[TV Program] Princess Hours to be Reintroduced as Musical

"Princess Hours", the 2006 hit drama series, has returned after four years to continue its legend as a musical.

Set in an alternate reality in which Korea has constitutional monarchy, "Princess Hours" revolves around a marriage of convenience between an average high-school girl, Shin Chae-kyeong (Yoon Eun-hye), and the handsome but picky Crown Prince Yi Shin (Joo Ji-hoon). The show was praised for enhancing the aesthetic value of Korean dramas with its realistic portrayal of a modern royal family and led to the boom of well-made dramas.

The musical production of "Princess Hours", which was originally based on a Korean comic, has been considered since the drama review stage. The drama's main producers, representative Song Byung-jun and writer In Eun-a, have once again joined hands for the musical version.

The drama "Princess Hours", known particularly for its impressive artwork, will be reinterpreted as a musical using a digital system to enhance its glamour and fun. It is expected to set a new standard for well-made home grown musicals in 2010 with ballet, court dance and b-boying added to various genres of music such as court music, classic, hip-hop and jazz.

The drama "Princess Hours" has produced top stars Joo Ji-hoon and Yoon Eun-hye, who played the roles of crown prince and crown princess, respectively.

The identity of the successors to the royal couple in the 2010 musical is highly anticipated. The producer Group 8 is currently holding an open audition through a website (Open the link).

The company's policy is to select actors and actresses who fit the characters, regardless of prior acting experience. Group 8 has a unique record of nurturing budding actors into top stars through such dramas as "Princess Hours", "Boys over Flowers" and "Tamra, the Island". Expectations are high for the next new star to be born on the musical stage.

As the first of Group 8's Musical Collection, the musical "Princess Hours" will contain both Korean and modern elements, and it is hoped that it will appeal to a diverse audience including foreigners. It is expected to stimulate Korea's home-grown musical market by extending the success of a drama series into a musical. The musical will be held at the Theater Yong of the National Museum of Korea from September 3 onwards.

Source: The Herald Business