Intro
Musicals based on anime and manga might sound like an unusual concept at first. However, over the past decade, several Japanese pop-culture properties have made the leap to the stage, and sometimes with surprising success. For more in-depth conversation about this show, check out our new podcast: The Sci-Fi Musicals Podcast, now streaming wherever you listen to podcasts!
Featured Musical: Death Note
Death Note: The Musical is composed by Frank Wildhorn with lyrics by Jack Murphy and a book by Ivan Menchell. It is an adaptation of the popular manga of the same name, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.
The first public production opened in 2015 at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo, Japan, with a Korean production opening short after. There have been over a dozen more productions around the world between 2017 and 2025 including a concert version in London in 2023. It was recently announced that a full production will be coming to London’s Barbican Centre in the summer of 2026 with rumors of a potential transfer to New York.
Plot Summary
The story follows Light Yagami, a brilliant but disillusioned student who becomes frustrated with what he sees as a corrupt and ineffective justice system. One day he discovers a mysterious notebook called the Death Note, which has the power to kill anyone, as long as the writer knows the person’s name. The notebook was dropped into the human world by Ryuk, a bored Shinigami (death god) looking for entertainment. Realizing the notebook’s power, Light begins killing criminals and declares himself the savior of humanity. His killings soon attract worldwide attention, and the media dubs the mysterious vigilante “Kira.” To stop the killings, authorities enlist the enigmatic detective who only goes by the name “L.” His unconventional methods quickly narrow the suspect list to Light.
The musical becomes a tense intellectual duel between the two geniuses, eventually leading to betrayal, manipulation, and tragedy as Light’s ambition spirals out of control.
Music
The score by Frank Wildhorn combines rock, pop, and traditional musical theatre styles. He comes from the world of the 80s power ballad, writing charting hits for stars like Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, and Kenny Rogers. Wildhorn is known for dramatic and melodic scores (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), and Death Note continues that tradition with powerful character-driven songs.
Interestingly, the musical was originally written in English, even though its first major production was staged in Japan. A concept album was recorded in 2014 to promote the show before its Tokyo premiere, featuring Broadway performers like Jeremy Jordan, Carrie Manolakos, Adrienne Warren, and Laura Osnes. Fun fact: composer Frank Wildhorn had not heard of Death Note until his son encouraged him to take the project.
Song Highlights
- “Where Is the Justice?” – Light expresses his frustration with the legal system and introduces his worldview.
- “They’re Only Human” – A darkly comedic duet between Ryuk and Rem about the flaws of humanity.
- “Hurricane” – A high-energy song representing Light’s rise as Kira.
Sci-Fi Elements in Music
The music in Death Note supports a supernatural thriller atmosphere by mixing different genres to differential between the human world and the god world. The human world’s music is based in pop and rock, while the god world has a more classical or religious style of music behind it. Wildhorn draws from the sacred music traditions of the requiem mass which is related to death. And musical motifs throughout the show represent the Death Note’s power.
Characters and Performances
Main Characters
- Light Yagami – A brilliant student who becomes the vigilante “Kira.”
- L – A mysterious detective determined to expose Kira. He is the “good guy” but he doesn’t always do the right thing either.
- Ryuk – The Shinigami who drops the Death Note into the human world. He is a trickster who doesn’t really care about the damage he causes.
- Misa Amane – A pop star and devoted follower of Kira who becomes the second Kira.
- Rem – A Shinigami who protects Misa. Her story is tragic.
- Soichiro Yagami – Light’s father and the head of the police task force.
Performances
Some notable casting from the original Tokyo production: Kenji Urai and Hayato Kakizawa shared the role of Light, Teppei Koike as L, Kotaro Yoshida as Ryuk, Fuka Yuduki as Misa, and Megumi Hamada as Rem. The first Korean production featured Hong Kwang-ho as Light and K-pop star Kim Junsu (XIA) as L. The 2023 London concert starred featured Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Light, Dean John-Wilson as L, and Adam Pascal as Ryuk. The 2026 London cast has not been announced yet.
Visual & Special Effects
While the source material contains many supernatural elements, stage productions of Death Note often rely on minimalist staging rather than elaborate spectacle.
Some have complained that there is not enough blood for a show about death…
Cultural Impact
The original Death Note manga became one of the most influential series of the 2000s, spawning anime, films, and stage adaptations.
The musical version represents an unusual crossover between Japanese pop culture and Western musical theatre, combining a Broadway composer with a Japanese property and international productions.
Since its premiere, the musical has been staged in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Russia, and the United Kingdom, demonstrating its global appeal.
Personal Reflection
Death Note: The Musical is a fascinating example of how unconventional source material can work surprisingly well on stage. The story’s intense psychological conflict translates naturally into musical theatre, where songs often reveal characters’ inner thoughts.
Rather than relying on spectacle, the musical focuses on character motivation and moral dilemmas. This approach allows the audience to engage deeply with the story’s central question: Does absolute power inevitably corrupt even when it begins with good intentions?
For fans of both musical theatre and science fiction, Death Note demonstrates how genre storytelling can expand what a musical can be. I personally can’t wait to see it live someday!
Up Next
From manga to comics, we will next time cover one of Broadway’s first big flops in the comic book/superhero genre: It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman! by Strouse and Adams.
References
- “Death Note | Barbican.” Barbican.org.uk, 30 July 2026, www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/death-note-the-musical. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
- Death Note: The Musical Cast, archived 2016-03-16 at archive.today the-newshub.com, https://www.the-newshub.com/arts-and-culture/musical-adaptation-of-death-note-to-open-spring-2015
- Hernon, Matthew (2015-04-02). “Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn brings life to hit manga ‘Death Note’ on stage”. The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
- Tsugumi Ōba, and Takeshi Obata. Death Note. Vols. 1-13. San Francisco, Calif., Viz Media ; London, 2009.
- Wild, Stephi. “Adam Pascal, Aimie Atkinson, and More Join the Cast of DEATH NOTE THE MUSICAL In Concert”. Broadway World. Retrieved 24 July 2023.