[NEWS] 110215 Broadway expert lauds Korean talents as ‘exceptional’ on world stage

A veteran U.S. musical director has said Seoul’s musical scene boasts a many more talented musical actors than Broadway but lacks the time necessary to perfect technical elements to make the product more sophisticated.

Robert Johanson is in Seoul to direct the musical “Monte Cristo” for the second consecutive year. The show is to run from March 1 at the Chungmu Art Center with local musical stars Ryu Jung-han, Um Ki-joon and Shin Song-rok triple-cast in the lead role.

“In terms of talent, it’s exceptional. That’s why we could do a triple cast. In many shows in America, I couldn’t find three leads to triple cast that would be equally good,” said Johanson in an interview with The Korea Herald.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of people in China and Japan come here to see musicals in Korea because the best singers are in Seoul,” he said.

However, Korean musicals need much more development time, especially for the creative team to fine-tune technical work during rehearsals at theaters to further refine the product, he said.

Robert Johanson, director of musical “Monte Cristo,” poses during an interview in Seoul on Jan. 19. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)

“You can get much more spectacular shows in New York because they can spend six months in the theater before they open. Here, we spend six days,” the 59-year-old said.

“There’s only a certain amount of work in a certain amount of time and there’s no playing around here.”

Of course, the performance and the story are more important than the technical work but “a little bit more sophistication” comes if you do it, he added.

Johanson supported the idea of giving K-pop idols the chance to debut as musical actors, while some critics say the immaturity and insincere attitudes of idol stars could spoil the atmosphere.

He took an example of Kim Jun-su of boy band JYJ who did an excellent job with the musical “Mozart” last year. Johanson said Kim did not know much about the musical at the first rehearsal, but had learned really fast. Whether everybody else will make the journey in the same way that he did, however, is questionable, he said.

“It’s a case-by-case thing. If they do one or two shows and they don’t get it, then they don’t get it. Give me them a chance to grow a little bit,” he said.

Born in 1951 in Delaware, Johanson started directing when he was 11. He used to gather 35 kids in a show and put it on for the whole school every year.

He went to Ithaca College, an art school famous for music and drama courses, and then went straight to New York to get into a Broadway show.

Since taking his first full time job as a director aged 25, Johanson has directed over 250 musicals and plays in New York and around the world in the last 35 years.

Johanson was the artistic director of the Paper Mill Playhouse for more than 20 years until 2002 and he has been working as a freelance director since.

He started directing Korean musicals because he wanted to keep doing new shows, rather than repeating what he had done before.

“There aren’t many strong opportunities in the U.S. because people are nervous about the economy, so they’re doing the shows that everybody knows,” he said.

Musical “Monte Cristo” is based on the novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” and the music was composed by Frank Wildhorn.

Although it was premiered in Switzerland with different production and creative teams in 2009, the Korean version is unique, Johanson said.

The successful showcase of “Monte Cristo” at the Universal Arts Center last year led to an upgrade for the second show at the larger Chungmu Art Hall’s Grand Theater, which is better equipped for the musical.

“People who have seen the first show will see all kinds of small changes throughout. We’re fine-tuning everything for perfection,” he said.

Musical “Monte Cristo” runs from March 1 through April 24 at the Chungmu Art Hall’s Grand Theater. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, visit www.musicalmonte.com.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldm.com)

credit: koreaherald
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[TRANS] 110204 ‘Multitalented Idols’ JYJ, What Are Their Acting Plans For 2011?

JYJ’s Kim Jaejoong has recently become the center of attention when it was uncovered that he’s being considered for a role in the drama ‘HanBanDo’ with top actors like Jang Dong Gun and Ha Jiwon. According to a representative of JYJ, not only will Kim Jaejoong be acting this year, but Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu will also take a stab at acting as well.

First up is Kim Jaejoong, who is a strong candidate for the drama ‘HanBanDo’ and one who acted in the drama ‘Sunao Ni Narenakute’ with famous Japanese actors such as Eita and Ueno Juri. Having built his foundation through the movie and drama he has appeared in as an actor, Kim Jaejoong is a rising star full of potential who is catching the eyes of drama representatives. A JYJ spokesperson stated, “Jaejoong is getting many love calls from production companies who have been keeping an eye on him as he has been gaining more experience in acting,” and “Many scenarios have come in, for movies and for drams. He has been receiving great offers in the drama genre so he is carefully considering his options. There is a high possibility that he will greet viewers through a drama in the later half of this year.“

Park Yoochun, who successfully transformed into an actor through his role in the KBS drama ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’ last year, is also planning to tackle a drama this year. The representative stated, “He has been receiving countless love calls after his role in ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’,” and “As his first work was a historical drama, he is waiting for a new drama in which he can show a different kind of charm. Viewers will be able to see Yoochun in a drama, at the latest, in the second half of this year.”

Park Yoochun took the role of ‘Lee Seon Joon’ in the drama ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’ and was praised for his acting, which was much more sophisticated than that of other rookies. As a result, he received three trophies at the 2010 KBS Drama Awards and proved his enormous potential as an actor.

Kim Junsu, who began performances for the musical ‘Tears of Heaven’ on February 1st, is planning to continue his remarkable activities on stage. The representative stated, “Though he is receiving offers for dramas and movies as well, Junsu wishes to and is planning on continuing his activities as a musical actor,” and “He has already proved his immense ticket power as well as his acting skills through various performances. Right now, his focus is to finish ‘Tears of Heaven’ well. He may greet audiences once more through a different musical in the second half of this year.”

Like so, JYJ are planning to be extremely active this year, branching out into the field of acting while continuing their careers as musicians. As all three have proved their potential, representatives of the industry believe that they will be as flawless as actors as they are as singers.

