Returning for the first time in four years! A high school student pushes forward towards his dream! The musical "Jamie"

Jamie is based on a documentary that was broadcast on the British public broadcaster BBC. It opened in 2017 at a theatre in Sheffield, England, and became a huge hit, before moving on to London's West End, a musical mecca on a par with New York's Broadway. It also created a sensation, receiving five nominations for the Laurence Olivier Awards, Britain's highest theatre award.

In 2021, a film version was released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film. It has since continued to be screened around the world and has been met with great acclaim.

At its Japanese premiere in 2021, the musical's appeal was fully apparent, with fast-paced pop melodies and dance filled with passion and energy. Jamie's growth through these stories, including the bond between Jamie and his mother Margaret, his friendship with his best friend Pretty, his conflicts with his nemesis Dean, his father, and his teacher, and his encounters with the drag queens he admires, was deeply moving.

In addition to the wonderful cast that delivered sensational excitement at the premiere, energetic and talented new cast members will also be joining the cast for this long-awaited revival.

We were able to cover the press call, press conference, and dress rehearsal held at Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL on July 8th, 2025 (cast: Jamie: Miura Hiroki, Pretty: Yuzuki Fuuka, Dean: Kamisato Yuki, Miss Hedge: Kanade), as well as the dress rehearsal held at the same venue on July 9th (cast: Jamie: Takahashi Hayate, Pretty: Harumi, Dean: Yoshitaka Shion, Miss Hedge: Kuriyama Emi).

The curtain finally rises! A roundtable interview packed with information to make you look forward to the show

■Jamie New (double cast) - Hiroki Miura
We did eight full rehearsals, and I learned that it's normal to feel anxious before the opening. I still feel a bit nervous, but I'm supported by so many people, and the bonds within the company are strong. There's a sense of unity, like someone will cover for us if something happens, so I feel like if I just trust everyone and move forward, it gives me confidence that there's nothing to be afraid of.
I've gotten used to standing on my tiptoes in high heels now (laughs). There are scenes where my ballet experience comes in handy!

■Jamie New (W Cast) Hayato Takahashi (WATWING)
It was only thanks to the efforts of each and every one of us that we were able to come together on stage and move the story of "Jamie" forward. I'm excited to see how the story will evolve from here.
It's been four years since I last acted, and I feel like I can relax and look around while I work. I've realized how much fun acting is and how wonderful it is to create something together, and it's rewarding. I've powered up and I feel like a different person, so please come and see!

■Margaret New: Kei Aran
We've been trying out a lot of different things in rehearsals. I'm looking forward to seeing how this production will develop based on the audience's reaction. I'm often asked which performance to see when it comes to a double cast, but even though Miura and Takahashi play the same role of Jamie, their performances are completely different. They both bring out their own strengths, and both are amazing, so I hope everyone will see both performances.

■Zen Ishikawa as Hugo/Loco Chanel
This will be the first revival in four years, and I am really looking forward to working with everyone again, and creating a piece with everyone I'm working with for the first time. I hope everyone will come to the theater. I first dressed up as a drag queen four years ago, and it's strange, but when I put on the costume the character just comes out. That doesn't happen in everyday life, though. (laughs)

■Miss Hedge played by Kanade (3 o'clock heroine)
This is my first time performing in a musical, and this pre-performance was my first real performance, so I was quite nervous. I almost cried when we all formed a circle and said "Go Jamie!" I actually did classical ballet for 10 years. This is the first time I've told you all this (laughs) There will be times in this production where my ballet experience will come in handy! I'm also hoping to watch senior comedians who are performing in musicals perform on stage, so that I can get a little closer to them. As a comedian, I want to aim to break into the musical world!

