Koichi Domoto's "Endless SHOCK" aims for U.S.

KinKi Kids member Koichi
Domoto (31) has been
performing his musical
"SHOCK" (currently titled
"Endless SHOCK") since 2000.
On Saturday, after the musical's
751st performance, it was
announced by Johnny's Jimusho
president Johnny Kitagawa
that there are plans to bring
the production to the United
States by as early as 2012.
Saturday marked the final
performance of "Endless
SHOCK" for this year. 2010 was
a milestone for the musical, as
an anniversary year and as the
first year that it was performed
100 times.
The central story of "SHOCK" is
about a small, unknown group
of actors in New York who get a
chance to produce a big show
for a Broadway theater. Because
of its story and its long-running
success so far, Kitagawa feels
that American audiences can
also enjoy the musical. Currently,
he is aiming to have it performed
in major entertainment cities
such as New York and Las Vegas,
though more specific planning
will be done later this year.
The United States will not be the
only new location for the
musical. Up until now, all of the
performances have been held at
the Imperial Garden Theater in
Tokyo, but in 2012, Kitagawa
plans to do shows in other major
cities in Japan, including Osaka,
Nagoya, Sapporo, and Fukuoka.
The U.S. performances, if they
happen, would be in addition to
those new venues.
It was also announced on
Saturday that Domoto will
release a new solo album titled
"BPM" on September 1, his first
in four years. Starting on
September 11, he will launch a
solo tour consisting of 25
concerts at 9 venues.
source: TOKYOGRAPH