The VerdictReviews: What Are Critics Saying About Broadway's Multimedia-Infused KPOP?
The musical follows a fictional K-pop music label and its stars making their American debuts—but will personal struggles and professional pressures get in the way?
By
Leah Putnam
November 27, 2022
As Broadway's latest musical opens at Circle in the Square Theatre, reviews for KPOPare coming in. The show moved its original opening date November 20 to November 27, having began its run October 13, though the red carpet was rolled out for the show last Sunday. Check out the celebration here.
Touching on culture clashes and exploring K-pop music, the Broadway musical KPOP portrays the American debut of fictional K-pop music label RBY. To capture the label's superstars—solo artist MwE, girl group RTMIS, and boy band F8, label executive Ruby hires a documentary filmmaker to tape the performances and curated public images of the artists. But as it becomes noticeable that MwE faces personal struggles and members of RTMIS and F8 are dealing with their own challenges, the filmmaker decides to dig deeper. Will they pull off their American debut?
Conceived by Jason Kim and the Woodshed Collective, KPOP featuring a book by Kim with music, lyrics, as well as music, lyrics, music production and arrangements by Helen Park, and music and lyrics by Max Vernon. It first opened Off-Broadway for its 2017 world premiere atArs Nova. Ma-Yi Theater and the Woodshed Collective also contributed to bringing KPOP to the stage, and the musical ultimately took home three Lucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding Musical, the 2018 Richard Rodgers Award, and an Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience.
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