Actor Hong Seo-jun continues the powerful performance of Choi Bul-am from the drama through the musical "Eyes of Dawn."
The musical "Eyes of Dawn," which opened on the 24th, is a work based on the namesake national drama that aired as a special program commemorating the 30th anniversary of MBC and was broadcast from 1989 until May 3, 1990, achieving a peak rating of 58.4%. The original, set against the turbulent period of modern Korean history, caused a great stir at the time of its broadcast, and it has continued to attract steady interest after being reborn as a musical.
The production was recognized for its artistic merit when it was nominated for best production at the Korean Musical Awards during its premiere in early 2019, and it was revived in 2020 at the main hall of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. This run is presented on a 360-degree converse stage arena in a theater facing the national cemetery.
In particular, the original 36-episode drama was compressed into six acts, and the full LED production covering the stage floor recreated battlefields in the jungle, Shanghai where independence activists were active, and the scenes of the Jeju 4·3 incident. The season also features a space design that narrows the distance between actors and audience to within 1 meter to maximize immersion.
The production company Next Sketch said, "Because we reimagined a national drama as a musical, we invited many seasoned actors," and added, "Because trending actor Hong Seo-jun is newly adapting and taking on the role of Yun Hong-cheol, which Choi Bul-am performed, he takes great pride in the role." They continued, "Many people who remember "Eyes of Dawn" have come to see it, so everyone in the production team is doing their best with a sense of responsibility."
"Eyes of Dawn" is a stage adaptation of a national drama, and as such it is receiving praise for conducting diverse casting while considering the actors' conditions and the work's level of completion.
Currently, Kim Joon-hyun and Jung Si-woo are cast as Dae-chi, Jung Myung-eun and Park Jung-ah are listed for the role of Yun Yeo-ok. Jang Ha-rim is played by Song Yong-jin, Park Jin-woo, and Kim Jin-woo, and Hong Seo-jun has been added to the cast as Yun Hong-cheol.
In particular, Yun Hong-cheol, played by Hong Seo-jun, is the father of the female lead Yun Yeo-ok and was the character played by national actor Choi Bul-am in the original drama. Expectations are growing about how Hong Seo-jun will portray the role on stage.
The musical "Eyes of Dawn" is being performed at Yeomyeong at the Converse Stage Arena in Dongjak District, Seoul, through Apr. 26.<
[Photo] Provided by Startid Entertainment, Next Sketch.
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