George Takei will be returning to the New York stage for a revival of Pacific Overtures, a 1976 musical from Stephen Sondheim and librettist John Weidman.

Set in 19th-century Japan, the show recounts the story of a samurai and a fisherman, played out against the Westernization of Japan after the arrival of Admiral Perry in 1853.

The controversial musical has been described as Sondheim's most ambitious: The original production was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, but opened to mixed reviews and closed after just six months.

Takei will play the narrator, known as the Reciter, a role played by B.D. Wong in a 2004 Broadway production. The 79-year-old actor made his Broadway debut last year in the short-lived musical Allegiance, inspired by his childhood in a Japanese-American internment camp during WWII.

Pacific Overtures will begin performances April 5 at Classic Stage Company, directed by John Doyle, who is currently helming The Color Purple. (He previously directed Broadway revivals of Company and Sweeney Todd).

The original Broadway production of Overtures was done in traditional Kabuki style, with men playing women's parts and set changes made in front of the audience. It's not clear if this revival will do the same.