Reon Yuzuki
Reon Yuzuki is a Japanese actress and former Takarazuka Revue otokoyaku and Star Troupe Top Star. She joined the revue in 1999 and became a Top Star in April 2009. She resigned in May 2015, making this the second longest Top Star run, after Yoka Wao. She signed with Amuse, Inc. and continued her career on stage.
Biography
Yuzuki began learning ballet at the age of nine. She later was considered to be too tall for ballet, so she became interested in Takarazuka Revue with the advice of her father and her dance teacher. After training in singing, acting and dancing for two years, including tap and Japanese classical dance, she graduated from the Takarazuka Music School and made her debut in 1999 in Takarazuka Revue Moon Troupe's production Nova Bossa Nova.Later in 1999, she joined the Star Troupe. In 2000, she was the youngest performer selected for the Berlin tour. In 2001, she was given the role of André in the New Actor Show of The Rose of Versailles. In 2003, she got her first Takarazuka Bow Hall lead performance Oi, Harukaze-san!. Afterwards, she took the leading role in the New Actor Performances for five consecutive times from 2003 to 2006.
She later progressed to supporting roles in the main troupe's productions. One of her notable roles was Chauvelin in the production of The Scarlet Pimpernel in Japan for the first time in 2008. The Matsuo Arts Foundation presented her with the 30th Rookie Art Award for her performance as Chauvelin. In 2009, after the retirement of former Top Star Kei Aran, she became the top star of Star Troupe.
In 2010, Sylvester Levay wrote the theme song "Candle In Your Mind" for her first original production, The Treasure Sword of Habsburg. Later in the year, Yuzuki received the Rookie Award for Theater from Agency for Cultural Affairs at the 65th ACA Arts Festival in 2010.
In 2011, she played Danny Ocean in the Star Troupe's production of Ocean's 11 and was awarded the Kikuta Katsuo Performance prize for her performance.
She led Takarazuka's first Taiwan tour performance in 2013. In 2014, she led the opening production of Takarazuka Revue's 100th anniversary production of Napoleon playing the lead role Napoleon. Later in the year, she held her first Budokan concert REON in Budokan in Nippon Budokan. She is the second otokoyaku in Takarazuka's history to hold a concert in Nippon Budokan.
She resigned from the Revue on May 10, 2015. Her last Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre performance and farewell show was live streamed at 45 cinemas in Japan and also Taiwan and attracted around 26,000 viewers. After her last performance, around 12,000 fans gathered outside the Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre to bid her farewell, which is the largest number seen in Takarazuka history.
After resigning from the Takarazuka Revue, she signed with Amuse, Inc. and continued her career on stage. In October to December 2015, she joined the cast of the musical production Prince of Broadway (musical) in Japan which celebrated the career of the 21-time Tony-winning director and producer Hal Prince.
In 2016, she played the leading role in "Biohazard: Voice of Gaia", a musical adaptation of the Resident Evil franchise. In 2017, it has been announced that she will join the Japanese production of "Billy Elliot the Musical" playing the role of Mrs. Wilkinson
Notable roles in Takarazuka
Newcomer performances
The Rose of Versailles 2001: Oscar and André, André GrandierA Song for Kingdom, Radames A Love Story in 1914, Aristide Bruant Ch'ang-an, Full of Swirling Flowers, Hsüan-tsung (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) Shigure Hill Road in Nagasaki, Isaji The Rose of Versailles: [Axel von Axel von Fersen the Younger|Fersen the Younger|Fersen] and Marie Antoinette, Hans Axel Von FersenStar Troupe performance
A Song for Kingdom, MererukaHello, the Spring Wind, Seita Still the Ship Sails on, Johny Case The Dragon Star, Li MueiThe Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie Antoinette, André Grandier / Bernard Châtelet / Alain de SoissonsYoung Bloods!! -Twinkle Twinkle Star- Hallelujah Go! Go!, Dennis Garcia Sakura / Secret Hunter, SergioKean, Prince of WalesEl Halcon / Revue Orchis, Luminous Red BenedictThe Red and the Black 2008), Fouqe/Prince KorasoffThe Scarlet Pimpernel, ChauvelinViento de Buenos Aires, Nicolas My Dear New Orleans / A Bientô, Leonard DuanStar Troupe Top Star
The Legend Ver.II, Damdeok Saikai / The Soul of Shiva!, Gerard The Treasure Sword of Habsburg-Candle in Your Mind- / Bolero, Eliyahu Rothschild / Eduard von AuthevillePassion: Jose and Carmen / Bolero, Jose Roméo et Juliette, de la Haine à l'Amour, Romeo- Takarazuka Hana no Odori Emaki / An officer and a gentleman, Zachary "Zack" Mayo
- Too Short a Time to Fall in Love / Le Poison - Love Potion II, Fred Walbask
- Nova Bossa Nova - Sol / A Second Fortuitous Meeting -My Only Shinin' Star- Based on The Game of Love and Chance - Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard by Marivaux, Dorante Vespert
- Ocean's 11, Danny Ocean
- Reon!!
- Dança serenata / Celebrity, Isaque
- In the Amber-hued Rain / Celebrity, Claude de Bernard
- Takarazuka Japonisme / A Second Fortuitous Meeting 2nd / Etoile de Takarazuka, Dorante Vespert
- The Rose of Versailles: Fersen, Andre
- Roméo et Juliette, de la Haine à l'Amour, Romeo
- Reon!!II
- Napoléon, the Man Who Never Sleeps, Napoleon
- The Sun King: Le Roi Soleil, Louis XIV
- The Lost Glory / Passionate Takarazuka!, Ivano Ricci
- Reon in Budokan
- Like a Black Panther / Dear Diamond!!, Antonio de Odalys
Overseas performances
As a member of Takarazuka Revue:Takarazuka at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany Die Lian / Southern Cross Revue in China Takarazuka in Korea 2005: Soul of Shiva !!- Takarazuka Japonisme: Modulations / The Bandit Chu Liuxiang Side Story: The Flower Thief / Etoile de Takarazuka in Taiwan
Film
Takarazuka Revue Cinema The Legend Ver. IIPost-Takarazuka era
Stage
- Prince of Broadway
- Biohazard: Voice of Gaia
- As You Like It
- Billy Elliot the Musical - Mrs. Wilkinson
- Mata Hari
- Chikyu-Gorgeous Vol.15: ZEROTOPIA
- Kaze no Matasaburo (唐版 風の又三郎)
- REON YUZUKI one-man show: Musical LEMONADE
- Hyoen 2019
- A New Musical: FACTORY GIRLS
- The Bodyguard - Rachel Marron
Concerts
- Reon Jack
- Reon Jack 2
- Reon Jack 3
- REON YUZUKI 20th ANNIVERSARY DINNER SHOW 『REON/GO ON!』
Film
- Hold Your Hand
- ''Lumberjack the Monster''
Books
- 「夢をかなえるために、私がやってきた5つのこと」
Discography
- Until I Sleep in the Night Sky
- R+
- REONISM
- R ing
Awards
- The 30th Rookie Art Award for her performance as Chauvelin in The Scarlet Pimpernel ; as Nicholas in ブエノスアイレスの風
- The 65th Rookie Award for Theater for her performance as Zachary "Zack" in An officer and a gentleman
- The 37th Performance Prize for her performance as Danny Ocean in ''Ocean's Eleven''