by Greg Watanabe, BroadwayBox.com
After starring in dozens of plays in California, a viral web series, a TV show, and off-Broadway’s Golden Child & Ballad of Yachiyo, Greg Watanabe makes his Broadway debut as Mike Masaoka in October’s Show of the Month, Allegiance. The powerful new musical began its run at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre on October 6, and BroadwayBox kicks off our coverage with a 10-question interview in which we get to know the rising stage and screen star a bit better.
"A TRIUMPH of a rare sort! The audience cheers.” – Jeremy Gerard, Deadline.com
1. If I had to describe my Allegiance character Mike Masaoka in a hashtag, he would be:
#TheyCallMeMosesMasaoka
2. Before friends and family come to Allegiance, I tell them:
“Yes, I will introduce you to George and Lea.”
3. Play or musical that totally hooked me on theatre and performing:
Webster Street Blues by Warren Kubota at the Asian American Theater Company in San Francisco. It was the first time I played a Japanese American on stage; it was a very powerful moment for me.
4. If you are only going to watch one 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors video, it should be:
Hm, tough one… I’m going to say ‘Illegal Immigrants’. It represents our broad comedic, theatrical style, and our politically satirical edge.
Or ‘Filipino Farmworkers’; if you like the Marx Bros. and/or are familiar with Filipino union organizers and their part in the Delano grape strike.
Or ‘Penis Restaurant’ of you like…well, watch the other two.
5. My most cherished memory from my Watch Over Me experience is:
Casper Van Dien, whose character kills dozens of other characters, whispered to me, “This is my favorite death,” right before he stabbed me in the heart.