Actor, LGBT activist, social media aficionado--and now a musical star: George Takei is making his Broadway debut in "Allegiance," a musical inspired by his own experiences as a Japanese American placed in an internment camp during World War II.
"It’s an incredible, thrilling, amazing time for me," Takei said on the TODAY Show on Monday. "I've been sharing this story all my life."
Takei--whose previous stage credits include "8," a play based on the trial that overturned Proposition 8--also talked to the TODAY Show about the importance of the story "Allegiance" was telling. "When we started developing 'Allegiance,' we said that this is about the internment and people know very little about this story still. How do we get the people informed? Raise awareness? Because that’s what the musical is about," Takei said.
Through social media, Takei and his team have been promoting the musical through short videos that document the journey from page to stage.
"Allegiance" will be the first Asian-led cast of a Broadway musical in more than a decade since the 2002 revival of "Flower Drum Song."
Previews for "Allegiance" will begin Tuesday in New York City, and is expected to officially open later in the fall.