Korean, Chinese musicals come together on Seoul stage

(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, March 16 (Yonhap) -- Two musicals representative of Korea and China will
be staged consecutively in central Seoul later this month in the first major
exchange of plays since the two countries established cultural ties in 1992,
musical organizers said Monday.

China's "Butterflies" will be staged at Seoul's Sejong Center for the Performing
Arts March 27-29, with Seoulites getting the first peek at the international
version of the mega-musical that has already drawn more than 1 million people in
China.
"Butterflies," dubbed the "Chinese Romeo and Juliet," is one of the largest
musicals ever to be produced by the country, taking more than 10 billion won
(US$69 million) and four years to make. The play will travel to Macao, Hong Kong,
the United States and Europe after the Seoul performance.
"I am honored for the chance to introduce 'Butterflies' to Korea, the hub of
Asian musicals," the musical's producer, Li Dun, said in a press conference in
Seoul Monday. "I hope the upcoming performance will offer an opportunity for
Korea and China to create a brand new genre of musical."
Korea's "Notre Dame de Paris," the Korean-licensed version of the French musical
based on Victor Hugo's novel, will also be staged at the Sejong Center March
20-22 to welcome the Chinese performing team. The musical will travel to China in
October this year.
"We first planned this exchange during the Beijing Olympics last year," said
Chung Hong-guk, president of the event's organizer, NDP Korea. "Surprised and
shocked by the anti-Korea sentiment spreading in China, I wanted to do something
to show the Chinese that Korea isn't a country that is only interested in selling
and promoting its own cultural assets, but is also open and generous enough to
accept those of other countries."
"In return, China offered to stage our musical 'Notre Dame de Paris' in the
country later this year," he added. "Korea and China have a long future ahead of
us with increasing economic and political exchanges. Culture should be of help in
thawing whatever ill feelings the two may have -- I hope you will agree with me
and enjoy the performances."
"Butterflies," featuring young lovers who are forced apart by their families and
later meet again as butterflies, was invited as the closing play at Korea's Daegu
International Musical Festival in July last year.
World-acclaimed stage and music directors, including Giles Maheu and Wayne
Fowkes, participated in the play.
Korea's "Notre Dame de Paris" received 13 musical awards and drew more than
300,000 fans during nearly 200 performances staged in the country from 2007.
Tickets for the musicals will range from 28,000 won to 130,000 won. For more
information, visit www.ndpk.co.kr and www.musicalbutterflies.co.kr.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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