Every day is opening night.

Press Contact:
Rick Miramontez
rick@omdkc.com
212 695 7400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
LEGENDARY COMPOSER FRANK WILDHORN
TO PEN ORIGINAL SCORE FOR
AKIHIRO NISHINO’S
“CHIMNEY TOWN the MUSICAL”
PLANS AFOOT FOR FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION

To download head shots for Frank Wildhorn and Akihiro Nishino, click here                              

New York, NY (October 30, 2025) Producers Megan Ann Rasmussen and Ko Mori today announced that Emmy®-, Tony®- and Grammy®-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn has joined the creative team of Chimney Town the Musical, the theatrical adaptation of Poupelle of Chimney Town, the sensation-causing book-turned-anime film from Japan’s most talked about rising star, Akihiro Nishino. Details regarding an upcoming full-scale production of the show, with score by Wildhorn, will be revealed shortly.

Wildhorn said, “From the moment I stepped into Aki’s magical world of Chimney Town, I was smitten. This beautiful, imagined world of Lubicchi and Binny captured my heart and soul, and the music just flowed. What an adventure this is going to be!! I can’t wait to share this with the world.”

Nishino said, ““It is with profound joy that I set sail on this new voyage of creation alongside the legendary composer Frank Wildhorn. His music has the power to stir the deepest corners of the human soul — a kind of magic that quietly yet powerfully opens the door to story and emotion. In Chimney Town, his melodies will sweep away the dark smoke that once filled the skies, guiding us toward a brand-new horizon.
I can’t wait for the world to experience that moment.”

In grimy Chimney Town, with its sky obscured by thick, grey smoke, nobody bothers to look up anymore. Nobody, that is, except for Lubicchi – a dreamy-eyed young boy who yearns to see the stars he’s only heard about in stories told to him by his father. One night, a chance encounter with Binny – a monster made entirely of garbage – sparks an epic adventure as this unlikely duo sets off to find clarity in a world too often obscured.

Chimney Town the Musical is produced by Megan Ann Rasmussen, Ko Mori and Akihiro Nishino, who are all proud supporters of the Jimmy Awards. Ken Davenport serves as Executive Consultant. General Management is DR Theatrical Management with Katharine Quinn/And That’s Showbiz as Digital Content Producer.

B I O G R A P H I E S

Frank Wildhorn (Composer) Multi-Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-nominated composer/producer Frank Wildhorn’s works span the worlds of popular, theatrical, jazz, R&B and classical music. In 1999, Frank became the first American composer in 22 years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway with Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Civil War. Also for Broadway: Bonnie & Clyde, Dracula, Victor/Victoria, Wonderland, and the revival of Jekyll & Hyde. West End: Bonnie & Clyde, Your Lie In April, Death Note the Musical in Concert, and Your Lie In April the Musical in Concert. International: Beau Brummell: A Man Too Beautiful, Carmen, Camille Claudel, Casanova, Cyrano, Death Note, Einstein: A Matter of Time, Fist of the North Star, Kane and Abel, Mata Hari, Mitsuko, Never Say Goodbye, No Longer Human, Rudolf, Tears of Heaven, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Man Who Laughs, Your Lie in April and Xcalibur. Upcoming: Mac & Beth, Orlando, Reunion, Song of Bernadette and Van Gogh In Love. He Produced Harlem Song at the famed Apollo Theatre. The Korea Times recently proclaimed Wildhorn as “Korea’s most beloved musical composer”. He is the first American to be named Best Musical Composer in China (No Longer Human, 2024). He also produced Harlem Song at the Apollo Theatre.

In 2025, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra premiered his second full-length symphony, “Odessa,” recorded at the MusikVerein, following his “Donau Symphonie.” Both are available on CD and streaming services. Symphonic performances of his musicals continue worldwide. Also in 2025, cast recordings for Your Lie In April: The Musical, Kane and Abel, Wonderland, Dracula, and Frank Wildhorn and Friends Live in Las Vegas were released. The Einstein: A Matter of Time recording is set for release soon. Disney+ Korea premiered three of his musicals (The Man Who Laughs, XCalibur, and MonteCristo) in August 2025. Wildhorn composed the Cartier Symphonic Suite for their 2024 Seoul gala and Bonnie & Clyde Live, a streamed West End concert. He was music director for the 1998 Goodwill Games and wrote “Gold” for the 2002 Winter Olympics. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Whitney Houston (with the #1 hit “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?”), Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Linda Eder, and Patti LaBelle. He received the Charles Dickens Award from USC, which also has a scholarship in his name. Frank is the father of Justin and Jake.

