MAKOTO DEGUCHI
Theatre Producer
© Makoto Deguchi
出口最一
Official Home Page
MAKOTO DEGUCHI
© Makoto Deguchi
Makoto (Mak) Deguchi is an award winning theatre producer in New York City and President of
Mak Entertainment, Inc.
Born and raised in Japan, Mak pursued his love for theatre in high school. Making his professional performing debut in “My Fair Lady” (TOHO Production) prior to joining the Shiki Theatre Company in Tokyo where he appeared in many shows including “A Chorus Line."
Mak moved to New York City in the late 1980s joining Circle Repertory Company. He assisted directors, artistic directors and writers, worked on five Off-Broadway shows and assisted Michael Warren Powell artistic director of the LAB to coordinated more than 40 showcases. During his time with Circle Repertory Company he worked with Tanya Berezin, Marshall W. Mason, Lanford Wilson, Joe Mantello, William Hurt, Christopher Reeves, Joan Allen and John Malcovich to name a few.
© Makoto Deguchi
© Makoto Deguchi
© Makoto Deguchi
In 1990 he was associate producer of “Ninagawa Macbeth” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. This marked the premier of Ninagawa’s Macbeth in the United States. Mak was also the Japanese Press Representative for both Renee Fleming and Hideko Udagawa’s debut concerts at Carnegie Hall and assistant to Price Berkley publisher of the theatrical news publication "The Theatrical Index."
In 1991 Mak made his commercial producing debut as lead producer of the original production of “Blue Man Group: Tubes” at the Astor Place Theatre in New York City together with Mark Dunn. “Blue Man Group: Tubes” became an overnight sensation and winner of the Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Obie Award. In addition, The Commercial Theatre Institute honored Mak as the first minority producer (before the Robert Whitehead Award was established).
© Junichi Takahashi
© Makoto Deguchi
© Makoto Deguchi
© Makoto Deguchi
© Makoto Deguchi
In 2015 a legal claim filed by investors Akie Kimura Topal and her husband Ronald Topal (“Blue Man Group partners sue producer for unpaid royalties” and “Partners Say Blue Man Group Cash Misused”). Their case was dismissed and withdrawn before going to court because all allegations were false. The articles you find on the internet do not report the withdrawal of their case.
In 2007 he produced “Broadway Dance Workshop” in Osaka, Japan. An intensive four-week workshop conducted by Broadway professionals. In 2008 he produced the eight week limited run of the World Premier Tryout of the musical “TRIP OF LOVE” at the Brava Theatre in Osaka, Japan and received rave reviews.
In 2015 Mak produced “TRIP OF LOVE” in New York City at Stage 42 (formally known as The Little Shubert). The show received the prestigious Joe A. Callaway Award for its distinguished Choreography and broke the record as the longest running show to play at Stage 42.
© Matthew Murphy
© Matthew Murphy
© Matthew Murphy
© Matthew Murphy
Theater Producer
© Matthew Murphy
© Matthew Murphy
Mak has appeared in many television shows and documentaries in Japan. Most recently a two-hour special on NHK: Broadcasting Satellite Special and Nippon Television "Shinso Hodo Bankisha!", Mak was a featured model for both television commercials and print ads for the Toyota Lexus in Japan. The Japanese magazine "Imidas" named him as one of the key people in the 21st Century.
.jpeg)
In 2019 Mak was selected to be one of the 50 International judges on the new CBS weekly television series "THE WORLD'S BEST." The series had 12 episodes and aired in the spring of 2019. He was very proud to appear and represent his home country of Japan!
.jpg)
The World's Best is a one-of-a-kind talent global competition series featuring elite acts from around the world competing for a $1 million prize and the title of THE WORLD'S BEST. The show celebrates talent on a global scale and features acts from every genre imaginable, including a singing nun from Italy, a world-champion Taekwondo team from South Korea, a UK escape artist, a contortionist from Vegas, and Spanish flamenco dancers.
Hosted by Emmy Award winner James Corden and the all-star line up of American judges Drew Barrymore, RuPaul Charles and Faith Hill. The acts have to impress the American judges and then need to break through the "wall of the world," featuring more than 50 renowned experts from 38 different countries. The "wall of the world" is composed of experts from every field of entertainment, from Bollywood to ballet, K-Pop to comedy, martial arts to magic, and everything in between.
The series from two of the most prolific unscripted producers in television, Mike Darnell ("American Idol" and "Ellen's Game of Games") and Mark Burnett (SURVIVOR, "America's Got Talent", "The Voice") premiered on Sunday, February 3, 2019 immediately following SUPER BOWL LIII on CBS.
