Frank wrote the music for a new production by Takarazuka Revue, the famous all-female Japanese theatre company. The show, titled Never Say Goodbye (The Footsteps of Lovers), was premiered by the Takarazuka Cosmos (Sora) Troupe. The script is by Shuichiro Koike, who also directed. Frank is the first non-Japanese to be commissioned to write a show for the group. Performances took place from 24 March through 8 May 2006 at the Takarazuka Grand Theater in Takarazuka, Japan, and from 26 May through 2 July 2006 at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater in Tokyo, Japan.

A song list for the show has now been posted on this site. Several albums, including a full-length cast recording, a folio of sheet music, and a video and DVD of the show have all been released. These can be ordered internationally through Crescent Shop or SoundOfMusic.de. Detials and links can be found on the albums and songbooks page and the video and DVD page.

The Cosmos Troupe is made up of 81 performers, or Takarasiennes, including two leads. For this production, Yoka Wao was the troupe's top otokoyaku (playing male roles) and Mari Hanafusa was the troupe's top musumeyaku (playing female roles). Both performers had been with the troupe since its founding in 1998. Never Say Goodbye marked the final performance of both stars before their retirement from the troupe.

Never Say Goodbye tells the story of photographer Georges Malraux (Wao) and writer Katherine McGregor (Hanafusa) who become entangled in the Spanish Civil War and fall in love as they fight against fascism to restore peace. Based on artists like writer Ernest Hemingway, photographer Robert Capa and playwright Lillian Hellman, the production asks the question "Can love build peace?"

More information on Takarazuka and the show can be found on the Official Takarazuka Revue Website (in Japanese, with an English section), or the Takarazuka Wikipedia (in English).

Here are some other items of interest that have been posted online...

An article with photos from the closing night in Tokyo: article

Production photos have been posted online

An article with photos from the closing night in Takarazuka: article

Two video clips are available at SkyStage.net

Articles with photos from the opening night performance: article one  article two

An unofficial synopsis translation and a longer cast list can be found in BabylonClo's LiveJournal

Artictes with photos of Frank Wildhorn, Yoka Wao, Mari Hanafusa and Shuichiro Koike at a December press event: article one  article two