Posted on 08/08/2006 7:26:01 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
N.Korea Gulag Musical to Hit Washington
A Korean musical about human rights abuses in North Korea’s notorious Yoduk concentration camp will be staged at the National Theater in Washington D.C. Producers of “Yoduk Story” said Monday the musical will debut there on Sept. 21. The 165-year old National Theater is right on Pennsylvania Avenue, about 100 m from the White House, and is one of the national symbols. There will be 10 shows until Oct. 1 at the theater.
Suzanne Scholte, the head of the activist group Defense Forum Foundation who played a key part in arranging the show's U.S. tour, said U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush were invited to the premiere, although it is unclear whether the first family will attend. But she said several senators, representatives and leading figures wanted to see it.
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| Choi Yoon-jeong, who plays the lead in the musical “Yoduk Story” |
On the eve of the first performance, a reception for the show will be held on Capitol Hill hosted by Sen. Sam Brownback, one of the sponsors of the U.S.’ North Korean Human Rights Act. Brownback also recently campaigned for six North Korean refugees to be given asylum in the U.S. The musical’s run is tipped to boost the case of hardliners in the U.S. who want to put more pressure on Pyongyang.
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| Musical “Yoduk Story” about a North Korean concentration camp. The musical opened on March 15, 2006. |
The organizers said some US$1.3 million has been spent on the U.S. performance of the musical, which has a cast and support staff of 70. Rights activists have collected contributions and invited sponsors to help the team. After the run in Washington, “Yoduk Story” will tour New York, Los Angeles and Seattle till November. The show’s director Chung Seong-san will announce the schedule next week.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
09/22/2006, Fri ~ 10/01/2006, Sun
National Theater in Washington DC
(note: according to the above article, it starts on 09/21 instead of 09/22)
10/06/2006, Fri ~ 10/07/2006, Sat
Bergen PAC(Performing Art Center) in Englewood, New Jersey
10/12/2006, Thu.
Asia Society Building at Broadway, New York City
10/19/2006, Thu ~ 10/22/2006, Sun
Scottish Theater in LA
I saw the musical. To prevent audience trauma, the musical was watered down. It is not at the level of Shindler's list in terms of shocking details. Still, it is worthwhile to watch.
Ping!
Bump!
Japan tour is in Nov., ping!
I predict this musical will be an abject failure. It is way to critical of a dictator for the left, and they won't go see it, they won't give it any coverage in their news media, and they won't talk about it on the viewscreens. /cynicism
Wow. This is the show we wondered whether they'd more widely produce a few months ago.
Great to hear.
Yeah, it is happening. I hope Iranians produce a similar musical about Mullahs.:)
"Yeah, it is happening. I hope Iranians produce a similar musical about Mullahs."
Me too. And that it plays in Tehran.
You saw it!
Was it good? Were music and story good?
I have to say, as a musical, it might be ordinary in terms of production quality. Then I am not an expert, so take my opinion as such.:)
Sometimes a show can start out with a poor production, but as it travels across country, improvements are made.
Amazing. This might be the bravest musical in years. When Broadway attempts to do a musical on the insanity of Islam, let me know.
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