Peach Boy is a musical with book and lyrics by Tony Pinizzotto, and original music by Phil Luna, based on the 200 year-old Japanese fairytale of Momotarà Â, The Peach Boy. After a 2019 stage reading Production, the musicalâÂÂs goal for a workshop production was halted in 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The musical premiered as a Stage Reading Production on July 2, 2019 at the Lonny Chapman Theater in North Hollywood, Los Angeles California. It sold-out its weekend run, with the hopes of show revisions and further advancement to the level of a Workshop Production. The production was directed by Hisato Masuyama and featured orchestrations by its composer Phil Luna. It featured Kevin Hoffman Jr. as Momotarà Â, Danielle Miyazaki as Hà Âseki, Keiko Clark as Haha, Paul Cady as Kyà «jo-sha, Jennifer Strattan as Rin-Jin, Lloyd Pedersen as The Evil Ogre, Andrew Grigorian as Inu Suppotto the dog, Noi Maeshige as Hangu the monkey, Beccy Quinn as Kiji the pheasant, and Doug Haverty as Host/Stage Directions. The show was produced by The Group Rep Theatre.
In August 2020 âÂÂPeach Boy â A New Musical: Original Cast Demo Recordingâ was released on all streaming platforms including Roku, iTunes, and Amazon music It is a complete studio recording of all the songs from the show.
There once was a Japanese woodcutter named Kyà «jo-sha and his wife Haha who wanted nothing more than to have a child, but they could not. They prayed to the Gods and Buddha to bless them with a child. Years prior their town was ransacked by The Ogre King and his evil Oni tribe, stealing all their possessions. One day while Haha was down at the stream washing her clothes she saw a huge peach floating down the river. She lassoed it and brought it home to Kyà «jo-sha. They cut it open and a baby boy popped out. They named him Momotarà Â, Japanese for âÂÂfirst born of the Peachâ (âÂÂOverture/Intro StoryâÂÂ).
Hà Âseki, while in the Aikà Â-ka temple for her Genpuku, prays to her father who was killed at sea in a fishing accident. She plays a tune and sings from her ocarina necklace, the only thing found of her fatherâÂÂs when he was lost at sea ("Cherry Blossom (Hà ÂsekiâÂÂs Lullaby)"). Momotarà  comes into the temple and while professing his love for her, asks Hà Âseki to run away with him and explore the world (âÂÂLove Was Right Here All AlongâÂÂ). On her way home from the temple a storm arises. It gets very late and Hà Âseki gets lost. In the woods she meets an old man who tries to help her (âÂÂWithout MeâÂÂ). The old man turns out to be The Ogre King, the evil Oni. He puts a spell on Hà Âseki and kidnaps her.
The next day Momotarà  returns to Aikà Â-ka Temple to start his journey with Hà Âseki, but instead finds Hà ÂsekiâÂÂs mother, Rin-Jin. Rin-Jin tells Momotarà  that she is there looking for Hà Âseki because she never returned home the night prior, and fears she was kidnapped. All that was found in the woods was her late husbandâÂÂs ocarina and a swatch of clothing with a crest on it. She blames Momotarà  for the demise of Hà Âseki. Momotarà  vows to rescue Hà Âseki (âÂÂMy Word of HonorâÂÂ). When Momotarà  returns home to pack for his journey he learns that the crest is that of The Ogre King. He now knows he must travel afar to Ogre Island to rescue Hà Âseki, defeat the Oni, and return with her and the riches The Ogre King stole from the village so many years ago (âÂÂMy Word of Honor (Reprise)âÂÂ).
Momotarà  begins his long journey (âÂÂOh, What A Day!âÂÂ), and on the way meets A spotted dog named Inu Suppotto (âÂÂYour New Best FriendâÂÂ), and a monkey named Hangu (âÂÂYour New Best Friend (Hangu Reprise)âÂÂ). They join him on his journey, vowing to help him defeat the Oni. Meanwhile, Rin-Jin and Haha lament over their missed children, praying for their safe return (âÂÂWhere You Come FromâÂÂ). Momotarà Â, Inu and Hangu meet Kiji an elegant green female pheasant who joins them on their journey (âÂÂYour New Best Friend (Kiji Reprise)âÂÂ). Kiji leads them to a ship to sail the Sea-Narrows of Lost Souls to Ogre Island. They battle the rough sea with hopes of a safe arrival (âÂÂWhen Will This Be Done?âÂÂ).
After the friends arrive they settle into their camp. In an effort to muster up courage for the animals Momotarà  retells the bedtime story Kyà «-jo Sha would read him often about a brave soldier who battles a seven headed dragon (âÂÂSusanoo And the DragonâÂÂ). The next morning Momotarà  and his friends sneak up on the OgreâÂÂs camp and cave only to find The Ogre King, but no Oni tribe. A battle ensues (âÂÂFighting The OgreâÂÂ). Momotarà  and his friends do their best, but are defeated and thrown into a jail cell in the ogreâÂÂs cave next to a cell holding Hà Âseki.
When Momotarà  wakes up he signals to Hà Âseki, saying although he failed, he brought Hà Âseki her necklace. They are confronted by the ogre. Momotarà  offers himself in Hà ÂsekiâÂÂs place if the ogre will release her. The Ogre King agrees. He allows them to say one last goodbye to each other (âÂÂCherry Blossom (Reprise)âÂÂ). As Hà Âseki plays the ocarina and sings, her song renders the ogre helpless, putting him to sleep. While the ogre is disabled, Momotarà  and the crew tie up the ogre and gather his riches. They all return to his village (âÂÂVictory TriumphantâÂÂ). The return of Momotarà Â, Hà Âseki and the animals are celebrated. The Ogre King awakens and apologizes to Hà Âseki and her mother. When the apology is made the ogre transforms into a human being, and the families realize he is Rin-JinâÂÂs long lost husband, Hà ÂsekiâÂÂs father. (âÂÂOgre Transformation/Susanoo and the Dragon (Reprise)âÂÂ). He tells of an evil sea witch who cast a spell on him, turning him into an ogre. Momotarà  asks Hà ÂsekiâÂÂs parents for her hand in marriage and they agree. They all live happily ever after (âÂÂLove Was Right Here All Along (Reprise)âÂÂ).
All songs are composed by Phil Luna, with lyrics by Tony Pinizzotto.
â Differs from its order on the Original Cast Demo Recording