Cast and opening date set for musical "200 Pounds Beauty"

Main cast of musical "200 Pounds Beauty" [Shownote]

The complete cast and opening date for the musical version of "200 Pounds Beauty" has been revealed, according to the show's producer Shownote on Wednesday.

Shownote announced through a press release that actors Lee Jong-hyeok, Oh Man-seok, songstress Bada and KARA's leader Park Gyulee have been cast in "200 Pounds Beauty" which will run for a month at the Shochikuza Theater in Osaka of Japan starting October 8.

Sungje of boy band Choshinsung will play the role of Han Sang-jun during the musical's run in Osaka opposite Gyulee, while Lee and Oh will rotate the role of Han for the showing of the musical in Korea which will take place at the CJ Art Center in Seoul from November 26 to February 19, 2012.

The press release also stated that Shownote will take "200 Pounds Beauty" overseas with performances in China and Singapore next year.

"200 Pounds Beauty" tells the story of Kang Han-byeul who is blessed with a wonderful singing voice but is unable to make her debut on stage because of her obesity but lends her voice to beautiful singers instead. Kang then undergoes plastic surgery to become beautiful herself.

The movie, which starred Kim A-joong and Joo Jin-mo, attracted about seven million viewers nationwide while the musical adaptation, first premiered in 2008, collected a total four awards at Korea’s 2nd Musical Award the same year including the prize for best creative musical.

The plot of the story is originally based on a popular comic by Yumiko Suzuki which is about a woman who transforms from an ugly duckling into a swan through a drastic plastic surgery and criticizes the modern-day perception of beauty.

The complete cast will hold a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on July 29 before curtains are raised for the first show of "200 Pounds Beauty" in Osaka.

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