Theatre Register

Isao Sato

Shows · Isao Sato

Actor 1949–1990 On stage 1976

Isao Sato (佐藤 功, Satō Isao) was a Japanese born theater actor. He was born in Tokyo on June 27, 1949, and attended the Keio University, where he studied law. While in Japan, he was a member of the Shiki Theatre Company. His Broadway debut was in the original all-Asian cast of Pacific Overtures in 1976 where he played Kayama. He was the only non-American member of the cast — in fact, he came to America specifically to audition for this role, after having missed the Tokyo auditions for the musical. Once he was cast, he emigrated to America. Reviews for the show were mixed, but Sato received praise for his performance. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 19…

On stage 1 production

1976 Pacific Overtures Winter Garden Theatre · Original · directed by Harold Prince 193 perf.

Each row is a staging this name appears in the cast list of, read from the production record rather than from the person record. The person record names works instead, and a work cannot say which run somebody was in — that is how Elaine Stritch ends up filed under Show Boat 1927 when she was in the 1994 revival. No row here says what part was played, because no cast list records it.

In the literature4 passages

  • Also nominated as best featured actor in a musical were Charles Repole for Very Good, Eddie and Isao Sato for Pacific Overtures . For his part, LuPone said he couldn’t imagine where his nomination came from. “Great,” he said, conjuring up the anxiety of the moment. “Okay, I’ll go for it. So for the next five weeks it’s ‘The Tony voters ar…ebooks/Viagas, Robert/B004CRTAGM EBOK - Robert Viagas & Baayork Lee & Thommie Walsh.txt
  • Sell, Isao Sato, John Shea, Don Scardino, Kristoffer Tabori, Fritz Weaver, Dianne Wiest, Jane White, Peter Weller, and Jerry Zaks.theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1979-80 Season, v. 36 (Willis).txt
  • Top Right: Peter Yoshida, Isao Sato Ginny Yang, Keenan Kei Shimizu, Isao Sato, Lori Tan Chinn, Peter Yoshida, Henry Yuktheatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1979-80 Season, v. 36 (Willis).txt
  • (Frank), E)avid Reinhardsen (Nick/Tony), Isao Sato (2nd OflBcial/Peng/Bailiff), Stewart Schwartz (George Gruber), Edward Seamon (Wilcocks), Hal Studer (Lewis), Ginny Yang (Asay/Ko Leang She) play in 2 acts and 12 scenes. The action takes place in Canton, China in 1821 and is based on an actual incident.theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1981-82 Season, v. 38 (Willis).txt

Passages naming this person, found by keyword across 178 books. A keyword match is not a biography, and a common name will pull in the wrong one.

What this page does not know

  • What this person played. No cast list we hold records a character against a performer.
  • Any portrait. 1,626 of 7,139 people have one, so this is the usual case rather than the exception.
  • Which of the credits above the roles on this record — actor — apply to. The roles sit on the person and never on a credit, so a director who also acted looks the same here as one who did not.

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