The spectacular Broadway hit 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' is making its highly anticipated return to Blue Square in Seoul this winter, marking its first comeback to the South Korean capital in three years. The production promises to bring back all the extravagant flair and high-energy theatricality that made its Korean premiere such a massive success.
"To me, 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' is what a musical truly is," said new cast member Lee Seok-hoon during a press conference on Monday. His fellow newcomer Cha Yun-hae emphasized the show's comprehensive appeal, explaining, "Some shows are visually spectacular, others have beautiful storytelling, and some are driven by exceptional music. Moulin Rouge! The Musical combines all three."
Set against the backdrop of 1890s Paris, the musical tells the passionate love story between Satine and Christian, presented with a distinctly modern musical twist. The romantic tale will feature Lee Seok-hoon, Cha Yun-hae, and returning cast member Hong Kwang-ho alternating in the role of Christian, a young writer who falls head over heels for Satine, the dazzling star of the famous Moulin Rouge nightclub. The coveted role of Satine will be shared between talented actresses Kim Ji-woo and Jeong Sun-ah.
Both the cast and creative team expressed tremendous confidence in their ability to deliver a truly spectacular production. The show features an incredible mashup of more than 70 hit songs from global pop icons including Madonna, Elton John, Sia, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Adele, and Rihanna. The local Korean production is performed entirely in Korean, making it accessible to domestic audiences while maintaining its international appeal.
Jacinta John, the international associate director of the production, highlighted the show's immersive and grandiose approach to theater. "It is an extraordinary spectacle styled with a maximal aesthetic, which means everything is at 100 percent," she explained. "We have more than 2,500 light bulbs on stage. The sound design is enormous and the storytelling reaches the highest emotional peaks."
CJ ENM, which has been an integral part of the musical's global production team from the early development stages, has focused intensively on making the show's maximal aesthetic a truly immersive experience for audiences. The company views this immersive quality as absolutely central to the musical's exceptionally strong reception and lasting popularity.
Ye Ju-yeol, head of CJ ENM's performance division, revealed fascinating insights about unique audience behavior during the Korean premiere that ran from December 2022 to March 2023. "Venue data showed something striking – audiences stayed inside the theater far longer than usual. Many arrived early to immerse themselves in the Moulin Rouge universe before the curtain," he said. "Audiences are free to take photos inside the venue to engage with the set and the cast, making the experience not just a performance, but an interactive journey into the show's universe."
The commercial success of the Korean premiere was undeniable. According to official data from the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System, the Korean premiere ranked as the fourth-highest-grossing musical of the entire year, trailing only behind theatrical giants "The Phantom of the Opera," "Rebecca," and "Beethoven."
Choi Yoon-ha, CJ ENM's international theater producer, reflected on the challenges of bringing such a maximalist production to life. Despite the musical's eventual success, she noted that the concept initially seemed to go against prevailing Broadway trends. "At that time the theater scene was dominated by works with strong social or political themes. There was a thirst for something truly spectacular – a production that even international visitors who don't speak Korean or English could enjoy," Choi explained, adding that surpassing the legacy of the beloved original film presented one of many significant challenges.
The musical first premiered in Boston in 2018 before making its Broadway debut in 2019, where it became an instant sensation. The production has earned an impressive 10 Tony Awards, including the prestigious award for Best Musical, and continues its successful run on Broadway to this day.
The highly anticipated second Korean run is scheduled to begin on November 27 and will continue through February 22. Ticket prices for this spectacular production range from 90,000 won to 180,000 won, making it accessible to a wide range of theatergoers eager to experience the magic of Moulin Rouge firsthand.
