'May creation never die!': Korea Musical Awards honors those behind music, theater

It was a true celebration of music, theater and life at last night’s annual Korea Musical Awards, held at the Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in Dongdaemun District, central Seoul.

The cast of "Let Me Fly" attend the 8th Korea Musical Awards at Dongdaemun District, central Seoul, on Monday. From left are actors Park Bo-gum, Na Ha-na and Ahn Ji-hwan. [YONHAP]

It was a true celebration of music, theater and life at last night’s annual Korea Musical Awards, held at the Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in Dongdaemun District, central Seoul.

“Shestars!” took home the grand prize along with the Best Choreography award, given to choreographer Shin Seon-ho. It depicts the career highlights of six historical Korean girl groups from the 1930s to the 2000s, directed by Kolleen Park. The show wasn’t a commercial success but did garner positive reviews from the audience. “We failed miserably, but thank you to everyone who believed in my vision,” said Park, who then held up her trophy and shouted, "May creation never die!"

A scene from musical "Shestars!"[SEENSEE COMPANY]

Actor Cho Seung-woo won Best Male Actor for playing the Phantom in the still ongoing licensed production of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“I play a rather stalker-like man, and still just yesterday I was in Daegu, rowing an imaginary boat and obsessing about a girl; but I have to say, how I am simply so happy to be part of this marvelous show. I was telling staff the other day about this sudden realization that I had about how genuinely happy I felt on stage.”

“The Phantom of The Opera,” based on the 1910 French novel “Le Fantome de l’Opera” by Gaston Leroux, is about soprano Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of the Phantom, a mysterious, disfigured musical genius.

Jeong Sun-ah won Best Female Actor for her performance in the musical “If/Then.”

“‘If/Then’ was my first show back after becoming a mother, and I honestly didn’t know if I could return to this job again,” Jeong said. “Thank you to everyone who has shown me support.”

“If/Then” is about Elizabeth, on the verge of turning 40, whose choices lead her to live completely different lives where in one she is married with kids, and in the other, she is a successful city planner who goes by Beth and has trouble committing to a person and finding love.

The licensed musical “Memphis” won the most number of nominations. It won Best Ensemble, Best Director (Kim Tae-hyung), Best Producer (ShowNote), Best Stage Design (Kang Guk-hyeon) and Best Production (for shows with more than 400 seats).

“‘Memphis’ is about rock and roll music during a time of racial tensions, and we were at first worried that Korean audiences wouldn't be able to connect with this kind of story, but I’m so glad they were able to connect,” ShowNote producer Kim Yeong-ook said.

The all-female creative team of the homegrown musical "L'art reste" went home victorious, winning Best Music (Moon Hye-seong and Jeong Hye-ji) and Best Script (Kim Han-sol), as well as Best Production (for shows with less than 400 seats). “L’art reste” depicts the life of Kim Hyang-an, the wife of the country's famous poet Yi Sang and, after his death, the wife of painter Kim Whanki.

“Hye-ji was thinking of giving up musical theater and starting a cake shop the last time we were here,” Moon said. “But she saw the awards and I remember her telling me that she doesn't think she could give it up, that she loved musical theater so much.

“I’ll take this award as encouragement, to keep on dreaming.”

The Rookie Award, for which actor Park Bo-gum was nominated for “Let Me Fly,” went to Julian Jootaek Kim in “Phantom of the Opera” for the male category and Park Sae-him in “Interview” for the female category.

The Honorary Award went to theater Hakchon’s owner, singer and composer: Kim Min-gi. Hakchon is one of the longest-standing theaters in Korea’s theater district, Daehangno, in Jongno District, central Seoul. But after Kim recently fell ill, the theater has decided to temporarily close.

The Korea Musical Awards is the country’s largest annual musical ceremony, hosted by the Korea Musical Association and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Culture and Arts Council Korea.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]