This article about Applause, TAKARAZUKA LIVE NEXT’s first show and Ayanagi Shou’s first OG performance, was published in Hochi News on September 9, 2021. The original article can be found here (archive link here).

Takarazuka OG ‘NEXT’s launch performance starring Ayanagi Shou opens with ‘hope for tomorrow’

Applause: 10 Nights of Dreams (directed by Miki Akio), a performance starring former Snow Troupe otokoyaku star Ayanagi Shou, who retired in April of this year, opened on the 8th in Tokyo’s Nippon Seinenkan theatre.

This is the first production from ‘TAKARAZUKA LIVE NEXT’, the company organized last year to manage and produce stage shows for Takarazuka OGs. Ayanagi danced, sang, and acted with a sense of softness different to her atmosphere in her otokoyaku era, leaving the impression that she was breaking new territory for herself.

The performance, which features major revue-like aspects, centers on protagonist ‘Shou’, a youth dreaming of stardom who after a long journey reaches the old opera house where the show is set. Mikio explained the intent of his direction: “The naivety and energy as she lives in her dreams layers perfectly over the miracle that she came this far through Takarazuka.”

Ayanagi commented that “I feel huge honor and responsibility as the lead of the launch performance,” and also “This is a show that all of us in the cast created together in a new environment. I hope that you can feel hope for tomorrow be cheered up [by the performance].” It plays [in Tokyo] through the 9th. It will play from the 23rd through 26th in the Takarazuka Bow Hall, Hyogo. Also, a live stream was announced today. It is set for the 4pm performance on the 25th.