'Line 1' Stops for New Version
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By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The musical "Line 1" by the local drama company Hakchon will end its run for the time being after reaching a milestone 4,000th performance by the end of the year, capping a 15-year run as one of the most successful theatrical productions of the 20th century.
To mark the 4,000th performance on Dec. 31, the show will feature veteran actors who have participated in the show over the last 15 years. The cast includes 11 actors who are now performing and 70-80 other actors who played roles in the previous years.
The musical was first staged in 1994 at the Theater Hakchon in Daehangno, Seoul. The steady-seller musical has attracted 706,000 people as of Nov. 2, and a total of 216 actors have taken part in the 15-year run.
Based on the original German work of Volker Ludwig of the Grips Theater, the rock musical was adapted by singer Kim Min-gi to reflect unique Korean context and sentiment.
The musical portrays life in the city of Seoul through the eyes of an ethnic Korean Chinese woman named Seonnyeo who moves to Seoul from the Korean autonomous region of Yenbian, China. She meets characters representing every walk of life such as jobless fathers, runaway daughters, peddlers, self-styled street evangelists, and racketeers for who self-mutilation is a status symbol in the mob world.
The characters join together to express 20th century Korean society through humor and satire.
The musical has served as an incubator for top actors in both theater and film such as Hwang Jung-min, Sol Kyung-gu and Cho Seung-woo.
The musical offers English subtitles on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday while Japanese subtitles are provided on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
"Line 1" will run until Dec. 31. Tickets cost 18,000 won for students, 26,000 won for university students and 33,000 won for adults.
For more information, call (02) 763-8233 or visit http://www.line1.co.kr
Grips vs. Hakchon
The Grips Theater, the German theater company of the original work, has maintained special ties with Theater Hakchon through "Line 1".
To celebrate the 4,000th performance, the German troupe will present "Flimmer Billy" as an invitational work for children in Seoul.
The German troupe is returning five years after it visited Korea to stage the original "Line 1" in 2003 to mark the 2,000th performance.
The author of the original work officially recognized the originality of the Korean version "Line 1" by fully exempting the Korean production from paying further royalties as of Jan. 1, 2000.
The Korean production team performed in Berlin to celebrate the German troupe's 2,000th performance of "Line 1" in 2001.
The Grips Theater is known as one of the top German arts theater companies which has put on works for children and adolescents.
"Flimmer Billy" directed by Jens Neumann will be on stage for the anniversary of "Line 1" from Dec. 29 to 31 at Hakchon Green Theater in Daehangno. Tickets cost from 18,000 won to 22,000 won.
For 21st Century Version
After marking the 4,000th performance, the troupe will rest to prepare a new version for the 21st century.
Since the musical began in the late 20th century, it has evolved ever year in accordance with the times until the musical was finally set as the "record which portrayed late 20th century Korean society" in the 2000s.
However, the troupe says that now is the right time to portray the fast-changing Korean society of the 21st century through a new "Line 1".
The drama company is collecting ideas from the general public to upgrade the musical until Jan. 31 next year.
The contents should include new characters to replace the current figures and memorable incidents happening in the 21st century.
Applications are available through the homepage of Hakchon, and will be received by either post or email.
Staff Reporter
The musical "Line 1" by the local drama company Hakchon will end its run for the time being after reaching a milestone 4,000th performance by the end of the year, capping a 15-year run as one of the most successful theatrical productions of the 20th century.
To mark the 4,000th performance on Dec. 31, the show will feature veteran actors who have participated in the show over the last 15 years. The cast includes 11 actors who are now performing and 70-80 other actors who played roles in the previous years.
The musical was first staged in 1994 at the Theater Hakchon in Daehangno, Seoul. The steady-seller musical has attracted 706,000 people as of Nov. 2, and a total of 216 actors have taken part in the 15-year run.
Based on the original German work of Volker Ludwig of the Grips Theater, the rock musical was adapted by singer Kim Min-gi to reflect unique Korean context and sentiment.
The musical portrays life in the city of Seoul through the eyes of an ethnic Korean Chinese woman named Seonnyeo who moves to Seoul from the Korean autonomous region of Yenbian, China. She meets characters representing every walk of life such as jobless fathers, runaway daughters, peddlers, self-styled street evangelists, and racketeers for who self-mutilation is a status symbol in the mob world.
The characters join together to express 20th century Korean society through humor and satire.
The musical has served as an incubator for top actors in both theater and film such as Hwang Jung-min, Sol Kyung-gu and Cho Seung-woo.
The musical offers English subtitles on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday while Japanese subtitles are provided on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
"Line 1" will run until Dec. 31. Tickets cost 18,000 won for students, 26,000 won for university students and 33,000 won for adults.
For more information, call (02) 763-8233 or visit http://www.line1.co.kr
Grips vs. Hakchon
The Grips Theater, the German theater company of the original work, has maintained special ties with Theater Hakchon through "Line 1".
To celebrate the 4,000th performance, the German troupe will present "Flimmer Billy" as an invitational work for children in Seoul.
The German troupe is returning five years after it visited Korea to stage the original "Line 1" in 2003 to mark the 2,000th performance.
The author of the original work officially recognized the originality of the Korean version "Line 1" by fully exempting the Korean production from paying further royalties as of Jan. 1, 2000.
The Korean production team performed in Berlin to celebrate the German troupe's 2,000th performance of "Line 1" in 2001.
The Grips Theater is known as one of the top German arts theater companies which has put on works for children and adolescents.
"Flimmer Billy" directed by Jens Neumann will be on stage for the anniversary of "Line 1" from Dec. 29 to 31 at Hakchon Green Theater in Daehangno. Tickets cost from 18,000 won to 22,000 won.
For 21st Century Version
After marking the 4,000th performance, the troupe will rest to prepare a new version for the 21st century.
Since the musical began in the late 20th century, it has evolved ever year in accordance with the times until the musical was finally set as the "record which portrayed late 20th century Korean society" in the 2000s.
However, the troupe says that now is the right time to portray the fast-changing Korean society of the 21st century through a new "Line 1".
The drama company is collecting ideas from the general public to upgrade the musical until Jan. 31 next year.
The contents should include new characters to replace the current figures and memorable incidents happening in the 21st century.
Applications are available through the homepage of Hakchon, and will be received by either post or email.
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