Source: [osen+Yuaerubi]
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[NEWS] 101117 Youngwoong Jaejoong Lookalike Kim Byung Ho to Debut as ‘Talented’ Singer

Kim Byung Ho who resembles the good looking star Youngwoong Jaejoong is expected to debut early next year.

Recently the pictures of Kim Byung Ho that resembles manga character-like face of Youngwoong Jaejoong were published through internet community websites and received huge popularity among netizens.

BBO Live Entertainment agency said, “Early next year we aimed to debut a four member male group which is currently being organized, and Kim Byung Ho will be in charge as the group’s leader.” Furthermore the official revealed, “Kim Byung Ho will reborn not merely as a good looking star but more as a talented singer and currently he’s working hard for his vocal and dance practice.”

A star that receives a lot of attention and love for being good looking man, the debut of Kim Byung Ho in entertainment industry surely will draw high interests as the impact.

credit: Newsen
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[TRANS] 101107 JYJ… Where is the End of Their Artistic Talents?

Breaking the prejudice of ‘Idol’s origin’, showing the possibilities of an all-rounded entertainer.

This year, on the 26th of January, in Seoul’s Sejong Cultural Center, it was the day that Kim JunSu turned into a musical actor from a pop idol singer with his debut performance in ‘Mozart!’. The 3000-plus seats were packed, the ticket responses showing an unprecedented degree of enthusiasm.

After the 2 hour and 20 minute performance ended, a person from the entertainment industry who was seated in the audience said, “His artistic talent is really unlimited, a thumbs-up.”
And after 10 months later, the initial individual praises for Kim JunSu now falls onto the members of JYJ (JaeJoong, YooChun and JunSu).

▲ Park YooChun’s acclaimed acting in ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’
At first when news of him challenging historical dramas surfaced, many people were doubtful. Some people even said that it was an unnecessary challenge, even if it’s a historical drama with modern colors, to people with such strong images such as him, it is obviously too difficult.

Adding on to the fact that he had stayed so long in the US, it was unknown whether he would be able to use the right accents and pronunciation necessary in a historical drama. Would he turn out to be like the majority of idol singers who turned into actors who want to experience acting through a challenge? From the start, concerns like this have already existed.

However, using sincere eye expressions and a steady deliverance of his lines, along with his acting surpassing expectations, he has received the praises of the audience, having the reputation of being the ‘model of all idol singer-turned-actors’. Especially, along with superb actors such as Song JoongKi, Park MinYoung, Yoo Ah In and others, he acted out perfectly the friendships, love and frustration of a Sungkyunkwan scholar.

Appearing in ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’, numerous topics of discussion have emerged, and also getting the audience to support ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’ enthusiastically, yet another achievement is the unearthing of a new actor named Park YooChun.

▲ Becoming the musical world’s talent who is cherished by all through ‘Mozart!’, Kim JunSu
When the news of him going into the musical stage emerged, compared to a welcome, negative expressions emerged.

Due to the many singers recently challenging musical acting and failing in the box office, the public opinion of the outside world has not tested its invitation of some stars who have received much criticism for being in musicals.

He who has no acting experience, will be he be able to coordinate with the other actors on stage, would be able to have an emotional communication with the audience down-stage, would he be able to digest this type of musical, many people questioned. Also, when there is an error in the lines or movements, as a newcomer, what would his reactions be like, these are concerns that people had.

But, as soon as the performance started, all doubts immediately vanished. He movingly acted out the life of the musical genius Mozart, who had a thirst for freedom. In this piece of work, through his fine acting performance and voice, he has the audience hypnotized. A Mozart who wears jeans, he used his own interpretation of the conflict and struggles experienced by a child prodigy a few centuries ago.

As a result, at the ’4th Musical Awards’ held in June and at the ’16th Korean Musical Awards’ in October, he won two awards: Best Newcomer Award and the Most Popular Award. In winning these two big awards at the same time, he is the first person.

In the musical market, there will never be people who will relegate him as a ‘product’ who only has a scary influence on the box office again. He is undoubtedly the greatest achievement for the Korean musical world in 2010.

▲ Attracting people’s attention, Kim JaeJoong in ‘Sunao ni Narenakute’
Compared to YooChun and JunSu, his activities in the country are less. However, a cable TV station is going to broadcast his debut Japanese TV drama series ‘Sunao ni Narenakute’, and I believe this will let fans quench their thirst.

In actual fact, the first member of TVXQ to start acting was him. Last year, in ‘Heaven’s Postman’ where he collaborated with Han Hyo Joo which started many topics of discussion, his acting deserves to be reaffirmed, and with more steady acting skills, he starred in ‘Sunao ni Narenakute’.

Japan’s public opinion on the evaluation of his acting is good. In the drama, he is a medical device salesman who feels the pressure as a result of poor sales, has digested fluent Japanese lines, and also amongst Ueno Juri, Eita and other Japanese actors, his acting skills are no less. Ueno Juri praises him as a person who cares about others, and who is also a insightful actor.

Unfortunately, due to going all-out in JYJ’s group activities, for a short period of time, we will not be able to see his activities as an actor in the country. However, he has stepped up into the ranks of actors, what kind of work piece would the next step bring? Now, it is already being anticipated.

After the JYJ members have completed their individual activities, in a period of time the group activities would be going all-out. On the 30th of October, they have successfully completed the Taiwan stop of their world album ‘The Beginning’ showcase, and will go on to their US activities.

Recently, the critics who have praised Kim JunSu in January at the Sejong Cultural Center, have also poured praise over all the members of JYJ.

Source: TodayKorea + DNBN + Baidu MickyYooChun + Hey!JJ
Translation: tvxqhwaiting @ OneTVXQ.com
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