The Rose of Versailles musicals

Last updated December 10, 2024

The Rose of Versailles has been dramatized for Takarazuka Revue by Shinji Ueda. The show's role in Takarazuka history is particularly notable as it established the "Top Star" system that remains in place to this day. Rose of Versailles also triggered a large surge in the revue's popularity, commonly referred to as the "BeruBara Boom" (ベルバラブーム, Berubara Buumu).

The musicals have either played up the importance of the Oscar-Andre relationship, or the Fersen-Marie Antoinette relationship. Shinji Ueda, a Takarazuka producer, asked Riyoko Ikeda to write new stories with scenes from the manga never before seen on stage and by placing a focus on minor characters. In 2008 and 2009, four new musicals were staged based on the minor characters Girodelle, Alain de Soissons, and Bernard Chatelet, as well as André Grandier.^[1]

Takarazuka stage adaptations

The Rose of Versailles - The plot of this original performance is said to be the closest to Ikeda's manga

1974, Moon Troupe, top bill: Yuri Haruna, Asou Kaoru

The Rose of Versailles: Andre and Oscar - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. The show went through several revisions over the course of the years. In later versions, Oscar is typically the lead role. However, in earlier versions, the show is often considered to have a double lead.

1975, Flower Troupe, top bill: Jun Anna, Yuri Haruna

1975, Snow Troupe, top bill: Natsuko Migiwa, Rei Asami

1976, Flower Troupe, National tour, top bill:

1979, Flower Troupe, National tour, top bill: Akira Matsu

1980, Snow Troupe, National tour, top bill: Natsuko Migiwa

The Rose of Versailles III - The plot focuses on the relationship between Hans Axel Von Fersen and Marie Antoinette. The Takarazuka run featured guest stars from other troupes performing in the role of Oscar. The show underwent a quick partial rewrite for the Moon Troupe performance, placing more emphasis on Fersen.

1976, Star Troupe (Takarazuka version), top bill: Ran Ōtori

1976, Moon Troupe (Tokyo version), top bill: Ran Ōtori

Fantasy The Rose of Versailles - A shortened version of the Takarazuka version of Andre and Oscar

1977, Flower Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Jun Anna

Takarazuka Fantasy The Rose of Versailles - A shortened and revised version of Andre and Oscar

1978, Snow Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Natsuko Migiwa

The Rose of Versailles: Andre and Oscar - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Andre is given the lead role.

1989, Snow Troupe, top bill: Keaki Mori, Ichiro Maki

The Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie Antoinette - The plot focuses on the relationship between Fersen and Marie Antoinette. Fersen is given the lead role.

1989, Star Troupe, top bill: Kaoru Hyuuga

2001, Cosmos Troupe, top bill: Yōka Wao

2006, Star Troupe, top bill: Wataru Kozuki

The Rose of Versailles: Fersen - A variation of Fersen and Marie Antoinette. Fersen is given the lead role.

1990, Flower Troupe, top bill: Mizuki Ōura

1991, Flower Troupe, Ueda, top bill: Mizuki Ōura

The Rose of Versailles: Oscar, Andre

1991, Snow Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Keaki Mori

The Rose of Versailles: Oscar - The plot focuses on Oscar, her love with Andre and her tragic end.

1991, Moon Troupe, top bill: Mayo Suzukaze

The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Oscar is given the lead role.

2001, Star Troupe, top bill: Kō Minoru

The Rose of Versailles - An abbreviated variation of Fersen and Marie Antoinette adapted specifically for the Takarazuka performances in Seoul, South Korea.

2005, Star Troupe, Korean Tour, top bill: Wataru Kozuki

2006, Snow Troupe, top bill: Hikaru Asami

2006, Snow Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Natsuki Mizu

Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Girodelle - Focusing on Girodelle's love interest with Sophie, Fersen's younger sister.

2008, Snow Troupe, top bill: Natsuki Mizu

Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Alain - Focusing on Alain, his unrequited love for Oscar and his relationship with his younger sister Dianne

2008, Flower Troupe, top bill: Sei Matobu

Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Bernard - Focusing on Bernard and his love for Rosalie.

2008, Star Troupe, top bill: Kei Aran

Gaiden - The Rose of Versailles: Andre - Focusing on Andre's childhood and a girl he knew before he fell in love with Oscar.

2009, Cosmos Troupe, top bill: Yūga Yamato

2009, Flower Troupe, top bill: Sei Matobu

The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Oscar is given the lead role.

2013，Moon Troupe, top bill: Masaki Ryuu, Rio Asumi

The Rose of Versailles: Fersen - A variation of Fersen and Marie Antoinette. Fersen is given the lead role.

2013, Snow Troupe, top bill: Kazuho Sou

The Rose of Versailles: Oscar and Andre - The plot focuses on the relationship between Oscar and Andre. Oscar is given the lead role.

