Musical 'Moulin Rouge!' Enriched with Music... Up to 20 Songs in One Number

Musical 'Moulin Rouge!' Performed in Replica Version
Translation Crafted with Care to Preserve Original Humor Nuances
Actors Selected After 7 Months of Casting Are Practicing Intensively
Enriched Songs... Up to 20 Tracks in a Single Number

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The musical "Moulin Rouge!" which tells the love story of 'Satine,' the top star of the club 'Moulin Rouge' in Paris in the 1980s, and the young composer 'Christian,' is entering its final countdown to opening. The musical will welcome audiences from the 20th of next month at Blue Square Shinhan Hall in Itaewon.

Well known as a film, this musical attracted attention with a pre-production budget of $28 million (approximately 39.5 billion KRW) when it opened on Broadway in 2019. It was not only the highest-grossing musical of that year but also swept thirty-six awards in the US and UK, including the Best Musical Award at the 74th Tony Awards.

The performance scheduled for December will be a replica (maintaining the original without localization adaptation). The original creative and production team, along with actors selected through a seven-month audition process, are currently rehearsing intensively. Hong Kwang-ho and Lee Chung-joo were cast as Christian, and Ivy and Kim Ji-woo as Satine.

Ye Juyul, Head of CJ ENM Performance Business Division

The musical differs from the existing film and narrative. At a press conference held on the 17th at 'Blue Rain Lounge' in Jongno, Seoul, Ye Juyul, head of CJENM's business division, explained, "If the latter part of the film was centered on spectacular shows focused on visual appeal, the musical has been reborn as a drama focusing on the relationship between Satine and Christian," adding, "The balance between glamour and dramatic elements is well maintained."

The music has also become richer than in the film. Breaking away from the convention of inserting a single musical theme per number, the musical employs a 'mash-up' technique that blends various pieces of music into one number, bringing out the musical's diverse emotions.

Justin Rubin Music Supervisor

Justin Levine, the music supervisor, said, "The music is richer than in the film. We considered what music to add to scenes that were handled through dialogue in the film. First, we listed pop song dialogues and then found suitable music," explaining, "The song 'Elephant Love Medley,' which decorates the Act 1 finale, contains fragments of twenty songs."

Great care was also taken with the translation. Co-director Matt DeCarlo said, "We worked hard to find ways to effectively express the original humor through intimate conversations with the actors," adding, "Our goal was to draw out Korean characteristics from the actors."

From the left ▲ Music Supervisor Justin Rubin ▲ Associate Directors Jessintazon · Matt DiCarlo ▲ Associate Choreographer Daniel Vilios ▲ Ye Juyul, Head of CJENM Performance Business Division

The spectacular dance performances from the film have also been carried over to the musical. Co-choreographer Daniel Billyos said, "The choreography for Moulin Rouge! requires not only the body but also an open heart. That is why the auditions lasted seven months," adding, "Individual skills are important, but the overall harmony is crucial. We cast actors who possess such harmony and ability."

He continued, "The most intense choreography is showcased in the openings of Acts 1 and 2. Especially in Act 1, almost all the main and supporting roles except Satine appear to set the overall mood of the act," introducing, "We created a new genre by combining can-can with modern dance and jazz."

He also promised an unwavering top-quality stage. "When performing repeatedly, one can fall into a rut, but I always tell the actors not to forget that the audience is experiencing this work for the first time. I demand energy and concentration worthy of that," he said, promising, "We always promise the best stage to our audience."

The performance will continue until March 5 of next year.

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