Musicals in English gain greater fandom
A revamped version of “Cats” will be staged at the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater of Korea from July 11 to Sept. 10. / Courtesy of Seol & Company
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Koreans love musical theater and the Korean musical industry is one of the largest in the world, following Broadway, West End, Australia, and Japan. The size of the domestic musical market is over 300 billion won ($270 million) per year and still growing.
Though most of the shows are performed in Korean targeting local audiences, many productions including big shows "Chicago," "Cats," "Jekyll and Hyde" and "Dreamgirls" are being staged this spring in English, which provides the chance to listen to the famous musical theater songs in their original language.
The 1996 revival of Kander and Ebb's musical "Chicago" is the second longest-running show in Broadway history, attracting audiences with its vaudeville-style music and black, sexy costumes. It also is a big hit in Korea, staged every year since 2007.
The successful musical returns to Seoul with a Broadway cast from May 27 to July 23 at Blue Square in Seoul. The actresses playing the lead roles Velma and Roxie, Terra C. MacLeod and Dylis Croman, have been with the "Chicago" company for a long time, performing on Broadway, West End and on international tours and also played in Seoul two years ago.
Roz Ryan, who plays Matron "Mama" Morton, holds the record with the most performances of any leading actress in the show's history, playing the role over 2,800 times.
Dylis Croman, center, will reprise her role as Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago" at the Blue Square in Seoul from May 27 to July 23. / Courtesy of Seensee Company
Choi Seung-hee, spokesperson of Seensee Company, said it is a coincidence that many English-speaking productions are on stage around the same time and the reasons for bringing English speaking actors vary.
"We had a successful tour in 2015 and we were already in talks about an encore in the middle of the 2015 production," Choi said.
The 2015 "Chicago" sold over 85 percent of its total seats, despite the nation's entertainment industry hit seriously by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak back then.
"The same, popular shows are staged over and over again in Korea and we want to add a fresh twist every time. 'Chicago' is an all-American musical and the American actors can add their sentiment and sensuality to the show."
Choi said the company invited first-class actors who performed on Broadway and the production cost is higher than hiring Korean actors. "When we stage 'Chicago' with Korean actors, we usually tour many Korean cities, but it is difficult with the Broadway cast due to the cost," Choi said.
Another favorite musical in Korea, "Cats," will be staged at the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater of Korea from July 11 to Sept. 10. This is going to be the Asian premiere of the new revival currently running on Broadway.
The new production will feature revamped costumes and makeup, which will make the actors look more like feline creatures and upgraded choreography by Gillian Lynne. It also includes a new aria in the Growltiger's Last Stand scene, adding depth to the character.
"Cats" was performed by Korean actors in 2008 and 2011, but the English-speaking productions were more popular in Korea as audiences love to hear the famous "Memory" in its original language.
Korean productions eye re-export
Some of the shows hired international actors as an attempt to make way to the overseas market.
“Jekyll and Hyde,” currently on stage at Blue Square through May 21, is jointly produced by Korea's OD Musical Company and the U.S. Work Light Productions and is performed in English. Most of the creative team is Korean, except for American director David Swan.
Shin Chun-soo, producer of the world tour production of "Jekyll and Hyde" said he aims to take the tour to Asia, Europe and America ultimately.
"The Korean musical theater market is saturated and I think the contents should target the world market. ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ has been successful for over 10 years in Korea and I hope to put it on the international market," Shin said.
Kyle Dean Massey acts as Jekyll in the musical “Jekyll and Hyde” currently on stage at the Blue Square in Seoul. / Courtesy of OD Musical Company
To take the show overseas, Shin cast English-speaking actors from Broadway for universal appeal. Kyle Dean Massey, who played Fiyero in "Wicked," Gabe in "Next to Normal" and Pippin in "Pippin" on Broadway, joined the show as the lead role.
The show was planning for a Chinese tour later this year, but the schedule is on hold as the relations between China and Korea are chilly over Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) deployment. "We are paying close attention to the situation. The theater industry in China is growing and it takes time for us to advance to that market," Shin said.
OD Musical Company will stage another English production “Dreamgirls” at the Charlotte Theater in southern Seoul from April 4 to June 25.
The company has produced the Korean-language version of the musical twice in 2009 and 2015 and decided to stage it with an African-American cast this time. The production is different from the current West End production and is developed by the Korean creative team.
"Dreamgirls" revolves around the rise of an R&B music group set in the 1960s and '70s. The show is mostly staged with an African-American cast on Broadway. The Korean production received relatively favorable reviews, but some pointed that the Korean actors could not perform the African-American music completely.
In the 2017 production, Bre Jackson and Brit West are cast in the role of lead singer Effie, Candice Marie Woods as Deena and Shavey Brown as their manager Curtis.
"It was rare to see an all-African-American cast on the Korean stage and these actors will bring the unique groove and rhythm of R&B to the Korean stage," the company said.