By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
OD Musical Company, one of the nation's major musical production firms, which amazed the world musical arena with its fascinating revival version of ``Dreamgirls,'' is now venturing to produce homegrown musicals.
The company will create three new homegrown musicals through next year, starting with ``Wedding Fund,'' to be staged at a small theater this summer.
The production of homegrown musicals has always been a challenge for the company because it has concentrated on foreign-licensed big-budget musicals such as ``Dreamgirls,'' ``Jekyll and Hyde,'' ``Man of La Mancha,'' ``All Shook Up'' and ``Nine.''
Called ``Midas'' in musical circles, Shin Chun-soo, the company producer and president, has played a pivotal role in the local musical industry with its innovative and creative interpretation of the licensed musicals to suit Korean tastes.
Recently, it received rave reviews both at home and abroad for ``Dreamgirls'' by upgrading the high-profile 1980s musical into a new rendition starring a local cast with roughly 10 billion won.
After gaining experience through producing foreign-licensed musicals, the preparation for ``Wedding Fund,'' based on the play ``I Will Marry in May,'' started in 2008.
Shin, who has an avid appetite for musical theater, produced the homegrown musical, ``Goodbye, Beatles'' in 1998, but it failed to receive any public attention.
``Wedding Fund'' is written by Kim Hyo-jin and directed by Hwang Jae-hon who has directed the hit shows ``Art,'' ``Closer Than Ever'' and ``Bad Boys.''
For the upcoming show, actresses Yoo Na-young, Kim Min-joo and Park Hye-na and actor Chun Byung-wook will perform together. The musical is about marriage, love and friendship through the eyes of three women and one man.
Shin will adapt ``My Sweet Seoul,'' a novel written by Jung I-hyun into a musical in November at a medium-sized theater and restage ``Goodbye, Beatles'' next year.
``Wedding Fund'' will go on stage at Eda Theater in Daehangno from July 9 to Aug. 16. Tickets cost from 35,000 to 45,000 won. For more information, call 1588-5212.