Jeong Seong-hwa (정성화)

Summer Big Bang for Musicals

2008/07/03 | Source | Permalink |

The Korean musical market is literally witnessing a "big bang" this summer.

Korean musical-goers will have a rare opportunity this summer to enjoy both critically-acclaimed and commercially successful Broadway musicals such as "Man of La Mancha", "Cats", "Chicago", "Gambler", "Hedwig", and "Thrill Me". We enlisted musical critics to offer their evaluations of the musicals based on five criteria –entertainment, music, cast, stage, and story.

Cats

"Cats" feeds the audience's eyes with splendid dances and extraordinary stage settings. Since May, the Broadway world tour team has been performing here in Seoul and the Korean team will launch its first licensed performance in September. It received low marks for the story, but high marks for entertainment. Musical critic Won Jong-won said, "The attraction of Cats is the performers' facial expressions and detailed body movements which make audiences feel as though they are looking at real cats. Follow every movement of the performers,...| More

Celebrities Return to Theater

2008/02/27 | Source | Permalink |

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Once actors move on from the humble theater to the big screen, they reminisce over the hardships of those times, but also heave a sigh of relief that they're finally over.

However, they still come back to the stage returning to their roots.

The stage is becoming an attractive arena for movie stars and singers. This coming spring, a star-studded line-up of musicals and plays are awaiting the audience.

Veteran actress Yang Hee-kyeong will return to the stage in the play "Minja's Golden Age", two years since starring in the play "Old Prostitute's Song".

"Minja's Golden Age" portrays the relationship between Park Min-ja and her daughter. Min-ja, who abandoned her daughter and her home 10 years ago, suddenly decides to return home. Yang will play the role of Min-ja, a singer who works at a nightclub. The play will be staged at Yesul Madang in Daehangno, central Seoul, March 6.

Ha Hee-ra, an actress who has appeared in many hit soap operas ...| More

Rock star becomes radio star in new movical

2008/02/14 | Source | Permalink |

Drugs and drink ended the career of former rock star Choi Gon, but his popularity bounces back when he stars in a hit talk radio show.
That's the basic story behind the musical "Radio Star", a musical version of the 2006 movie of the same name directed by Lee Joon-ik and starring Park Joong-hoon and Ahn Seong-gi.
The musical Radio Star is currently playing at the Towol Theater in the Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. It runs until March 2.
The fictional Choi peaked in the late 1980s, but 20 years later he's on his uppers. He's been busted for smoking marijuana and for physical assault following bouts of drunkenness. He's now a nameless singer at a small cafe in Misa-ri, Gyeonggi.
But Choi's manager Park Min-soo, (played on alternative nights by Seo Beom-seok and Jeong Seong-hwa), eventually gets Choi a gig as a talk radio D.J. in Yeongwol, Gangwon.
The show's a hit. It reaches out to people in the countryside who call in to talk about families and relationships.
Radio Star is ...| More

Ha Hee-ra Appears in Musical for the First Time in 10 Years

2008/02/13 | Source | Permalink |

Actress Ha Hee-ra will make her first musical appearance in ten years.

Ha will co-star in the musical 'Goodbye Girl' with Jeong Seong-hwa which will open at the Baekam Art Hall on March 28.

Ha will take on the role of 'Paula', a beautiful divorcee and former successful Broadway dancer who gets her heart broken repeatedly by the men in her life.

'Goodbye Girl' is a romantic comedy musical based on a 1977 film written by famous U.S. playwright Neil Simon. Added to Simon's witty script is music by Marvin Hamlisch, well-known for his music in 'Chorus Line'.

Ha, who appeared in Simon's 1991 play 'I Ought To Be in Pictures', said it was not an easy decision to return to the stage but said she really wanted the part as a huge fan of Simon's works.

Jung said she is honored to take part in a musical by a writer she has always respected and is happy to co-star with the veteran actress. She said she hopes to portray her unique sense of humor to the audience....| More