JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Stage Musical Canceled Its First 3 Days

Staff said the opening preparation time was longer than expected

The official website for the stage musical “Phantom Blood,” the first installment of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Manga Bizarre Adventure, announced on Sunday that the first three days of production have been canceled, just two days before expected launch. TOHO and the Imperial Theater venue explained that arrangements for the opening are taking longer than expected, so they are canceling four performances scheduled for February 6, 7 and 8. ( February 8 will have both afternoon and evening performances.)

The musical is currently scheduled to open at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo on February 10-28. (The play does not perform on Friday.) It will then be presented at the Art Theater Hokkaido’s Sapporo Hitaru Cultural Arts from March 26 to 30 and Hyogo Performing Arts Center – KOBELCO Grand Hall from April 9 to 14.

The cast includes:

Yūya Matsushita and Shotaro Arisawa as Jonathan Joestar

Mamoru Miyano as Dio Brando

Miisha Shimizu as Erina Pendleton

Young Dais as Robert E.O. Speedwagon

Yoshihisa Higashiyama and Yūsuke Hirose as Will A Zeppeli

Yamato Kochi as Jack the Ripper

Jumpei Shimada as Wang Chan

Kong Kuwata as Dario Brando

Tetsuya Bessho as George Joestar I

Nei Hasegawa directs the musical. Hasegawa previously directed, wrote and choreographed Araki’s 2015 stage play adaptation of Shikei Shikkōchū Datsugoku Shinkōchū manga. French composer Dove Attia is composing the music. Tsuneyasu Motoyashi (My Hero AcadeKaren stage production) is writing the script.

Viz Media is publishing multiple JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga series in English, including Phantom Blood. Viz Media describes the first part of this episode:

Young Jonathan Joestar’s life changes forever when he meets his new foster brother, Dio. For some reason, Dio harbors a simmering grudge against him and takes pleasure in seeing him suffer. But every man has his limits, Dio realized that. This is the beginning of a long and vengeful relationship!

The first season is inspired by an original 2000-2002 anime film, a 2007 anime film prequel, and a 2012-2013 anime television series.

Araki launched The JOJOLands manga, the ninth and latest installment in his JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga series, in Ultra Jump magazine on February 17.

Sources: musical JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s website, Natalie Comics