2004

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, Japan was a world unto itself. The man at the heart of this empire was Tokugawa Ieyasu, a warlord who ruled with absolute control. This period is explored through the Shogun, Samurai, Geisha and a Westerner.

This is the first comprehensive documentary series to chronicle the entire razzle-dazzle history of this unique American art form. Each episode chronicles a different era in American history, and features the Broadway shows and songs that defined the period. The series draws on a wealth of feature films, rare television moments, archive news footage, original cast recordings, still photos, diaries, journals, intimate first person accounts, and on-camera interviews with many of the principals involved in creating the American musical.