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Talking with George Takei and Telly Leung of Allegiance

In 1942, when George Takei was five years old, his family was forced out of their California home by the U.S. government and shuttled to a converted horse stable, eventually ending up in a “relocation center,” and later sent to a different, much worse, interment camp. And even though he was still a little kid when the war ended and his family returned to Los Angeles, Takei never lost the outrage and sadness of the experience.

Michael K. Lee, George Takei and Lea Salonga in a scene from "Allegiance"

Michael K. Lee, George Takei, and Lea Salonga in a scene from Allegiance (c) Matthew Murphy

“I am who I am today because of the camps,” says Takei. “They shaped and formed me into a political activist for all injustice.”

As a teenager he searched history and civic books, but could find nothing about the camps. So he went to his father who spoke, among other things, of the Loyalty Questionnaire—an odious document that inferred Japanese Americans were non-citizens. “My grandparents were so shamed by the questionnaire they wouldn’t even talk about it,” Takei recalls.

Meanwhile, he was also developing a love for musical theatre, and so a twofold passion was ignited: “My mission—my lifelong dream from the time I was in my 20s—was to raise awareness about the camps in a musical.”

The end result is a lovely, poignant, and important new Broadway musical that not only entertains, it enlightens. Allegiance is based on Takei’s personal story in which he plays two pivotal roles, including his own grandfather. And, to his delight, he gets to work with a stellar cast, including Tony winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon) as Kei Kimura. “When we were putting together the production I immediately thought of Lea for the role of Kei Kimura, so to work with her is such an amazing thrill,” notes Takei. “I’m on cloud nine.”

Telly Leung and the cast in a scene from "Allegiance"

Telly Leung and the cast in a scene from Allegiance (c) Matthew Murphy

Playing Kei’s brother Sammy is Telly Leung, whose friendship with Lea goes back to when they appeared in Flower Drum Song in 2002. “She was kind of a big sister then, and now she’s playing my sister,” says Leung.

Leung, Chinese American and born in New York City nearly 40 years after WWII, nevertheless feels a strong connection to the material—and to George, whom he describes as “magnetic and gregarious.”

“We are telling a very American story,” says Leung. “The hope is that audiences will walk out having related to the message of survival and hope. The Kimura family may have been wrongly interred, but still they find joy...and laugh...and dance.”

In the world of entertainment where Takei will be forever be remembered as Lt. Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise and Leung for his Broadway and TV appearances, including Dalton Academy Warbler Wes on Glee, it’s exciting to see them light up the stage together in this standout production.

“We want to give audiences an emotional roller coaster and I think we’ve succeeded,” says Leung. “When we walk out after the show, the people waiting at the stage door are smiling...sure, Allegiance prompts discussion, but it’s also a big Broadway musical everyone can relate to.”


Allegiance is playing at the Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St. Catch it while you can: Allegiance will be closing on February 14, 2016. For reservations call 212-239-6200 or visit allegiancemusical.com.

About the Author

City Guide Theatre Editor Griffin Miller moved to New York to pursue an acting/writing career in the 1980s after graduating magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then, she has written for The New York Times, For the Bride, Hotels, and a number of other publications, mostly in the areas of travel and performance arts. An active member of The New York Travel Writers Association, she is also a playwright and award-winning collage artist. In addition, she sits on the board of The Lewis Carroll Society of North America. Griffin is married to Richard Sandomir, a reporter for The New York Times.

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