Junggu Cultural Foundation Musical Showcase: 'The Bookstore That Opens the Night' and 'Rapachini's Garden'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Jung-gu Cultural Foundation Chungmu Art Center will hold a showcase for the emerging story writer development support project 'Musical House Black and Blue 2020' starting from the 15th.

'Musical House Black and Blue 2020' is an operational program of the '2020 Emerging Story Writer Development Support Project' hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency. Aiming to nurture new creators and develop excellent creative works, Chungmu Art Center has been continuing this project for the seventh year this year.

Two final selected works through the open call will hold showcases at Chungmu Art Center's small theater Blue. The showcase of 'The Bookstore That Opens at Night' will be held on the 15th and 16th, and the showcase of 'Lafacini's Garden' will be held on the 22nd and 23rd. Chungmu Art Center selected six works through the call for new musical writers in May, and after mentoring, work development, and a closed reading competition in September last year, two final works were selected. This showcase will be conducted with two-seat spacing in accordance with the COVID-19 'social distancing' policy.

'The Bookstore That Opens at Night' is a work created by rookie writer Lim Min-ji and composer Han Hye-shin of the musical 'Therese Raquin.' Director Kim Min-jung of 'Spring Awakening,' writer Jo Min-hyung of 'Chami' and 'Myeongdong Romance,' and music director Lee Jin-wook of 'Rachmaninoff' participated as mentors to assist in work development.

No Yoon plays the role of 'Midnight,' a vegan vampire who owns the bookstore that opens at midnight. Yoo Ju-hye plays 'Noon,' a gumiho who is traveling to find her roots and writing about her story. Moon Sung-il plays 'Eden,' a vampire who is the longtime rival and the main character of the longest story between the two. Jung Da-hee plays 'Nam-man,' a human who has supplied tomatoes to Midnight for generations.

'Lafacini's Garden' is a newly adapted work by writer Kim Soo-min and composer Lee Da-som, inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story 'Rappaccini's Daughter.' Director Sung Jong-wan of 'Rimbaud' and 'In Praise of Death,' writer Park Hae-rim of 'Me, Natasha and the White Donkey,' and music director Park Jae-hyun of 'The Man Who Laughs' and 'Phantom' participated as mentors. Bae Na-ra plays 'Giovanni,' a country bumpkin aspiring painter fascinated by the mysterious and beautiful garden. Jung Sang-yoon plays 'Lafacini,' the owner of that secret space. Han Jae-ah plays his lovely daughter 'Beatrice.' Yoon Deborah plays 'Lizabetha,' who holds the garden's secret. Jeon Jae-hong plays 'Ballioni,' a character trying to uncover that secret.

After the showcase, one work will be developed into a Chungmu Art Center original repertoire. Previously, works such as 'Dwarfs,' 'Myeongdong Romance,' and 'Sidereus' were developed, and 'Vampire Arthur,' which was presented in the Season 4 showcase held in 2017, was also developed into a Chungmu Art Center repertoire. It successfully completed its year-end performance in 2018 at Chungmu Art Center's medium theater Black and is scheduled for a rerun at the end of this year.

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