© Horipro Stage

© Horipro Stage© Horipro Stage

Heartwarming songs and stories! ~Student theater report~

The hopes and conflicts of a boy named Jamie intertwine, and it was deeply moving. His attitude of standing up to the twists and turns of his relationship with his family and the stigma he faces at school, while using his own charm to make those around him happy, was beautiful and encouraging. I was captivated by his powerful yet delicate vocals and physical expression. The entertaining production and the gorgeous live band performance also added color to "JAMIE," making it a production that evoked love.
Maria Okabe, 1st year master's student at Kunitachi College of Music

This work made me realize that none of the painful or sad things that happen in life are wasted, and that they all become a force that makes us stronger.
Who decides what "normal" is? It's natural that everyone is different, and because you are the main character in your own life, it's okay to be true to your dreams and create your own stage. I feel like I was given the encouragement.
This film is impossible to watch without shedding tears, as it sympathizes with Jamie's fear of sticking to one's own beliefs, but also shows his strength in realizing who he is despite his worries, doubts, and conflicts, as well as the love of his mother and the presence of understanding people who embrace him.
Musashino University, 3rd year student, Akina Yoshimatsu

It was my first time seeing a musical live, and I was blown away by the acting of the cast and the live band performance.
It was truly a performance filled with laughter and tears, and something to enjoy from the bottom of your heart!
What was particularly impressive was that there were many tear-jerking scenes. The love of Jamie's mother who supports him, and Jamie's own struggles overlapped with my own worries, and I empathized deeply with them.
I also couldn't take my eyes off him as he grew despite his worries.
I felt that the play made me think deeply about "what is normal" and "what is being yourself." The jokes scattered throughout the play that made me chuckle were also a great accent to the piece!
It was such an emotional performance that I really wanted to see it again, and it was an unforgettable day.
Abe Rurika, second-year student at Showa Women's University

The moment I heard Takahashi's singing voice during the press call, my heart warmed and I thought, "The Jamie from four years ago is back!" and my vision became blurry.
Just one song, "Nobody Knows," made me realize the power of the song, which moves the heart, and the wonderful direction that made not only Jamie but all the characters shine.
Jamie, played by new cast member Miura, is a breathtakingly beautiful character, with high physical ability gained from many years of ballet experience, beautiful manners, and a splendor that can be conveyed just from his silhouette.
Takahashi, who is playing the role of Jamie for the first time in four years, carefully portrays how Jamie, a ``normal'' high school student who harbors a secret, gradually changes the people around him, and we, the audience, are moved by his actions as if we were Jamie's classmate, and it feels like Jamie has the power to draw people in.
"What is normal?" "What does my future hold?"
This film allows you to think about these questions that everyone has had at least once through the character of Jamie. There are sure to be lines that will touch your heart! After watching it, you will feel like walking with your back straighter, and it will give you positive energy that will make you want to live life honestly and do what you want to do.
I sincerely hope that this wonderful production of "Jamie" will reach many people, including students who struggle with many issues and strive to grow each day, and that all performances in Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi will be successful and reach the final performance without a single person missing.
Yurie Watanabe, second-year student at Josai International University

■ Performance overview

Performance name: Musical "Jamie"
Music: Dan Gillespie Sells
Written by: Tom McCrae
Japanese version direction and choreography: Jeffrey Page

Cast:
Jamie New (double cast): Hiroki Miura/Hayate Takahashi (WATWING)
Margaret New: Kei Aran
Pretty (double cast): Yuzuki Fuuka/Harumi
Dean Paxton (double cast): Yuki Kamisato/Shion Yoshitaka
Leica Virgin: Yohei Izumimi
Trey Sophisticated: Daisuke Watanabe
Miss Hedge (double cast): Kanade (3 o'clock heroine) Emi Kuriyama
Jamie's Father/Sandra Bolock: Yuji Kishi
Rei: Tomotsugu Hosaka
Hugo/Loco Chanel: Zen Ishikawa

Vex: Komukai Naru
Said: Satochu Masamichi
Fatima: Sawada Maria
Mickey: Kazutaka Higashima
Rhino: Yuta Hoshino
Levi: MAOTO
Becca: Natsumi Motoei
Vicky: Rico (HUNNY BEE)

[Tokyo performance]
Performance dates: July 9th (Wed) - July 27th (Sun), 2025
Venue: Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL (Toshima Ward Arts and Culture Theater)

[Osaka performance]
Period: September 2025st (Friday) to 8rd (Sunday), 1
Venue: Shin Kabukiza

[Aichi Performance]
Performance dates: August 9th (Sat) - 11th (Mon, holiday), 2025
Venue: Aichi Prefectural Arts Center, Large Hall

Official Website https://horipro-stage.jp/stage/jamie2025/

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on July 8th and 9th, 2025 by Kunitachi College of Music, Master's 1st year student, Okabe Maria and Josai International University, 2nd year student, Watanabe Yurie