SUNWATCHER
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Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Book & Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
with Producer/Cultural Consultant Ikumi Kuronaga
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The brilliant Japanese solar scientist Hisako Koyama was as groundbreaking as Galileo, yet she has remained a “hidden figure” — until now. Sunwatcher is an inventive new musical about one woman’s unsung genius, and her drive to advance science in the face of immense obstacles.
In 1944, a young woman in Tokyo dares to stare at the sun. Despite oppressive gender roles which limit women to the kitchen, and though the violence of WWII rages around her, Hisako fights for an impossible dream — to widen our understanding of outer space. Her struggle leads her to the guidance of an unexpected teacher, the mighty Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu.
Through an innovative musical score which uses electronic live looping and traditional Japanese musical instruments, Sunwatcher animates Hisako’s story with a cast of all Asian women.
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Audio
Featuring:
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Isabella Dawis
Anna Hashizume
Gemma Nha
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Audio Mixer:
Megumi Katayama
Video
Production/Development History:
• National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Finalist (2025)
• Eugene O'Neill Center's National Music Theater Conference Finalist (2025)
• Pipeline Foundation Awards' Semi-Finalist (2025)
• Richard Rodgers Award Finalist (2025)
• Mixed Blood Theatre with support from the Minnesota State Arts Board & Coalition of Asian American Leaders (2024)
• Musical Theatre Factory Residency (2024)
• Berkeley Rep's Ground Floor Summer Residency Lab (2023)
• Loghaven Artist Residency (2023)
• Ancram Opera House's Summer Play Lab & Residency (2022)
• Weston Theater Company's Spring Artist Retreat (2022)
• Tofte Lake Center's NEAP Residency (2021)
• The Civilians' FINDINGS Series (2021)
• Ancram Opera House's Summer Play Lab & Residency (2021)
• Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Global Forms Festival (2021)
• Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals (2021)
• The Civilians R&D Group (2020-2021)
• EST/Sloan Foundation New Commission Finalist (2020)
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Gallery
SUNWATCHER
Rattlestick Theater's Global Forms Theater Festival
Ancram Opera House's Summer Play Lab
The Civilians' FINDING Series
Photos by Suzu Sakai
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"Travel Song" - Isabella Dawis
Weston Playhouse - Songs for Today
Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
© 2026 by Tidtaya Sinutoke.