CJ ENM to adapt film 'Dancing Queen' to musical, sets sights on global stage

From left, director Jerry Mitchell, composer Helen Park and playwright Cho Min-hyung, who are tapped for the musical adaptation of Korean film "Dancing Queen" / Courtesy of CJ ENM, Christopher DeVargas, Alynna Tan

CJ ENM is set to turn its 2012 hit film “Dancing Queen” into an original musical with ambitions beyond Korea, tapping top-tier Broadway creatives to bring the story to life on stage.

Leading the charge is Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, best known for Broadway hits such as “Kinky Boots,” “Hairspray,” and more recently “Boop! The Musical” and “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Joining him is New York-based Korean American composer Helen Park, who made history as the first Asian woman nominated for Best Original Score at the Tony Awards with “KPOP.” Playwright Cho Min-hyung, behind Korean musicals such as “Let Me Fly” and “ChaMe,” will write the book.

Originally released in 2012, the film “Dancing Queen” features Uhm Jung-hwa and Hwang Jung-min in a heartwarming comedy about a woman who reignites her dream of becoming a singer while juggling life as a politician’s wife.

“This story, grounded in the belief that dreams have no expiration date, is universally resonant,” Mitchell said in a statement Tuesday. “I see great potential for this story to connect with audiences around the world.”

The musical aims to premiere in Korea in 2027, following workshops in 2026. The production ultimately targets the global market, launching at a time when Korean content is gaining unprecedented recognition across all genres worldwide.

A scene from the 2012 film "Dancing Queen" / Korea Times file

Ye Ju-yeol, head of CJ ENM’s performance division, emphasized the company’s strategic vision.

“As a pioneer in diversifying Korean musical theater and pushing into the global mainstream, CJ ENM will continue to create original shows that are competitive both at home and abroad by leveraging our unique IPs,” Ye said.

CJ ENM, the Korean entertainment powerhouse behind the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” hit dramas including “Crash Landing on You” and “Mr. Sunshine,” and K-pop ventures through Mnet and the MAMA Awards, is expanding its transmedia strategy, and “Dancing Queen” marks the first in a planned series of globally oriented musical productions adapted from its extensive library of over 400 original IPs.

Since entering the theater business in 2003, the company has introduced a range of homegrown and licensed productions to domestic audiences and expanded its global presence through co-productions on Broadway and West End, with credits including “Moulin Rouge!,” “Kinky Boots,” ”Back to the Future,” “MJ the Musical” and “The Little Big Things.” It made history as the first Korean company to win a Tony Award and currently holds full membership in The Broadway League, enabling participation in Tony Awards voting.

CJ ENM also played a key role in exporting Korean musicals to overseas markets. “Finding Mr. Destiny” was the first Korean small-theater musical to be simultaneously licensed to Japan and China. The company also produced the Korean run of “Maybe Happy Ending,” the first Korean musical to win six Tony Awards, helping build the domestic fanbase for internationally recognized Korean content.