[Editor’s Pick] Korean Musicals to enjoy in August!①

New month, new musicals! 'Musical in Life' presents new works for readers to enjoy this month.

Musical ‘Xcalibur’

뮤지컬 ‘엑스칼리버’

Venue: Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall

Runtime: 2021.8.17 – 2021.11.7.

EMK’s Xcalibur, one of the most anticipated musicals this year, is nearing the start of its 2021 season. Ever since the premiere in 2019, this musical has undergone multiple staging changes, as well as musical alternations to be presented in the best form possible; this season is no exception with its new additional songs. Xcalibur is a musical reinterpretation of the classical Arthurian romances about King Arthur and the Knights of Round Table. This musical talks of the young King experiencing love, betrayal, growth and loss while having to protect the whole of Britain from the Saxon invaders.

Musical ‘PungWolJu’

뮤지컬 ‘풍월주’

*The title cannot be translated as it’s a name of an era

Musical ‘PungWolJu’ poster @ companyrang twitter

Venue: Plus Theater

Runtime: 2021.08.31 – 2021.11.07

A creative musical produced by Daehakro (as well as selected by CJ Creative Minds), roughly based on the era of the same name is celebrating its 10th anniversary since its premiere in 2011, still equally loved by its fans, if not more.
The musical is set in a time period when male ‘entertainers’ (referred to as Pungwolju), masters of the wind and moon, kept the company of royal, high ranking ladies in a place called “Unru”.
At this place Yeol, the most popular Pungwolju, bathes in the absolute affection of Queen JinSeong, who offers him power and even an entrance to the palace. In “Urnu”, Saddam, Yeol’s friend who also works there, cannot bear to part with Yeol, decides to separate the two. The trio that cannot have what they desire; who or what will they choose in the end?

Musical ‘Artaud, Gogh’

뮤지컬 ‘아르토, 고흐’

Venue: Uniplex Building 2

Runtime: 2021.08.06 – 2021.10.03

A completely new musical from the production of Never Ending Play, Artaud, Gogh, premiered this month on the 6th! Antonin Artaud, suffering from the aftereffects of meningitis, further falls after his carefully planned performance miserably fails, causing delirium. He is admitted into a psychiatric hospital and regularly receives electrotherapy, which escalates to the point he starts “experiencing the discovery” of Vincent Van Gogh from the pain. Artaud starts drawing Van Gogh’s works to prove himself until these two men eventually meet each other in the ‘dream world’.

Comparison of changed painting based on the cast- the premiere and the second show

Musical ‘I loved you’

뮤지컬 ‘사랑 했어요’

Venue: BBCH Hall in Gwanglim Art Center.

Runtime: 2021.08.14 – 2021.10.31

I Loved You is a jukebox musical composed of the biggest hits by the late Kim HyunSik, a sensible and successful Korean singer-songwriter. Through heartbreaking love stories, the audience can see different forms of love – romantic love, love for one’s family, as well as love for friends. One of the stories shows the famous singer JunHyuk busking in front of a fountain in Vienna, Austria on November 1st each year. After he sings an unreleased song from more than 25 years ago, somehow a woman of young age appears to recognize the music.