Hot off the heels of numerous award wins, the hit, immersive KPOP is eyeing a return Off-Broadway run in 2019. According to producers behind the commercial transfer, the musical, which sold out its world premiere run, will play in a different, non-traditional space—to be confirmed at a later date.
A producer told Playbill that commercial producers have been working for some time with the creative team to find the right venue and create the best storytelling structure for the next incarnation of KPOP in New York City.
The show will be remounted in an immersive format and staged throughout the venue with scenes existing simultaneously—similar to its world premiere. Casting will also be announced at a later date.
KPOP was recently awarded the 2018 Richard Rodgers Award and is the recipient of three Lucille Lortel Awards (including Outstanding Musical) and an Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience. The show is also nominated for seven Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Director, and Outstanding Actress in a Musical to star Ashley Park, a Tony nominee for her performance in Broadway’s Mean Girls.
The musical played an acclaimed, sold-out engagement Off-Broadway through Ars Nova, Ma-Yi Theater, and the Woodshed Collective last fall. The high-energy production, which wove dance, music, a concert, and intimate storytelling, took theatregoers on a backstage tour of a K-pop music factory and was staged in several different spaces within A.R.T./New York Theaters.
KPOP is conceived by Woodshed Collective and Jason Kim (The Model American, HBO’s Girls) and features a book by Kim, music and lyrics by Helen Park and Max Vernon (The View UpStairs), an immersive design by Woodshed Collective, choreography by Jennifer Weber (The Hip Hop Nutcracker), and direction by Teddy Bergman (Empire Travel Agency).
