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Concept
MATSURI is a live performance show where "muscles play the music." Rather than rely on language or songs, it is action -- from spectacular acrobatics to playful comedy – that draws applause and laughter. The performers are top athletes, many of them former Olympians and world champions, pushing their athletic prowess to new heights in entertainment. "MATSURI" means "Festival" - And now, the passion of this "MATSURI" will be poured out on stage at the Sahara Theater. MATSURI is not passive entertainment.
Interactive acts draw in audiences and being mesmerized by the non-stop action, you will no doubt… Feel the energy.
History
In 2001, innovative television producer Ushio Higuchi toyed with a simple idea – he wanted to make a show where "muscles would play music." Unlike other theatre veterans, director/choreographer Ryoji Nakamura did not dismiss the idea as too zany. And so the two came together to create Japan’s top acrobatic entertainment troupe.
When the performance of "Muscle Musical" was aired on a national television special, audiences were so captivated, it developed into a troupe touring around Japan. Its popularity continued to grow, culminating in over 838 shows, many as sell-outs. The group’s success evolved into the opening of its own Muscle Theatre, in Tokyo’s entertainment mecca of Shibuya this April. With the enormous success of MATSURI in Las Vegas last year, Muscle Musical continues making entertainment history by becoming the first Japanese group to perform in Vegas on a long-term.
Executive producer, Ushio Higuchi
"I consider one of the greatest highlights of my career is the moment I heard the delightful laughter of the audience when MATSURI first played at the Rivera Hotel last year. It has always been my stance that by getting feedback from the world, I can change, adjust and improve my work. Therefore I am incredibly thrilled and honored that MATSURI will become the first Japanese stage performance to secure a long-term contract overseas.
Truly entertaining shows can and should be so simple that a child even can understand it. Therefore I have always created entertainment to be accessible from age zero to 100. I think all people are impressed watching athletes push themselves to their physical limits. Entertaining can be done with action, not words. With these premises, there is no borders vertically (age) or horizontally (across borders.) MATSURI maybe from Japan, but our message is universal."
Ushio Higuchi profile :
A truly multi-media entertainment producer, Higuchi has created successful television programming, video games, a feature film, live sports competition, theatre and a sports amusement park. Higuchi began his career as a television producer, sparking a new genre in Japanese television called "sports variety shows" where real athleticism was required to complete video game-like challenges. Muscle Musical reflects his constant desire to challenge the boundaries where sports meet entertainment.
