Marina Kondo has assumed the role of MwE in Off-Broadway's KPOP. She replaces Ashley Park, who is departing the immersive show to continue working on the Mean Girls musical, now in rehearsals. In KPOP, MwE is an internationally acclaimed star battling with the executives who founded her success.
KPOP, which completely sold out its initial run, is now playing an additional two weeks through October 21. The musical, presented by Ars Nova, Ma-Yi Theater, and the Woodshed Collective, takes theatregoers on a backstage door of a K-Pop music factory and is staged over several floors of the newly built A.R.T/New York Theatres.
Performances began September 6 ahead a September 22 official opening.
Completing the cast are Jason Tam, Katie Lee Hill, James Seol, Ebony Williams, Amanda Morton, Julia Abueva, Vanessa Kai, Cathy Ang, Joomin Hwang, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Deborah Kim, Susannah Kim, Sun Hye Park, James Saito, David Shih, and John Yi.
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).
The creative team also includes production designer Gabriel Hainer Evansohn, costume designer Tricia Barsamian, lighting designer Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, sound designer Will Pickens, projection and video designer Phillip Gulley, and production stage manager Lizzy Lee.
Tickets, beginning at $45, can be purchased by visiting ArsNovaNYC.com or by calling (212) 352-3101.
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