The Last Empress
Encyclopedia
The Last Empress is a musical about Empress Myeongseong
of Korea
. It debuted in 1995 as South Korea
's first original musical, and is continuing its run in Seoul
as of February 2007. It is based on a historical novel written by the well-known South Korean author Yi Mun Yol, composed by Kim Hee Gap, with lyrics by Yang In Ja (translated by Georgina St George), and directed by Yun Ho Jin. The 2-hour musical is produced by Seoul
-based Arts Communication (A-Com).
The original production at the Seoul Performing Arts Center expects to reach one million ticket sales by March 2007.http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200702/kt2007020417312852920.htm
It played at the New York State Theater
, Lincoln Center, in 1997 and 1998, to favorable reviews. It also played in London
's West End
in 2002 http://www.curtainup.com/lastempresslond.html, the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles
in 2003, http://www.laweekly.com/index.php?option=com_lsd&task=film&Itemid=109&id=80431 and at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre
in 2004 http://www.thelastempress.com/en/last/history.html.
Empress Myeongseong
Empress Myeongseong , also known as Queen Min, was the first official wife of King Gojong, the twenty-sixth king of the Joseon dynasty of Korea...
of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. It debuted in 1995 as South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
's first original musical, and is continuing its run in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
as of February 2007. It is based on a historical novel written by the well-known South Korean author Yi Mun Yol, composed by Kim Hee Gap, with lyrics by Yang In Ja (translated by Georgina St George), and directed by Yun Ho Jin. The 2-hour musical is produced by Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
-based Arts Communication (A-Com).
The original production at the Seoul Performing Arts Center expects to reach one million ticket sales by March 2007.http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200702/kt2007020417312852920.htm
It played at the New York State Theater
New York State Theater
The David H. Koch Theater is a theater for ballet and opera, part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts located at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and 63rd Street in New York City, United States. Originally named the New York State Theater, the house has been home to both the New York...
, Lincoln Center, in 1997 and 1998, to favorable reviews. It also played in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
in 2002 http://www.curtainup.com/lastempresslond.html, the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 2003, http://www.laweekly.com/index.php?option=com_lsd&task=film&Itemid=109&id=80431 and at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre
Hummingbird Centre
The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts is a major performing arts venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-About the Centre:The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts is Canada’s largest soft-seat theatre...
in 2004 http://www.thelastempress.com/en/last/history.html.
External links
- 'Last Empress,' Musical Echo of Korea's History by Don Kirk, International Herald Tribune (March 27, 1998)
- Making of an Asian hit: A Korean royal tragedy in the Broadway style by Ricardo Saludo, Asia Week (December 18, 1998)
- New York Times review 1998
- New York Times review 1997
- LA Weekly review
- Asiaweek article