2014, Cosmos Troupe, top bill: Kaname Ouki

The Rose of Versailles: Fersen - A variation of Fersen and Marie Antoinette. Fersen is given the lead role.

2014, Cosmos Troupe, National Tour, top bill: Manato Asaka

2014, Flower Troupe, top bill: Rio Asumi

2015, Flower Troupe, top bill: Rio Asumi

2024, Snow Troupe, top bill: Sakina Ayakaze

Korean musical adaptation

Development for the musical in South Korea was announced in December 2022.^[2] The musical company, EMK, has experience creating a rococo stage in the past by producing a revised version of the musical Marie Antoinette.^[3] It was first presented as a preview gala concert on December 2–3, 2023,^[4] and then premiere at the Chungmu Arts Center Grand Theater in July 2024.^[5]^[6] In 2024, Riyoko Ikeda, the original author of The Rose of Versailles, visited South Korea ahead of that musical's premiere.^[7]

It received positive reviews from critics for its cast and visual spectacle of set design^[8]^{[ unreliable source? ]} but was criticized for the score and especially the story was criticized for trying to cram 10 volumes of the manga into a two-and-a-half hour musical.^[9]^{[ unreliable source? ]}

Casts

Role	Actors/Actresses
Oscar François de Jarjayes	Ock Joo-hyun, Kim Ji-woo, Jung Yoo-ji^[10]
André Grandier	Lee Hae-jun,^[11] Kim Sung-sik, Ko Eun-sung^[10]
Bernard Châtelet	Park Min-sung, Seo Yeong-taek, Noh Yun^[10]
Florian Victor Clement de Gerodelle	Song Jae-rim, Sung Yeon
Rosalie La morlière	Yoo So-ri, Jang Hye-rin
Duchesse de Polignac	Seo Ji-young, Lisa, Park Hye-mi
General de Jarjayes	Lee Woo-seung
Henry Salvatore de Gemene	Seo Seung-won
Nourricier	Lim Eun-yeong, Kim Myeong-hee
Charlotte de Polignac	Yoo Seung-yeon, Nam Seo-eun
Louis XVI	Jeong Won-sik
Marie Antoinette	Park Yu-jin → Park So-eun
Hans Axel von Fersen	Shin Dong-woo
Ensemble	Gong Min-seop, Jeong Won-il, Lee Eun-ju, Je Byeong-jin, Jeon Seon-jin, Kim Kang-heon, Jang Yeo-jin, Lee Seul-gi, Lee Geon-min, Kim Ri-an, Jeon Gi-su, Ahn Jun-hyeok, Jeong Won-sik, Hyun Seong-ho, Park Seong-jin, Baek Chan-hyeok, Seong Yoo-seung, Park Jun-byeong, Jeong Se-hoon, Choi Yoon-jae, Jang Jun-woo, Park So-eun, Shin Dong-woo, Jo Yu-jin, Park Yu-jin

^[5]^[12]

* Note: Most, if not all, large scale South Korean Musicals are generally double or triple cast for a role. The actors share the role equally and alternate throughout the eight show week.

Related Research Articles

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The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theatre troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals and stories adapted from films, novels, shōjo manga, and Japanese folktales. The Takarazuka Revue Company is a division of the Hankyu Railway company; all members of the troupe are employed by Hankyu.

Risa Junna is a Japanese actress, singer, and voice actress. She was part of Takarazuka Revue's Snow Troupe and Flower Troupe. During her time in the Revue, she specialized in female roles (musumeyaku). She was the musumeyaku top star from 1995 to 1996.

Mari Hanafusa(born February 28, 1973) is a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, in which she specialized in female roles (Musumeyaku). She is from Tokyo and joined the revue in 1991 and retired in 2006. She is the first and the only musumeyaku of her class to receive top billing.

Yōka Wao is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1988 and resigned in 2006.

Jun Sena, real name Asako Doi is a Japanese actress and former top star of the Takarazuka Revue's Moon Troupe, a Japanese theatre organization in which women portray all parts. She was born April 1, 1974, and grew up in Suginami, Tokyo. During her time in the Revue, she was an otokoyaku, an actress who specializes in male roles. After two years of intensive training at the Takarazuka Music School, she joined the revue in 1992 and reached top star status in 2005. Her nicknames are Asa and Asako. The first otokoyaku from her class of 1992 to reach top star status, she resigned her position as top star and retired in December 2009 after the run of Last Play / Heat on Beat and is now pursuing an acting career outside of the Revue.

