Last night, I had the chance to see the dress rehearsal for Sailor Moon Super Live in Pittsburgh, and it was a surprisingly fun and memorable experience!
A Night of Good Food & Magical Nostalgia
The evening started off with an amazing dinner at Gaucho Parrilla Argentina—highly recommend it if you’re ever in Pittsburgh! Great food, friendly service, and the perfect start before diving into the world of Sailor Moon.
Then, it was off to the theater for the show, which was completely sold out. My seat? The absolute last row. So high up that I got dizzy climbing up there—lol. But despite my altitude struggles, the performance exceeded my expectations.
A Show That Surprised Me (In a Good Way!)
I’ll be honest—I went in expecting some level of cringiness, maybe a room full of “unwashed weeb masses” (you know the type, lol), but I was totally wrong! Both the audience and the show were great. The production quality, acting, and energy were all much better than I anticipated.
Even though the dialogue was in Japanese, I’m used to it from anime and K-dramas, so it wasn’t a problem. The actors put so much emotion into their performances that you didn’t need the subtitles to understand what was happening. And when Usagi/Sailor Moon said “In the name of the moon, I’ll punish you!”—oh my GOD, she sounded sooo cute! The crowd lost it and screamed every time she said it.
The romance and reincarnation themes were also really well done. It had all the dramatic Romeo & Juliet-style moments, complete with tragic love, death, and rebirth.
Staging & Visuals
One of my favorite aspects was the use of the screen—it displayed manga images, colorful visuals, and even chat bubbles, which added to the overall aesthetic. I honestly wish they had used even more manga and anime imagery because it was such a great touch.
The stage decor itself was minimal but effective, with light-up elements that created cool effects.
Photos were prohibited—but since I was all the way in the back… let’s just say I may have accidentally taken a few.
The Story & Fan Favorite Moments
The musical covers Season 1 of Sailor Moon, starting with Usagi being late to school, finding Luna, and the fight in the jewelry store (no Naru though—rip). Then, we see her meet the other Sailor Scouts—
Fun fact: Jupiter was Pittsburgh’s absolute favorite. The crowd screamed for every scout’s introduction, but when Jupiter took the stage? It was like a hometown hero had arrived—ten times louder than for anyone else.
The show also introduced Mamoru/Tuxedo Mask, and they really played up the love triangle with Queen Beryl. There was this one provocative moment where Beryl, after brainwashing him, wrapped her leg around his waist. The audience gasped.
Then came the climactic sword scene, full Romeo & Juliet-style, followed by the final battle against Queen Beryl and Queen Metallia. Of course, Sailor Moon wished her friends back to life, leading to a happy ending.
After the main show, some of the backup dancers (the Four Generals) came out for a final dance, and the audience was encouraged to wave their glow wands in support.
Final Thoughts & Beating the Parking Garage Curse
Since we were on an aisle, we made a quick escape to avoid the post-show parking garage chaos (trust me, Pittsburgh traffic can be a nightmare).
Overall, Sailor Moon Super Live was a magical experience. If you’re a fan of the series, it’s worth checking out! The performances, visuals, and energy made it feel like a true love letter to the anime.
And if you ever visit Pittsburgh, do yourself a favor and try Gaucho Parrilla Argentina—delicious food and friendly service to round out a perfect night!
