Hi folks,
I've learned that the Takarazuka production of "Pimpernel" has won a few awards this year.

The main one was the "Grand Prize" award at the 34th Kikuta Kazuo Drama Awards, basically a "Best Musical" type honor. There's an article with a photo of the leads and director accepting the award, linked from NanKnighton.com

The show also won an "Excellence Award" at the 16th Yomiuri Theater Awards.

And Reon Yuzuki (Chauvelin) won a "New Actor" award at the 30th Matsuo Entertainment Awards.

Best,
Peter

Glad to see that at least SOMEWHERE they recognize the greatness of the show.

('cause facing Disney's Lion King at the Tony's isn't exactly fair play... :P )

Indeed, Lion King was a trump card that year. Ragtime also premiered that year, and it features some of the best music in a musical I've ever heard.