Singer Bada Makes Big Musical Debut
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Pop star Bada will extend her music career onto the musical stage as the lead in the Korean version of the hit musical ``Notre Dame de Paris,’’ production company NDPK announced Tuesday. The piece will be staged here late October.
The 27-year-old will share the role of the gypsy woman Esmeralda with actresses Moon Hye-won and Oh Jin-yeong. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, the French-Canadian musical is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the most successful first year of any musical ever, drawing audiences of over 2 million in France and some 10 million in 11 other countries, including Korea in 2005.
Bada plans to visit France mid-September to participate in a two-week vocal training session with the original team. ``Notre Dame de Paris’’ will be staged at Gimhae Arts and Sports Center, South Gyeongsang Province, Oct.23-Nov.11. It will then be shown at Seoul’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts early next year, Jan. 18-Feb.28.
Beginning Oct. 1, Bada will also appear in the one-woman tour de force ``Tell Me on a Sunday.’’ The latest piece by musical maestro Andre Llyod Webber (``The Phantom of the Opera,’’ ``Evita,’’ ``Cats), ``Tell Me’’ traces a young woman’s misadventures in New York City and Hollywood.
``Whether it be a musical or a play, when I appear in a good stage production, I would wish be an actress who sings well _ rather than a singer who acts well,’’ the singer was quoted as saying according to Yonhap News.
After debuting 10 years ago as a member of popular girl band S.E.S., Bada went solo in 2003 with her album ``A Day of Renew.’’ Unlike many pop idols, the star is better known for her vocal talents than just a pretty face. Fans will be elated to see their favorite singer taking to the stage and singing her heart out.