Akihiro Nishino is one of Japan’s most acclaimed, influential, and multifaceted young artists, renowned as a comedian, author, illustrator, and filmmaker. His transition from a successful comedian to a celebrated author and illustrator has made him an icon of Japan’s art scene. Nishino’s initial claim to fame came from his role as part of the comedy duo King Kong. His debut book, “Dr. Ink’s Starry-Sky Cinema,” released in 2009, heralded the arrival of a major new graphic novelist. This was followed by other acclaimed works including “Zip & Candy Robots Christmas,” “Music Box World,” “Poupelle of Chimney Town,” “Honya No Poncho,” and “Tick Tock, the Promised Clock Tower.” Each of these works showcases Nishino’s exceptional ability to weave imaginative narratives with visually stunning illustrations. “Poupelle of Chimney Town” stands out as a crowning achievement, with more than 730,000 copies sold by December 2019. This book was later adapted into a successful film, for which Nishino served as both scriptwriter and producer. The story of Lubicchi and his friend Poupelle on an adventure to find the stars has captivated audiences in Japan and beyond. His work, characterized by intricate details and a woodblock print-like appearance, has been showcased in prestigious venues including Tokyo Tower, Manganji in Kawanishi, and Hyōgo Prefecture. Internationally, he has had solo exhibitions at the Eiffel Tower’s Gustave Eiffel Lounge and New York’s One Art Space. Nishino has integrated cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality into his exhibitions, further demonstrating his commitment to innovation. His boundary-shattering work has made him a symbol of Japan’s artistic renaissance and a beacon of inspiration in the global creative community.

Megan Ann Rasmussen (she/her) is an award-winning producer creating work for multigenerational audiences.  Broadway: Othello with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal; A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical; Harmony: A New Musical; JOY: A New True Musical.  In Development: Chimney Town The Musical. Off Broadway:, Kinky Boots (through Theater Producers Of Color). National: Spells of the Spell (The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts). Film: Bottle George (Academy Award Shortlist.) Megan Ann was President of TYA/USA and an International Representative to ASSITEJ participating in Congress/Festivals in Seoul, Korea; Montréal, Canada; Adelaide, Australia; Copenhagen, Denmark/Malmö, Sweden and Tromsø, Norway. Known as the ‘PG Producer’ she is founder of Broadway’s Bit by Bit Podcast, and was featured in BYU Magazine’s ‘PG Broadway’ and Utah Valley Magazine’s FAB 40. MeganAnnRasmussen.com

Ko Mori is the founding CEO of Los Angeles-based ELEVEN ARTS, a film and television production and distribution company with a strong focus on high-quality Japanese content. Under his leadership, ELEVEN ARTS has become a leading bridge between Japan and North America, especially in the realm of anime. The company has distributed Japanese films in the U.S. for over 17 years and maintains deep relationships with IP holders, including major publishing companies and animation studios. ELEVEN ARTS’ anime distribution titles include acclaimed and high-profile releases such as The House of the Lost on the Cape (Annecy International Animation Film Festival official selection), Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis, Poupelle of Chimney Town, Gintama: The Very Final, and Shirobako The Movie. The company’s broader catalog features critically celebrated works such as A Silent Voice, Millennium Actress, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, Penguin Highway, and films from the Evangelion, Naruto, and Sword Art Online franchises.

As a producer, Ko has led a wide range of feature films and TV projects across genres. His producing credits include Uzumasa Limelight (Audience Award, NYAFF; Best Picture & Best Actor, Fantasia; Dir. Ken Ochiai), Man from Reno (Independent Spirit Award Nominee; Dir. Dave Boyle), Downrange (Toronto International Film Festival; Dir. Ryûhei Kitamura), Lords of Chaos (Sundance Film Festival; Dir. Jonas Åkerlund; starring Rory Culkin & Emory Cohen; music by Sigur Rós), Gift of Fire (Hawaii International Film Festival; Dir. Hiroshi Kurosaki) , Prisoners of the Ghostland (Sundance Film Festival; Dir. Sion Sono; starring Nicolas Cage & Sofia Boutella) and Lone Samurai ( the film will be released nationwide by Well Go USA in 2025; Dir. Josh Waller; starring Shogen ). Ko is currently in post-production on Glass Dragon, an action film directed by Nik Shaw and starring Miki Mizuno, Maryjun Takahashi, and Mark Dacascos, and Akihiro Nishino’s Chimney Town the movie 2 ~Frozen in time~.

Ko is an accomplished producer working on major Broadway productions. His most recent credit is as co-producer of Othello (2025), directed by Kenny Leon and starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Ko is recognized for his cross-cultural fluency and industry insight, playing a vital role in connecting Japanese and Western entertainment markets and developing globally resonant stories.

# # # #

Production:
www.chimneytownmusical.com
www.Instagram.com/chimneytownmusical
Akihiro Nishino: www.Instagram.com/japanesehandsome

www.omdkc.com
http://www.instagram.com/omdkc