Drama 'Dream High' to be adapted for musical

A poster for the upcoming musical “Dream High” / Courtesy of Artone Company

By Dong Sun-hwa

The musical version of the popular 2011 KBS drama “Dream High” will hit the stage next month.

The original drama, starring Bae Suzy and Kim Soo-hyun, revolves around high school students who mostly dream of becoming K-pop stars. It had smooth sailing in terms of viewership ratings, with its final episode scoring a 17.2 percent rating nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.

The upcoming theatrical show will depict the lives of the characters 10 years after graduation. It intends to portray how they continue to chase their dreams.

“Musical numbers and dance will be the core elements of 'Dream High,'” its producer, Artone Company, said Monday.

A plethora of K-pop stars including WINNER's Lee Seung-hoon, SF9's Yoo Tae-yang and KARA's Park Gyu-ri will appear in the musical. Acclaimed choreographer Choi Young-joon, who was featured in Mnet's 2022 dance competition show “Street Man Fighter,” will direct the choreography.

“We have cast dancers specializing in diverse genres ranging from hip-hop to locking,” Artone added.

“Dream High” is scheduled to run from May 13 to July 23 at the Kwanglim Arts Center in southern Seoul's Gangnam District.