Production to pay for fans’ canceled hotel and trip expenses after sudden cancellation of first 5 days
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
The official website for the stage musical “Phantom Blood,” the first part of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga, announced on Thursday that the production team will cancel performances from February 10-11. of the musical, shortly after canceling performances for its first three days (February 6-8) on Sunday. TOHO and the Imperial Theater venue explained that they will need more time than expected to ensure the safety of staff and cast.
TOHO and the Imperial Theater have announced that they will refund ticket prices. They also offer to pay cancellation fees for the ticket holder’s travel and accommodation arrangements, or the ticket holder’s travel and accommodation expenses in the event they are unable to cancel. The staff is also considering streaming future performances for free for ticket holders of canceled shows.
Staff explained that the cancellation of the previous February 6-8 performances was due to arrangements for the opening taking longer than expected. The musical will be performed at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo on February 12-28. (The play does not perform on Friday.) It will then be presented at Sapporo Hitaru’s Cultural Arts Theater Hokkaido from March 26-30 and Hyogo Center for Performing Arts – KOBELCO Grand Hall from April 9-14.
The cast includes:
Yūya Matsushita and Shotaro Arisawa as Jonathan Joestar 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Mamoru Miyano as Dio Brando 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Miisha Shimizu as Erina Pendleton 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Young Dais as Robert E.O. Speedwagon 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Yoshihisa Higashiyama and Yūsuke Hirose as Will A Zeppeli 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Yamato Kochi as Jack the Ripper 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Jumpei Shimada as Wang Chan 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Kong Kuwata as Dario Brando 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
Tetsuya Bessho as George Joestar I 
© Toho, Hirohiko Araki, Shueisha
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 in February 2023.
Sources: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure musical website, Natalie Comics
