Star-Studded Cast for Musical '42nd Street'
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By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The Korean version of the Broadway musical comedy and multi-Tony Award winner "42nd Street" will feature celebrated stars Park Hae-mi, Ock Joo-hyun and Park Sang-won. The musical will open at LG Arts Center, southern Seoul, July 21.
For this year's show, Park Sang-won and Kim Bub-lae will play the role of Julian Marsh. Park is gaining fresh popularity for his current appearance in the hit TV drama, "Again in Love".
Veteran actress Park Hae-mi will take the role of Dorothy Brock. Singer-turned-actress Ock will play Peggy Sawyer while in the role of Billy, actor Park Dong-ha will be back on stage after busy performances in Japan.
The musical is based on the book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, with lyrics by Al Dubin and music by Harry Warren. The story revolves around a young chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer, who works her way up to become a Broadway star in the 1930s.
The musical also focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression.
It is a typical Cinderella-type story depicting how an unknown actress later becomes a famous musical star. But it gives the audience a hopeful message as it shows how the characters make it through their difficulties, and realize their dreams.
The show is renowned for its flamboyant tap dancing, exuberant costumes, speedy stage changes and memorable musical score. Among others, a most fascinating scene is the group dancing, filling the stage with spectacular routines, starting with forty pairs of feet tap-dancing away as the curtain slowly rises for the first act.
The show has been frequently revived. The musical premiered in 1980 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Choreography in 1981, and Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical in 2001.
The Korean production was put on stage in 1996 and 2005, drawing audiences of 70,000 and 200,000 respectively.
Since 2004, the upgraded revival of the 2001 production has toured Korea and other countries. The revival production was upgraded from previous versions with more splendid costumes colored with gold and silver tones and adorned with spangles, and innovative stage sets, which are designed to shift quickly to the next scene.
However, the upcoming version will follow the 1980s original classic version, which focuses more on the drama. The musical company said that although the 2001 revival production is more flamboyant and fast-tempo, it doesn't have the dramatic elements as the original version did. The company said that it will emphasize a solid storyline.
Also, the orchestra will perform impressive musical scores such as "We're in the Money!" "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and "Lullaby of Broadway".
The musical will be on stage from July 21 to Aug. 30 at LG Arts Center. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 501-7888.
Staff Reporter
The Korean version of the Broadway musical comedy and multi-Tony Award winner "42nd Street" will feature celebrated stars Park Hae-mi, Ock Joo-hyun and Park Sang-won. The musical will open at LG Arts Center, southern Seoul, July 21.
For this year's show, Park Sang-won and Kim Bub-lae will play the role of Julian Marsh. Park is gaining fresh popularity for his current appearance in the hit TV drama, "Again in Love".
Veteran actress Park Hae-mi will take the role of Dorothy Brock. Singer-turned-actress Ock will play Peggy Sawyer while in the role of Billy, actor Park Dong-ha will be back on stage after busy performances in Japan.
The musical is based on the book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, with lyrics by Al Dubin and music by Harry Warren. The story revolves around a young chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer, who works her way up to become a Broadway star in the 1930s.
The musical also focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression.
It is a typical Cinderella-type story depicting how an unknown actress later becomes a famous musical star. But it gives the audience a hopeful message as it shows how the characters make it through their difficulties, and realize their dreams.
The show is renowned for its flamboyant tap dancing, exuberant costumes, speedy stage changes and memorable musical score. Among others, a most fascinating scene is the group dancing, filling the stage with spectacular routines, starting with forty pairs of feet tap-dancing away as the curtain slowly rises for the first act.
The show has been frequently revived. The musical premiered in 1980 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Choreography in 1981, and Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical in 2001.
The Korean production was put on stage in 1996 and 2005, drawing audiences of 70,000 and 200,000 respectively.
Since 2004, the upgraded revival of the 2001 production has toured Korea and other countries. The revival production was upgraded from previous versions with more splendid costumes colored with gold and silver tones and adorned with spangles, and innovative stage sets, which are designed to shift quickly to the next scene.
However, the upcoming version will follow the 1980s original classic version, which focuses more on the drama. The musical company said that although the 2001 revival production is more flamboyant and fast-tempo, it doesn't have the dramatic elements as the original version did. The company said that it will emphasize a solid storyline.
Also, the orchestra will perform impressive musical scores such as "We're in the Money!" "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and "Lullaby of Broadway".
The musical will be on stage from July 21 to Aug. 30 at LG Arts Center. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 501-7888.
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