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| ▲ This poster of popular musical "Aladdin" is provided by S&Co on Aug. 6, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) -- The cast for the highly anticipated musical 'Aladdin' has been confirmed, set to premiere in South Korea this November.
Production company S&Co announced on the 6th that a total of 37 cast members, including singer-actor Kim Jun-su, actors Jeong Seong-hwa, and Lee Sung-kyung, have been selected through auditions.
Based on the globally successful animated film of the same name, 'Aladdin' follows the adventures of Aladdin, who comes into possession of a magical lamp that grants wishes. Since its U.S. premiere in 2014, the musical has been performed over 3,500 times on Broadway and has captivated 16 million audience members worldwide across four continents and nine productions.
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| ▲ This character image of popular musical "Aladdin," provided by S&Co on Aug. 6, 2024, shows Korean singer-actor Kim Jun-su as Aladdin. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Kim Jun-su, alongside actors Park Kang-hyun and Seo Kyung-soo, will play the titular role of Aladdin. Kim, who debuted in 2003 with the group TVXQ and later performed with JYJ and as a solo artist, transitioned to musical theater in 2010 with 'Mozart!' and has since starred in hit productions like 'Elisabeth' and 'Death Note.'
Park Kang-hyun, who won the Best Actor Award at the 2022 Korean Musical Awards, and rising star Seo Kyung-soo will alternate the role of Aladdin with Kim.
Jeong Seong-hwa, currently performing in the musical 'Hero,' will take on the role of Genie. Known for voicing Genie in the 2019 dubbed version of the film 'Aladdin,' Jeong was an early favorite for the role. Actors Jeong Won-young and Kang Hong-seok, both with extensive musical theater experience, will also play Genie.
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| ▲ This character image of popular musical "Aladdin," provided by S&Co on Aug. 6, 2024, shows Korean singer-actor Jeong Seong-hwa as Genie. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The role of Jasmine will be shared by actors Lee Sung-kyung, Min Kyung-ah, and Choi Ji-hye. Lee Sung-kyung, primarily known for her work in TV dramas and films, will make her musical debut in 'Aladdin.' Min Kyung-ah, currently playing Roxie in the musical 'Chicago,' and Choi Ji-hye, from the musical 'Frankenstein,' will also portray Jasmine.
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| ▲ This character image of popular musical "Aladdin," provided by S&Co on Aug. 6, 2024, shows Korean singer-actress Lee Sung-kyung as Princess Jasmin. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Veteran actors with 10 to 25 years of experience will fill many of the supporting roles. The role of Sultan, Jasmine's father, will be played by actors Lee Sang-jun and Hwang Man-ik. The ambitious antagonist Jafar will be portrayed by Yoon Sun-young and Im Byul, with actor Jeong Yeol as Jafar's henchman Iago. Aladdin's friends and companions, Kassim, Omar, and Babcock, will be played by actors Seo Man-seok, Yuk Hyun-uk, and Bang Bo-yong.
Director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw expressed his excitement, stating, "I was amazed by the depth and richness of talent we discovered through our first auditions in Korea. I believe the outstanding talents of these actors will bring joy and vitality to the production."
The musical 'Aladdin' will open on November 22 at the Charlotte Theater in Songpa, Seoul.
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