate to local theater.