▲ The image, provided by LG Art Center on Feb. 20, 2024, shows the cast of play "Cherry Blossom Hill," starring actress Jeon Do-yeon and Park Hae-soo. The play runs June 4 to July 7 at the LG Art Center in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea’s top actress Jeon Do-yeon is returning to the performing theater after 27 years with "Cherry Blossom Hill,” the theater reveled on Tuesday.

 

Jeon will co-star the play with Park Hae-soo from June 4 to July 7 at LG Art Center in Seoul.

 

Jeon’s first theatrical appearance was "Taming of Rita" in 1997. Throughout her career, Jeon has been active both on the big and small screens, at home and overseas. She was the first Korean winner of the Cannes’ best actress award. At home, she won the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards three times.

 

"Cherry Blossom Hill" is a new interpretation of the original work by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, reinterpreted by globally renowned director Simon Stone. The original play about a fallen 19-century female landowner is brought to present-day Seoul, a rapidly changing society.

 

Jeon plays the main role, Ryubara, while Park Hae-soo, famous for his role in Netflix series "Squid Game," takes on the role of a pragmatic merchant, Lophakhin. Also among the cast are actors Son Sang-gyu, Choi Hee-seo, Lee Ji-hye, Nam Yoon-ho, Yoo Byung-hoon, Park Yoo-rim, Lee Se-jun, and Lee Ju-won.

 

Stone, at the helm of the stage, expressed interest in Korean culture. He has collaborated with world-renowned theaters such as the National Theater in the UK and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

 

Stone said working with Korean actors has been one of his long-standing wishes as he has admired their special ability to navigate between comedy and tragedy.

 

Since the newly interpreted Cherry Blossom Hill both hilarious and tragic, the play will make a great stage for the Korean talents, he said. The show will also present a shrewd portrayal of the ever-dynamic changes in the Korean society, he added.

 

Since 2021, LG Art Center has been discussing new productions with international directors, and "Cherry Blossom Hill" is scheduled to be presented to global audiences.

 

The center’s director Lee Hyun-jung stated, "This performance is just the beginning of the global tour performed in Korean theaters. We will continue to develop it into a global work that explores the theaters of the world in Korean language.”

 

▲ Actor Jeon Do-yeon attends an online press conference for tvN drama "Crash Course in Romance" on Jan. 9, 2023, in this file photo provided by the Korean cable channel. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

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