California's La Jolla Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of SUMO, written by Lisa Sanaye Dring and directed by Ralph B. Peña.
SUMO, which will play the Mandell Weiss Forum September 26-October 22, will feature Kris Bona as Kurogo 1, Michael Hisamoto as Kurogo 2, Earl T. Kim as Shinta, Ryan Nebreja as Tate Gyoji, David Shih as Mitsuo, Miller Tai as Fumio, Scott Keiji Takeda as Akio, Adam Tran as Ren, Viet Vo as So, and Shih-wei Wu as Taiko Drummer.
SUMO follows six men at an elite sumo training facility in Tokyo. There, "the wrestlers struggle to carve themselves—and one another—into the men they dream of being."
The creative team includes scenic designer Wilson Chin, costume designer Mariko Ohigashi, lighting designer Paul Whitaker, sound designer Fabian Obispo, projection designer Hana Kim, wig designer Albert “Albee” Alvarado, composer Shih-wei Wu, intimacy and fight director Chelsea Pace, cultural and martial arts consultant James Yaegashi, and dramaturg Alice Tuan, with casting by tbd casting and Stephanie Yankwitt/Jacole Kitchen.
Marie Jahelka is the stage manager and Kira Vine the assistant stage manager.
The play was developed during La Jolla Playhouse's 2021 DNA New Work Series, and is now presented in co-production with Ma-Yi Theater Company.
Visit LaJollaPlayhouse.org.