Korean musical 'Il Tenore' extends run after rave reviews

Korean musical 'Il Tenore' will extend its run to May 19 at Blue Square following its successful debut at the Seoul Arts Center. The main cast will remain unchanged.

Hong Kwang-ho plays aspiring tenor Yun I-seon in the musical "Il Tenore." [OD COMPANY]

Korean original musical “Il Tenore” is extending its run for two months at a new venue following rave reviews.

The musical, which opened to the public for the very first time in December last year, was originally scheduled to close Sunday at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho District, southern Seoul. The extended run will carry through at Blue Square in Yongsan District, central Seoul, from March 29 to May 19, production company OD said Monday.

There will be no changes in the main cast. Actors Hong Kwang-ho, Park Eun-tae and Seo Kyung-soo will continue to alternate the role of Yun I-seon; Kim Ji-hyun, Park Ji-yeon and Hong Ji-hee will alternate Seo Jin-yeon; and Jeon Jae-hong and Shin Sung-min will alternate Lee Su-han.

Clockwise from top, actors Jeon Jae-hong as Lee Su-han; Park Eun-tae as Yun I-seon; and Park Ji-yeon as Seo Jin-yeon in the musical "Il Tenore" [OD COMPANY]

“Il Tenore,” which means tenor in Italian, is an original new Korean musical that follows med-student-turned-opera-singer Yun I-seon, anti-Japanese activist and opera director Seo Jin-yeon and activist and stage designer Lee Su-han, who each have dreams that they must fight to keep as they come together to stage an opera that will spread the message of Korean independence without being censored by the Japanese. It is inspired by pioneering tenor Lee In-seon (1906-1960).

The book is by Hue Park and Will Aronson. The score was composed by Aronson with lyrics by Park. Helming the show is director Kim Dong-yeon, best known for directing the musical “Death Note.”

Actor Seo Kyung-soo as Yun I-seon in the musical "Il Tenore" [OD COMPANY]

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