Post by Quasimodo on Sept 19, 2005 19:31:31 GMT -5
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Seoul Next Stop for Disney's `Hunchback'
By Lee Yong-sung
Staff Reporter
The first Disney musical to premiere in a non-U.S. city is coming to Seoul for its second overseas tour later this year.
In 1999, the U.S. entertainment giant premiered its first new musical outside of the United States when ``Der Glockner Von Notre Dame (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)¡¯¡¯ opened in Berlin, Germany.
Five years later, Seensee Musical Company, a local musical producer and distributor, held a press meeting at Polimedia Theater, downtown Seoul, last Friday, and announced it will be staging a locally produced version of ``The Hunchback of Notre Dame¡¯¡¯ at the Haeorum Theater stage of The National Theater of Korea for a month from Dec. 23.
What seems to be especially charming about the musical, which is an adaptation of the Disney animated film and produced under license from Disney Theater Productions, is that it will allows maximum flexibility in the musical¡¯s localization process. Thus, while maintaining the original story, characters and score, the stage set and other concepts will be new creations from the Korean team¡¯s hard work and ingenuity.
Disney¡¯s original creative team and producers from Japan and China are scheduled to visit here to see the opening of the show. ``Depending on its turnout, our version could be a model for the show¡¯s next production in other countries,¡¯¡¯ Park Myung-sung, president of the musical company said during the meeting.
According to Park, Disney¡¯s staff came to see the company¡¯s production of ``Urine Town,¡¯¡¯ were fascinated by Seensee¡¯s unique interpretation and direction of the Broadway musical, and later proposed the deal.
The original musical was almost beyond comparison in its magnificent special effects and grandiose scale, as more than 200 laser projectors were used to work magic on the stage. However, many people, including Park, found the special effects to be a little distracting, which inspired Park to consider the balance between such effects and dramatic factors.
``There is more to see than just the gorgeous gothic cathedral in Notre Dame from its original story,¡¯¡¯ Park said. ``What is more important are social rules and oppressions symbolized by the building.¡¯¡¯
The musical also boasts some of composer Alan Menken¡¯s best work from the original animation. Menken, who has provided the tunes for Disney¡¯s ``The Little Mermaid,¡¯¡¯ ``Beauty and the Beast,¡¯¡¯ ``Aladdin,¡¯¡¯ ``Pocahontas¡¯¡¯ and many more, is in top form. In particular, songs like ``Out There,¡¯¡¯ ``God Help the Outcasts¡¯¡¯ and ``Hellfire¡¯¡¯ from the musical showcase his indelible ability of linking certain emotions to proper tunes.
The film's most controversial element was its story, which deviated greatly from Victor Hugo's revered novel. The story had been softened, with less death, the change of villain Frollo¡¯s occupation and the omission of any overtly sexual overtones in the original book. However, the musical version will be more faithful to Victor Hugo¡¯s original novel, featuring more dark and somber moments.
More than two hundred actors, including some of the nation¡¯s top musical performers, participated in the auditioning process. Lee Jin-kyu, who is practically anonymous to many, has been chosen for the role of Quasimodo. Lee, who applied for the chorus, appealed the show¡¯s production staff with his strong singing talents. Chung Sun-ah, star of the company¡¯s past productions such as ``Urine Town¡¯¡¯ and ``Rent¡¯¡¯ will play the gypsy dancer, Esmeralda, while Huh Joon-ho, who is also well known from television series and films, will play Frollo.
Seoul Next Stop for Disney's `Hunchback'
By Lee Yong-sung
Staff Reporter
The first Disney musical to premiere in a non-U.S. city is coming to Seoul for its second overseas tour later this year.
In 1999, the U.S. entertainment giant premiered its first new musical outside of the United States when ``Der Glockner Von Notre Dame (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)¡¯¡¯ opened in Berlin, Germany.
Five years later, Seensee Musical Company, a local musical producer and distributor, held a press meeting at Polimedia Theater, downtown Seoul, last Friday, and announced it will be staging a locally produced version of ``The Hunchback of Notre Dame¡¯¡¯ at the Haeorum Theater stage of The National Theater of Korea for a month from Dec. 23.
What seems to be especially charming about the musical, which is an adaptation of the Disney animated film and produced under license from Disney Theater Productions, is that it will allows maximum flexibility in the musical¡¯s localization process. Thus, while maintaining the original story, characters and score, the stage set and other concepts will be new creations from the Korean team¡¯s hard work and ingenuity.
Disney¡¯s original creative team and producers from Japan and China are scheduled to visit here to see the opening of the show. ``Depending on its turnout, our version could be a model for the show¡¯s next production in other countries,¡¯¡¯ Park Myung-sung, president of the musical company said during the meeting.
According to Park, Disney¡¯s staff came to see the company¡¯s production of ``Urine Town,¡¯¡¯ were fascinated by Seensee¡¯s unique interpretation and direction of the Broadway musical, and later proposed the deal.
The original musical was almost beyond comparison in its magnificent special effects and grandiose scale, as more than 200 laser projectors were used to work magic on the stage. However, many people, including Park, found the special effects to be a little distracting, which inspired Park to consider the balance between such effects and dramatic factors.
``There is more to see than just the gorgeous gothic cathedral in Notre Dame from its original story,¡¯¡¯ Park said. ``What is more important are social rules and oppressions symbolized by the building.¡¯¡¯
The musical also boasts some of composer Alan Menken¡¯s best work from the original animation. Menken, who has provided the tunes for Disney¡¯s ``The Little Mermaid,¡¯¡¯ ``Beauty and the Beast,¡¯¡¯ ``Aladdin,¡¯¡¯ ``Pocahontas¡¯¡¯ and many more, is in top form. In particular, songs like ``Out There,¡¯¡¯ ``God Help the Outcasts¡¯¡¯ and ``Hellfire¡¯¡¯ from the musical showcase his indelible ability of linking certain emotions to proper tunes.
The film's most controversial element was its story, which deviated greatly from Victor Hugo's revered novel. The story had been softened, with less death, the change of villain Frollo¡¯s occupation and the omission of any overtly sexual overtones in the original book. However, the musical version will be more faithful to Victor Hugo¡¯s original novel, featuring more dark and somber moments.
More than two hundred actors, including some of the nation¡¯s top musical performers, participated in the auditioning process. Lee Jin-kyu, who is practically anonymous to many, has been chosen for the role of Quasimodo. Lee, who applied for the chorus, appealed the show¡¯s production staff with his strong singing talents. Chung Sun-ah, star of the company¡¯s past productions such as ``Urine Town¡¯¡¯ and ``Rent¡¯¡¯ will play the gypsy dancer, Esmeralda, while Huh Joon-ho, who is also well known from television series and films, will play Frollo.
