( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) KPOP is The First Original Musical on Broadway This Year
ENSPIRE Contributor: Megan Holder
The exhilarating energy of a stadium concert met the talent and passion of your favorite musical in KPOP! Packed with pulse-pounding new music and electrifying choreography, this original musical explored the relentless discipline, raw talent, and commercial ambition behind the international sensation. Global superstars put everything on the line for a special one-night-only concert. They faced struggles both cultural and personal that threatened to dismantle one of the industry’s hottest labels. The experience was unlike anything else on Broadway.
K-pop superstar Luna starred as MwE, at Circle in the Square Theatre. Teddy Bergman was the director. The musical featured a book by Jason Kim; choreography by Jennifer Weber; music, lyrics, music production, and arrangements by Helen Park; and music and lyrics by Max Vernon. Besides Luna, KPOP stars Julia Abueva, BoHyung (from the K-pop group SPICA and half of the duo KEEMBO), Major Curda, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Marina Kondo, Eddy Lee, Joshua Lee, Jully Lee, Lina Rose Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Min (from the K-pop group Miss A), Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Zachary Noah Piser, Kevin Woo (from the K-pop group U-KISS), and John Yi.
KPOP is the first Broadway musical to celebrate Korean culture with Korean, Korean American, and API representation on and off-stage. Ms. Park is the first Asian female to compose a Broadway show.
KPOP was produced by Tim Forbes and Joey Parnes and conceived by Woodshed Collective and Jason Kim. Sujin Kim-Ramsey directed the music. Scenic was designed by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn. The costumes were designed by Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi.
Lighting was done by Jiyoun Chang and sound design by Peter Fitzgerald & Andrew Keister. Projection was designed by Peter Nigrini. Hair and wig was designed by Mia M. Neal, makeup design by Joe Dulude II and Suki Tsujimoto. Casting was by Tara Rubin and the production stage manager was Cherie B. Tay.
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