Yu Todoroki is a former member of Takarazuka Revue. As an otokoyaku, she joined the revue in 1985, became the top star of Snow Troupe in 1997, before transferring to Superior Members (Senka) in 2002. In 2003, she became the youngest member to serve on the company's board of directors. Todoroki stepped down from her position as member of the board of directors on July 18, 2020, and functions now as a special advisor. In 2021, she resigned from the company and retired from the entertainment world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar François de Jarjayes</span> Fictional Japanese manga character created by Riyoko Ikeda

Oscar François de Jarjayes is a fictional character created by Japanese manga artist Riyoko Ikeda. She is the protagonist of the 1972 manga series The Rose of Versailles, and its various adaptations and spin-offs.

Sumire Haruno is a Japanese actress from Komae, Tokyo, a former member of Takarazuka Revue, specializing in otokoyaku. She joined the revue in 1991, became the top star of Flower Troupe in 2002 and resigned from the company in 2007. Her real name is Masako Osada. Her nicknames are Osa and Masa-chan. She is the first otokoyaku of her class (77th) to reach the top star status. Her top star run is second longest in Flower Troupe history.

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<i>Lady Oscar</i> (film) 1979 film adaptation of The Rose of Versailles directed by Jacques Demy

Lady Oscar is a 1979 English-language romantic historical drama film, based on the manga The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda. The film was written and directed by Jacques Demy, with music composed by his regular collaborator Michel Legrand. The Japanese-French co-production was produced by Mataichiro Yamamoto for Kitty Films, Nippon TV, Toho, and Ciné Tamaris, and was filmed on location in France.

Hikaru Asami is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1991 and resigned in 2006. She is from Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken.

Wataru Kozuki is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1989 and resigned in 2006. She is from Iruma, Saitama.

Sakiho Juri is a Japanese performing artist and a former member of the Takarazuka Revue, where she specialized in playing male characters (Otokoyaku). She joined the revue in 1990 and resigned in 2005. She is from Osaka.

Reon Yuzuki is a Japanese actress and former Takarazuka Revue otokoyaku and Star Troupe Top Star. She joined the revue in 1999 and became a Top Star in April 2009. She resigned in May 2015, making this the second longest Top Star run, after Yoka Wao. She signed with Amuse, Inc. and continued her career on stage.

<i>The Rose of Versailles</i> Japanese manga series by Riyoko Ikeda

The Rose of Versailles, also known as Lady Oscar and La Rose de Versailles, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Riyoko Ikeda. It was originally serialized in the manga magazine Margaret from 1972 to 1973, while a revival of the series was published in the magazine from 2013 to 2018. The series is a historical drama set in the years preceding and during the French Revolution. Using a combination of historical personages and original characters, The Rose of Versailles focuses primarily on the lives of two women: the Queen of France Marie Antoinette, and Oscar François de Jarjayes, who serves as commander of the Royal Guard.

Tomu Ranju is a Japanese singer, TV and musical actress most widely recognized as Takarazuka Revue Flower Troupe's otokoyaku top star from 2011 to 2014. Ranju is considered one of the triple threat actresses the revue has had in recent years and was selected to record songs for many of Takazuka albums, both while she was with the revue and after she left.

Rio Asumi is a Japanese actress and former leading otokoyaku of Takarazuka Revue.

References

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↑ "［REVIEW］Preview gala sets stage for grand premiere of 'La Rose de Versailles' musical". The Korea Times. 2023-12-04. Archived from the original on 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
1 2 옥주현·김지우…뮤지컬 '베르사유의 장미' 콘서트로 미리 만난다 [Ock Joo-hyun, Kim Ji-woo... Meet in advance at the musical 'La Rose de Versailles' concert] (in Korean). Newdaily [ ko ]. 2023-11-10. Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
↑ "Two musicals based on popular manga set to hit the stage this summer". Atlanta Chosun. 2024-07-16. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
↑ "Interview: 'The Rose of Versailles' author visits S. Korea for musical premiere". The Chosun Daily. 2024-07-16.
↑ "The highly anticipated 2024 musical 'Rose of Versailles'". Maeil Business Newspaper. 2023-07-19. Archived from the original on 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
↑ "Review> Was 150 minutes insufficient for the immortal classic of 'Rose of Versailles'". Maeil Business Newspaper. 2023-08-21.
1 2 3 "'The Rose of Versailles' ditches romance for focus on struggle for justice". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2024-07-25. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
↑ "INTERVIEW ｜Lee Hae-jun expands acting scope in musical 'La Rose de Versailles'". The Korea Times. 2024-08-13.
↑ 옥주현·김지우, 오스칼 된다... 뮤지컬 '베르사유의 장미' 캐스팅 [Ock Joo-hyun and Kim Ji-woo become Oscar... Casting of the musical 'La Rose de Versailles'] (in Korean). Joy News 24. 2023-11-10. Archived from the original on 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-20.