Jeongdong Theater to Premiere Jukebox Musical "The Pied Piper" Featuring Song Chang Sik's Hits in June

19 Productions Including New Original Premieres This Year
Music Drama "Island: 1933~2019", Play "Kyrie", and More

The National Jeongdong Theater is set to premiere the jukebox musical "The Pied Piper" (working title), based on the hit songs of singer Song Chang Sik, this June.

The National Jeongdong Theater has announced its performance schedule for the year, which includes the original premiere of "The Pied Piper." Across its two venues—the main building and the National Jeongdong Theater Cecile—it will stage a total of 19 productions: one original premiere, two performances by the National Jeongdong Theater Arts Troupe, three collaborative productions, three Cecile planned performances, and ten works under the "Changjak-ing" (Creative-ing) program.

The new production "The Pied Piper" tells the story of young people who loved music during the Japanese colonial era, using the celebrated folk songs of Song Chang Sik. Well-known songs by Song Chang Sik are woven into key scenes to depict the lives, choices, love, and loss of characters living through colonial times.

'Gwangdae' performance scene. National Jeongdong Theater

'Modern Jeongdong' performance scene. National Jeongdong Theater

The National Jeongdong Theater Arts Troupe will present one production each in the first and second halves of the year. In April, they will restage "Clown," which was introduced last year as the inaugural work of the "K-Culture Series," a performance brand highlighting Korean tradition and culture. "Clown" is inspired by "Sochundaeyuheui," the first paid performance at Korea's first modern theater, Hyopyulsa. The production brings together clowns from a century ago and today’s artists, who showcase a variety of traditional Korean performances such as court dances, folk dances, pansori, pungmul, and plate-spinning.

In December, "Modern Jeongdong," which explores the art of Korea's modern era where tradition and Western culture coexisted, will be staged through dance and performance. The story follows the character Yu-Young, who time-slips to Jeongdong a hundred years in the past and meets the "modern girls" Hwaseon and Yeonsil of that era.

Collaborative performances this year include the play "Mend the Living," the music drama "Island: 1933~2019," and the original musical "Cheongsachorong, Light the Lantern."

"Mend the Living," a one-person play based on the novel of the same name by French author Maylis de Kerangal, is currently being performed at the National Jeongdong Theater. It depicts a 24-hour journey surrounding the process of organ donation following a boy’s sudden accident. The cast includes Son Sang Gyu, Kim Sin Rok, Kim Ji Hyun, and Yoon Nam Woo.

The music drama "Island: 1933~2019," co-produced in 2024 by the National Jeongdong Theater and Library Company and winner of the Best Script Award at the 9th Korea Musical Awards (2025), will open in September. The production interweaves the story of real-life figures Marianne and Margaret, who devoted over 40 years to caring for Hansen’s disease patients on Sorokdo, with the life of Ko Ji Seon in 2019, who raises a child with developmental disabilities while living as a family member of a Hansen’s disease patient.

The original musical "Cheongsachorong, Light the Lantern," which premiered last year by Seoul Arts Center, will move to the National Jeongdong Theater Cecile and open in August. Based on the premise that "Cheongsachorong," Joseon's first wedding specialty company, handles wedding ceremonies, the show reinterprets traditional wedding culture with a modern aesthetic.

Performance scene from 'The Island: 1933~2019.' National Jeongdong Theater. (c) Library Company

'Light the Cheongsachorong Lantern' performance scene. National Jeongdong Theater (c) Seoul Arts Center

Since 2021, the National Jeongdong Theater has managed Cecile Theater, which was previously at risk of closure. After renaming it "National Jeongdong Theater Cecile," the venue has been used as a space for original creation and secondary production through projects such as "Changjak-ing" and "Cheongchun Manbal."

"Changjak-ing" is a program that provides direct and indirect support for works that have passed the pilot performance stage to be restaged at National Jeongdong Theater Cecile. It supports four genres—plays, musicals, traditional performances, and dance—selected through an open call.

This year, a total of ten works will be staged through Changjak-ing: four plays ("Battle at the Sheep Ranch," "The Place to Leave After Fixing," "The Place," "Melodrama Train"), two musicals ("Dawn Touch," "Dolsoejeon"), two traditional performances ("Sunanidae," "Kkokdugak, Time Play"), and two dance works ("The Four Rivers of the Body (One Night, Nine Crossings)," "Pause-17, Again-19"), which will run from May 22 to December 20.

For the Cecile planned performances, the play "Kyrie," first introduced through the 2023 Changjak-ing program, has been selected as this year’s planned production at National Jeongdong Theater Cecile and will open on the 19th. The play centers on the guests visiting a guesthouse run by a woman named Emma in the Black Forest of Germany. The production received acclaim at the time, winning three categories at the 60th Dong-A Theater Awards: Best Production, Best Acting, and Best New Actor.

"Cecile Pungnyu," a series that has introduced traditional dance performances with a different theme each year since its debut at National Jeongdong Theater Cecile in 2023, will present its fourth installment this year. This time, dancers who have inherited the aesthetics of authentic schools will showcase on stage the "moment of mastery" they have attained through years of training.

The youth traditional performing arts incubation program "Cheongchun Manbal," celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, will select eight teams through an open call, providing creative support funds and selecting outstanding artists through a competition held at National Jeongdong Theater Cecile from August 10 to 21.

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