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Spirited Away Musical Debuts LA with English Subtitles

6/30/2026

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Summary

Spirited Away Opens

Spirited Away will run with English subtitles at Los Angeles’s Ahmanson Theatre from September 2 to October 27, 2027.
The production, directed by John Caird, features an orchestra playing Joe Hisaishi’s score arranged by Haak, Toby Olié’s puppets, and costumes by Sachiko Nakahara, set by Jon Bausor.
Tickets start at $37.95 with a summer-2027 presale for play that debuted in Tokyo in 2022 and won the 2025 WhatsOnStage Best New Play after a run.

Summary

Toho Goes Global

The adaptation will be performed in Japanese with English subtitles for all international engagements.
A double-cast system will let two actors alternate lead roles, keeping one in Japan while the other tours abroad.
All overseas performances have sold out, including a 42-show run in Shanghai and a 94-show run in Seoul.
Toho’s executive team said the tour aims to share Japanese performing-arts excellence worldwide.

History

Historical Context

Spirited Away debuted in Japan on 20 July 2001, selling a record 21.4 million tickets and winning the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, which propelled Studio Ghibli’s global profile through Disney’s U.S. distribution. Building on that cross-cultural momentum, playwright John Caird’s stage adaptation, produced by Toho and slated for U.S. performances in 2024, extends the film’s international reach.

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Spirited Away Opens

Spirited Away will run with English subtitles at Los Angeles’s Ahmanson Theatre from September 2 to October 27, 2027.
The production, directed by John Caird, features an orchestra playing Joe Hisaishi’s score arranged by Haak, Toby Olié’s puppets, and costumes by Sachiko Nakahara, set by Jon Bausor.
Tickets start at $37.95 with a summer-2027 presale for play that debuted in Tokyo in 2022 and won the 2025 WhatsOnStage Best New Play after a run.

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