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See What I Wanna See is a musical by Michael John LaChiusa based on several short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa: "Kesa and Morito", "In the Grove" (inspiration also for Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon) and "The Dragon".

Contents 1 Early Productions 2 Cambridge University Production 3 Lyric Stage Company Production 4 Oberlin College Production 5 Musical Numbers

An early version of the show was mounted at the Williamstown Theater Festival in the summer of 2004. In the fall of 2005 the show received its New York premiere at the Public Theater in a production directed by Ted Sperling.

Original Off-Broadway Cast

• Kesa/A Wife/An Actress - Idina Menzel
• Morito/A Husband/A CPA - Marc Kudisch
• A Janitor/A Priest - Henry Stram
• The Thief/A Reporter - Aaron Lohr
• The Medium/Aunt Monica - Mary Testa

Idina Menzel was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical) and the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance in 2006 for her performance in See What I Wanna See.

The European Premiere of "See What I Wanna See" was performed by the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society in the United Kingdom. The show took place from 7 November to 11 November 2006, at the ADC Theatre in Cambridge.

Director - Adam Lenson
Musical Director - Ben Nicholls
Choreographer - Vaughan Watts

Cambridge University Cast

• Wife/Actress - Rebecca Hutchinson
• Morito/Husband/CPA - Charlie Corn
• Janitor/Priest - Mark Stanford
• Thief/Reporter - Chris Hancock
• Kesa/Medium/Aunt Monica - Annabel Lloyd

The New England regional premiere of "See What I Wanna See" opened at Boston's Lyric Stage Company on 5 January and ran through 3 February 2007, directed by Stephen Terrell with musical direction by Jonathan Goldberg, fight direction by Meron Langsner, scenic design by Brynna C. Bloomfield, costume design by Rafael Jaen, and lighting design by Karen Perlow

Lyric Stage Cast

• Kesa/The Wife/An Actress - Aimee Doherty
• Morito/The Husband/A CPA - Andrew Giordano
• The Janitor/A Priest - Brendan McNab
• The Thief/A Reporter - Andrew Schufman
• The Medium/Aunt Monica - June Baboian

The College and Midwestern premiere of "See What I Wanna See" was performed at Oberlin College on February 3rd and 4th, 2007 directed by Taylor Bibat, stage managed by Anna Strasser.

Oberlin College Cast

• Kesa/The Wife/An Actress - Melissa Bayern
• Morito/The Husband/A CPA - Jason Eck
• The Janitor/A Priest - Samuel Heldt
• The Theif/A Reporter - Joshua Christian
• The Medium/Aunt Monica - Jill Murdoch

with Jacob Kidder-piano and music director, Jake Robinson-drums, Nate Levin-bass, Erika Oba-flute, Katie Gluck-soprano and tenor Sax, Johannes Garrett-baritone sax and bassoon, Matt Hosleton, Jim Mattingly-percussion

Act 1

• 1. Kesa
• 2. The Janitor's Statement
• 3. The Thief's Statement/She Looked at Me
• 4. See What I Wanna See
• 5. Big Money
• 6. The Park
• 7. You'll Go Away With Me
• 8. Murder
• 9. Best Not to Get Involved
• 10. The Wife's Statement
• 11. Louie
• 12. The Medium and the Husband's Statement
• 13. Quartet. You'll Go Away With Me (reprise)
• 14. No More
• 15. Simple as This
• 16. Light in the East/Finale Act 1

Act 2

• 17. Morito
• 18. Confession/Last Year
• 19. The Greatest Practical Joke
• 20. First Message
• 21. Central Park
• 22. Second Message
• 23. Coffee
• 24. Gloryday
• 25. Curiosity/Prayer
• 26. Feed the Lions
• 27. There Will Be a Miracle
• 28. Prayer (reprise)
• 29. Rising Up/Finale Act 2