A new main visual and the full cast list for the XXXHOLiC musical theatre adaptation have been announced today.

The newly announced all-male cast is the following:

Doumeki Shizuka: Yuunosuke Matsushima
Himawari Kunogi: Ryoutarou Akazawa
Maru: Juki Suetsugu / Musashi Maeda
Moro: Rento Nishiyama / Masutani Ten
Zashiki Warashi: Keito Sakurai
Karasu Tengu: Yusuke Umezawa / Makoto Endo / Yuya Igarashi
Ame Warashi: Shunya Ohira
Jorougumo (Spider Lady): Shun Mikami

Official pictures from the full cast:

So it really was a conscious decision to have an all-male cast. Even the kids. Regardless of gender, the characterizations look good and the fact that Zashiki Warashi, Ame Warashi and the Spider Lady have been cast gives us an indication of what’s the story is going to be like.

STAFF

The complete staff list was also announced and it’s available at the Engeki XXXHOLiC official website. Nanase Ohkawa is the only CLAMP member listed on the list, in charge of the play’s planning.

SCHEDULE

The Tokyo leg of the show will run from September 17-26. The Kyoto leg will run from October 1-3. For details and tickets, please check the official website.

Personally, I thought the play would have a longer run, but hopefully these are only the initial dates.

It’s been announced that XXXHOLiC will be getting a musical theatre adaptation.

The title is Engekichouitan XXXHOLiC (XXXHOLiC Theatrical Style) and it’s scheduled to open in this Fall in Japan.

The planning is by CLAMP’s Nanase Ohkawa and theatre producer Matsuda Makoto, known as the pioneer of 2.5D musicals.

Direction will be by Fumiya Matsuzaki and the script will be written by Masafumi Hata, the same duo in charge of the two-part Banana Fish stage play in June.

The only two cast members announced so far are Motohiro Ota, who will be playing Yuuko Ichihara, and Shougo Sakamoto, who will be playing Watanuki Kimihiro. One interesting detail is that the actor who will be playing Yuuko is a man.

Engekichouitan XXXHOLiC

Opening
Fall 2021 (Japan)

Planning
Nanase Ohkawa
Matsuda Makoto

Original Work
CLAMP『XXXHOLiC』(Kodansha)

Director
Fumiya Matsuzaki

Script
Masafumi Hata

Cast
Yuuko Ichihara: Motohiro Ota
Watanuki Kimihiro: Shougo Sakamoto
Others

Cooperation
Japan 2.5-Dimensional Musical Association

Organizer
Nelke Planning

Official website: https://engeki-xxxholic.com
Official twitter: https://twitter.com/engeki_xxxHOLiC (＠engeki_xxxHOLiC)

Good news! This project seems to be in really good hands. The staff is involved in several good quality stage play adaptations, and it’s really good to know that Nanase Ohkawa is in the planning committee. That first key visual looks absolutely amazing.

I was surprised to learn that the actor playing Yuuko is a man. I am not sure yet how I feel about a man taking a powerful female role, but I can also see this working really well.

XXXHOLiC continues to be the most versatile CLAMP work, having been adapted to multiple media formats: movie, TV anime, OAD, video-game, stage reading drama and now stage play.

This also indicates that CLAMP might be planning to resume XXXHOLiC Rei in the near future. Mutual promotion between the original work and the adaptation always works well.

Last but not least: HAPPY CLAMP DAY, everyone!