[Anchor]
Singer and musical actor Ivy has been cast as a lead in a Broadway musical in New York. Following the success of "Maybe Happy Ending," which won three Tony Awards last year, the international stage is paying closer attention to Korean musicals.
Culture and Arts Correspondent Kim Soo-hyun reports.
[Reporter]
This is the audition video of Ivy, who has been cast as a lead in the hit musical "Chicago," which has been running at the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway in New York for 30 years.
The American production team, having taken note of Ivy after her nearly 600 performances in the Korean production of "Chicago," reached out to her first for an audition. Ivy secured her spot on Broadway with this third-round audition video, which she filmed in a hurry while traveling in the United States this past spring.
The musical is a black comedy set in 1920s Chicago that satirizes a corrupt society and the dark side of show business. Ivy will play the role of Roxie Hart, a criminal who becomes a star on the show stage.
Meanwhile, an English reading performance of the original musical "Let Me Fly," which features time travel as its theme, is underway, with four actors performing lines and songs in English while reading from the script.
[Min Chan-hong / Composer of "Let Me Fly": Please note that this performance is accompanied by a single piano, which is the basic configuration, to create a new musical flow that fits the rhythm of the English language.]
Having already expanded into Taiwan and Hong Kong, "Let Me Fly" will be presented in Washington state next month and in a New York showcase this coming November.
The international performing arts scene is also showing keen interest in the Korean musical industry, which continuously produces new works centered around Daehak-ro.
The recently held K-Musical International Market saw a record-breaking turnout, with approximately 5,500 performing arts professionals in attendance, including about 180 from overseas.
[Sammy Lopez / Musical Producer: It is amazing to see so many new works being created in Korea and such a focus on original content. From the perspective of a Broadway producer who is constantly looking for new works, it is truly exciting.]
With both actors and productions heading overseas, the challenge for Korean musicals continues as they dream of becoming the next "Maybe Happy Ending."
(Video Editing: Park Na-young, VJ: Oh Se-gwan, Video courtesy of Pros Lab)
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