―On the stage "Manuela", Ryo Shujo plays the main character, Manuela. What kind of story is this stage?

Zhoujo: How did the real Japanese dancer Taeko Nagasue spend on the stage of Shanghai just before World War II as a leading dancer Manuela with unknown nationality? It depicts the half life of that turbulent. There is also a loveromance, which is an entertainment work that shows it through music, dance and play.

―A full-fledged stage after leaving Takarazuka Revue, and a leading role. Both the cast and the staff who co-star together have luxurious people.

Zhoujo: First of all, I was happy to be able to participate in the work produced by Parco. Originally I liked drama and was enrolled in the Takarazuka Revue, I went to see a lot of works other than musicals, so it is very nice and rewarding to be able to challenge these works. The co-stars also have a great deal of enthusiasm for the work. There is also a senior at the office, Dai Watanabe, and the only drama part is to study. Tetsuya Chiba, who works on the production, is also appearing as an actor. I was looking forward to directing those who were watching the stage as spectators on a regular basis, but I never thought that I would be on stage together, so I would like to absorb various things.

―This work is a real person who lived in a turbulent era. What kind of place do you want to convey carefully in the stage?

Zhoujo: When I read the script, it was quite heavy, and there was a shocking part of whether this was actually happening. But not only the chaotic appearance in the dark background, but also the people in the story are different in positions and nationality, but they all live desperately in the moment of the present with some hope. As a woman named Manuela lives in a foreign country, there is always hope somewhere despite various conflicts. She was called "the rose of Shanghai", but I think it was expressed because she was not only beautiful and bewitching, but also because her own way of life and humanity are very noble and beautiful. There must be a meaning to perform in this era. Her passionate part, encounters various people and grows up. I want to convey such things not only through dance but also through words. This is the part I want to play carefully.

―This work is a drama work that includes elements of dance and music, but I guess there is something that can be connected to the Takarazuka Revue.

Zhoujo: I think this work is based solely on conversation plays. It was something I wanted to challenge myself, but I would like to express the way humans live on the stage, and then help dance and music. I wish I could play like that. There is a scene where Manuela says, "I was born to dance," but I connect things that I can't express in words to dance and connect them to music. I hope she will be able to communicate her passionate energy and emotions more directly to our customers.