Korean Musicals Using Foreign Talent in Works

The Korean musical industry has set its sights on conquering the domestic and global markets through international tie-ups.

Musical producers from Korean and Broadway agreed yesterday to jointly stage the musical “Dreamgirls.” Korean and Czech production teams will also launch the musical “Hamlet” next month.

The hit Korean musical "Singin` in the Rain" will be exported to Japan in a license deal starting at the end of July.

Korean musical companies are introducing foreign hit musicals to Korea, while at the same time exploring overseas markets. Many experts say this trend shows Korean musicals are expanding onto the international stage.

○ Revival of “Dreamgirls”

The musical “Dreamgirls” has not been performed since its Broadway debut in 1981. It has enjoyed a revival after the movie version was a hit in 2005. Last year, Shin Chun-su, president of OD Musical Company in Korea, decided to produce the film as a musical.

The musical will include a slew of renowned names such as Henry Krieger, the composer of the original soundtrack; John Breglio, who was producer of “A Chorus Line”; and light and stage design directors from the hit musicals “Aida,” “Nine” and “Hairspray.”

They seek to finish preparation for the musical by the end of the year, and stage it early next year. The production cost is an estimated 10 billion won (about 9.7 million U.S. dollars).

To serve as co-producer, Shin said, “The new ‘Dreamgirls’ will first be staged in Korea next year and then move onto Broadway later. The cast, music and script for both the Korean and U.S. performances will be closely consulted on by the two production teams.”

OD will hold the musical’s exclusive copyright.

○ Korean “Hamlet” goes global

The musical “Hamlet” has been an artistic and commercial success since its introduction to Korea last year. The work was a new adaptation in the form of a Czech rock opera.

Janek Ledecky, the author of the Czech version of “Hamlet,” impressed with its popularity in Korea, suggested to the Korean production firm LMK creating a global version to be staged across the world.

LMK CEO Kim Ji-won said, “Ledecky saw the Korean version and thought it was better than the Czech production in costume, choreography and other areas. That’s why he offered to launch a joint production of the musical.”

LMK agreed with Ledecky on condition that the two productions share the revenues and royalty from overseas performances. The company also holds the copyright to the work in Asia.

The musical is expected to debut at the end of August in Korea after undergoing preparation starting next month.

○ From consumer to production market.

Korea has been considered an end-consumer in the global musical industry. Foreign musicals staged in Korea have mostly been remakes of original productions such as “Phantom of the Opera” “Mamma Mia.”

Though certain performances including “All Shook Up” were reinterpreted by Korean production teams, their changes were limited to auxiliary elements such as costume, stage design and music order.

The producers of “Dreamgirls” and “Hamlet” have gone one step further by directing and producing musicals to be staged overseas at home. A domestic production team in coordination with U.S. and Czech staff will create new musicals.

These will be performed here first and go abroad to Broadway and the Czech Republic. The producers of “Hamlet” are reportedly negotiating with the Japanese musical production “To Ho” on licensing.

Musical critic Won Jong-won said, “If these joint projects are to work, there needs to be mutual trust in the related industry and potential artistic evaluation. In this regard, Korea has been recognized not just as a simple consumer market, but also as a country to work with by major global countries.”

“Now a new era of Korean musicals has been ushered in as they begin to advance into the musical home of Broadway.”