Musical 'Elisabeth' Opens Its Sixth Season with New Production and Fresh Cast

The musical 'Elisabeth' has raised the curtain on its sixth season, featuring a brand-new production and a harmonious blend of veteran and new cast members.

Following preview performances from August 16 through the matinee on August 19, 'Elisabeth' officially opened with its evening show on August 19 and will run through November 15 at the Woori Bank Hall of Blue Square in Seoul.

Set against the backdrop of the Austrian Empire ruled by the House of Habsburg, the musical depicts the life of Empress Elisabeth, who yearned for freedom, and her relationship with 'Death (Der Tod)', a transcendental entity that hovers by her side. Since its premiere in Vienna, Austria, in 1992, the show has been performed worldwide and has received steady love in South Korea over its past five seasons.

After wrapping up the previews, the actors shared their thoughts on starting the new season through stage greetings. Lin-a, who plays Elisabeth, expressed her determination, saying, "I have poured my utmost effort into preparing for this performance from the practice process. I will create an 'Elisabeth' worthy of the empress's dignity." Lee Ji-hye remarked, "I was nervous to present a new season of a work that has received so much love over the past 10 years, but I will put even more thought into it until the final stage to show a great performance." Lastly, Lee Ji-soo stated, "I sincerely thank everyone who made it possible for me to be with 'Elisabeth,' as well as the audience. With a pleasant sense of responsibility, I will do my best until the very end."

This season newly configures visual elements such as sets and costumes, building upon the original narrative and music that have continued since the Korean premiere in 2012.

The newly unveiled stage captures the splendor and overwhelming presence of the Habsburg dynasty. In particular, a massive stage set shaped like a 'fan'—the main image of this season's poster and a symbol of Elisabeth—spans across the stage, completing a fresh image for the production. Additionally, grand sets such as massive Gothic-style stone pillars appearing in Franz Joseph's office and wedding venue embody the majesty of the imperial court while visually portraying Elisabeth gradually losing her freedom within it.

Large-scale video screens filling the front of the stage also expand the space and atmosphere depending on the scene, adding new spectacles. They effectively materialize the mood of each scene, ranging from Elisabeth's free and vibrant childhood to the splendid imperial gardens and the moment when the transcendental entity 'Death' appears, thereby broadening the spatial sense of the stage.

Changes were also made to the large portrait of Elisabeth that appears in the prologue. This season symbolically expresses Elisabeth's presence by utilizing objects that evoke the character, such as a large frame and dress motivated by her ornate hair ornaments.

The combination of actors who have been together for previous seasons and those newly joining this season also drives the transformation of the sixth season.

In the role of Elisabeth, Lee Ji-hye, who returned to the stage following the previous season, along with newly joined Lin-a and Lee Ji-soo, presented empresses with different textures. The three actors unraveled Elisabeth's inner self—who sought to protect her life and freedom amidst imperial duties and constraints—through distinct interpretations.

For the role of 'Death (Der Tod)', all three actors—Kai, Seo Kyung-su, and Ko Eun-sung—joined for the first time this season. Based on their respective vocal tones and character interpretations, the three actors established the presence of 'Death', who tempts Elisabeth and constantly lingers by her side, in their own ways, adding a fresh color to the production.

Park Eun-tae and Kang Hong-suk presented a much deeper Luccheni through different interpretations, while Noh Yoon, who newly joined this season, completed a Luccheni of a different color with bold acting and energy.

Having concluded its preview performances, the musical 'Elisabeth' kicked off its grand opening with the evening show on the 19th and will continue its sixth season through November 15 at the Woori Bank Hall of Blue Square in Seoul.



(Photo courtesy of SBS E&M | Reported by Kim Ji-hye)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.