National Changgeuk Company’s New Work 'Chunhyang' Premieres at National Theater Daloreum Theater... Directed by Kim Myung-gon

From the 14th to the 24th

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The National Changgeuk Company, the resident troupe of the National Theater of Korea, will premiere its new work "Chunhyang" from the 14th to the 24th at the Daloreum Theater of the National Theater. This is the National Changgeuk Company's 2020 new work and a performance with special significance commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Theater.

The National Theater was established in 1950 and founded the National Gugak Company, the predecessor of the National Changgeuk Company, in 1962. The inaugural work of the National Gugak Company was "Chunhyangjeon." Since then, the National Changgeuk Company has maintained a special relationship with "Chunhyangga" through various attempts and experiments, including the 1988 celebratory work "Chunhyangjeon" for the Seoul Olympics, the 2002 40th anniversary commemorative complete Changgeuk "Seong Chunhyang," and the 2014 collaboration with an overseas director "Andrei Serban’s Another Chunhyang."

"Chunhyang" is the first new work presented by Yoo Sujeong, who was appointed as the artistic director of the National Changgeuk Company in April last year. The piece focuses more musically on traditional sounds, the root of the genre. Artistic director Yoo Sujeong emphasized, "Changgeuk should change according to contemporary consciousness and sensibility, but the root, Pansori, must remain unchanged," and personally took charge of composing the music. Based on the Manjeongje style of "Chunhyangga," known for its musical delicacy, she incorporated sounds from Dongchoje and Boseong sori styles to create a distinctive sound.

The script and direction are handled by actor and director Kim Myunggon. Director Kim has a special connection with Pansori, especially "Chunhyangga." He wrote the screenplay for the Pansori-themed film "Seopyeonje" and won the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actor for his role as "Yubong." He also wrote the script for the National Changgeuk Company's first complete Changgeuk "Chunhyangjeon" in 1998, which runs over six hours, and the screenplay for director Im Kwon-taek’s 2000 work "Chunhyangjeon." Director Kim has deep knowledge of Pansori, having studied under the late master singer Park Chowol.

Director Kim Myunggon stated, "Changgeuk is a musical drama based on Pansori. Recently, Changgeuk works have tended to subordinate music for the sake of the story, but I want to avoid that and reinforce the foundation so that Changgeuk remains true to itself." He emphasized that this "Chunhyang" will focus more on singing (Chang) than on the drama (Geuk).

Composer and music director Kim Seongguk, who beautifully captures the beauty of traditional music with modern arrangements, is in charge of composition. While preserving the traditional sounds in key sections of "Chunhyangga" such as "Saranga" and "Ibyeolga," he plans to enhance the density of the drama by experimenting with new music that highlights both the singing and the story.

Other creative team members include stage designer Jung Seungho of the musical "Excalibur," lighting designer Gu Yunyoung of the musical "The Man Who Laughs," video designer Jo Suhyun of the National Changgeuk Company's "Farewell My Concubine," and costume and accessory designer Lee Jinhui of the drama "Love in the Moonlight."

The role of "Chunhyang" is double-cast with the National Changgeuk Company's leading actress Lee Soyeon and rising sorikkun (Pansori singer) Kim Woojung. Lee Soyeon has experience playing Chunhyang in the Changgeuk productions "Chunhyang 2010 (2010)" and "Andrei Serban’s Another Chunhyang (2014)." Kim Woojung was selected through an open audition held by the National Changgeuk Company in February and is a young sorikkun who gained attention through the TV program "I Can See Your Voice." This Chunhyang character will be portrayed as a figure with firm conviction and rich emotion, depicting her love with Mongryong brightly and strongly.

The role of Mongryong is played by Kim Junsu; Wolmae by Kim Chakyung and Kim Geummi; Byeon Hakdo by Yoon Seokan and Choi Hoseong; Hyangdan by Jo Yua; and Bangja by Yoo Taepyeongyang.

Meanwhile, during the National Changgeuk Company's "Chunhyang" performances, the National Theater will implement "social distancing" measures as part of efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic by spacing out seating in the audience.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.