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Director Jang Returns to Theatrical Play

By Bae Keun-min
Staff Reporter


Director Jang Jin, second from right, poses with his fellow alumni of Seoul Institute of the Arts, who will together stage Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman", after a press conference at Dongnang Arts Center in central Seoul, Monday.
Jang Jin, director of film in release "The Big Scene (Paksuchil Ttae Tonara)" and producer and writer of this year's biggest hit "Welcome to Dongmakgol", will return to the stage as a director next month.

Although Jang is savoring success in the film industry with the two recent films, he said he feels more at home in the theater. He began his career as a playwright winning a prize at the spring literary contest hosted by a daily in 1995 with his drama "Chonho-dong Old Crossroad (Chonho-dong Kusagori)".

"I prefer theater (to film). I feel more comfortable with it", Jang said. "I love plays as they looks so alive and energetic. The good thing about film is that it gives me an idea what impact my work generate to people as its market is huge".

For about two weeks from Sept. 29, Jang will work with his fellow alumni of Seoul Institute of the Arts to stage Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" as director. The play has been planned to commemorate the 43rd anniversary for Dongnang Arts Center affiliated to the institute and the 100th birthday of the late Yu Chi-jin, founder of the institute and the nation's first amphitheater.

"I have never directed any play written by someone else but only ones by me. I accepted the offer to direct the play", said Jang in a press conference at the theater yesterday. "I will make the drama true to the original but will add some creativity to make it more enjoyable and suited to contemporary audiences".

"Death of a Salesman", winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1949, is a critique of the industry-driven society, portraying such themes as conflict between reality and illusion, and the American Dream.

Renowned artists of the alumni have been participating in the play. Jeon Moo-song, 64, will perform the leading character "Willy Loman", a sixty-something failing salesman, while Jeon Yang-ja, 63, will play his wife "Linda". Park Sang-won, 46, will dress up as "Biff", the salesman's son. Actor Shin Goo, 69, will take on a new role for him as art director.

Jang said he is drawing together a plot for a new work, adding "It will be a traditional play". He is also working on an original script for his new film "Holy Genealogy (Korukhan Kyebo)", which he expects to start filming as early as late this year.

"Welcome to Dongmakgol" has greeted 5.27 million viewers until last week, becoming the favorite at the local box office for this year, according to its distributor Showbox. "The Big Scene" attracted 2.1 million moviegoers nationwide so far.

Death of a Salesman

When : Sept.29-Oct.14

Where : Dongnang Arts Center

How Much :40,000 won

Info : (02) 756-0822

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