Sejong Center for the Performing Arts "Second Year of Production Theater, Strengthening Capabilities Through 28 Performances"

Increased Public Accessibility with Gwanghwamun Square Opening
28 Performances Including 12 New Works Revealed This Season
"Expanding Production Staff to Establish a Solid Production System"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "This year, the goal of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is to firmly establish itself as a production theater following last year and to build a stable production environment."

2023 Sejong Season Press Conference_An Hosang, President of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, giving a presentation.
Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

On the 31st, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts held a press conference to announce the '2023 Sejong Season Lineup.' At the event, Ahn Hosang, President of Sejong Center, said, "Last year's attempt to transition into a production theater fell short of expectations," adding, "Ultimately, the important thing is to establish a production system, so we will reorganize the planning and production personnel and supplement new staff to establish a specialized performance production system and firmly root ourselves as a production theater."

Last year, Sejong Center declared a shift in its operational method from a rental-based theater to a production-centered theater by significantly increasing the proportion of self-produced performances by its six affiliated arts groups: Seoul City Theater Company, Seoul City Gugak Orchestra, Seoul City Choir, Seoul City Musical Company, Seoul City Dance Company, and Seoul City Opera Company.

President Ahn stated, "Due to insufficient production and planning personnel despite the capabilities of the directors and the skills of the arts group members, we felt the difficulty in transitioning to a production theater as we could not create as many good works as expected," emphasizing, "This year, along with 12 new works, we plan to enhance the completeness of the works through reruns of last year's new productions, establishing them as the unique repertoire of the arts groups."

This year, Sejong Center also plans to reduce the distance with citizens visiting the newly renovated Gwanghwamun Square. President Ahn said, "Since Sejong Center benefits the most from Gwanghwamun Square, we want to respond to the environmental changes and expectations with practical programs," expressing his aspiration that "Gwanghwamun will become the cultural mecca for Seoul citizens." He also shared his anticipation for the full remodeling of Sejong Center, scheduled to begin construction in 2026 and complete in 2028.

Seoul Metropolitan Dance Company_Ilmu Performance.
Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

28 Season Performances Including 12 New Works Such as the Play 'Kiss' Revealed

First, works that received favorable reviews from their premieres last year will meet audiences again on stage this year. 'Ilmu,' a traditional dance performed to Jongmyo Jeryeak reinterpreted in a modern way by the Seoul City Dance Company, will be performed again in May. The Seoul City Musical Company’s original musicals 'Again, Spring' and 'Aloha, My Mothers,' produced last year, will return to audiences in March and July respectively with enhanced stories.

The Seoul City Gugak Orchestra will continue to present the 'Master Performer Series' featuring ajaeng sanjo master Kim Ilgu and haegeum player Kim Aera, as well as the 'Mixed Orchestra' series experimenting with new expansions of gugak orchestra, following last year's success.

A newly notable program this year is the Seoul City Theater Company’s performances led by director Go Seonwoong, who has been in office for five months.

Director Go announced that five plays focusing on the recovery of theatricality and human exploration in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) era will be staged. He explained, "In an era where AI technology invades the creative arts field, we plan to vividly demonstrate on stage the values humanity must sustain, the truth that good people and justice must prevail, through human-centered theater," adding, "If you pay close attention to the characters in the works, you will find both timeliness and value."

The play 'Kiss' by Chilean playwright Guillermo Calder?n will have its domestic premiere in April at S Theater. It contains insights and metaphors about war. Rising director Woo Jonghee is in charge of directing.

In June and September, 'Getting Out' and 'Carmen' will be directed by Director Go himself. 'Getting Out' is the first play by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman, well known in Korea for 'Night, Mother,' depicting the story of a woman released from prison. 'Carmen,' originally a novel by Prosper M?rim?e and well known as Bizet’s opera, will be newly staged as a play.

The American representative playwright Neil Simon’s comedy 'The Good Doctor,' which compiles several short stories by Anton Chekhov, and the play 'The Collection' by Nobel laureate Harold Pinter will be staged in October and December respectively.

2023 Sejong Season Press Conference_Group Photo. From the left, Kim Seong-guk, Director of Seoul Gugak Orchestra; Jeong Hye-jin, Director of Seoul Dance Company; Ahn Ho-sang, President of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts; Go Seon-ung, Director of Seoul Theater Company; Kim Deok-hee, Director of Seoul Musical Company; Park Jong-won, Director of Seoul Choir. [Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts]

The Seoul City Musical Company will begin to establish a repertoire of works premiered last year. Actress Moon Heekyung joins the newly revamped 'Again, Spring' and the enhanced 'Aloha, My Mothers,' which contains a diaspora narrative that has gained global attention, to meet audiences again. As a new work, a modern reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s classic 'Macbeth' is planned to be performed from December 1 to 30 at M Theater.

The Seoul City Choir will present a program featuring American contemporary choral music in April. Unlike previous performances that focused on white-centered choral programs, this program will introduce black choral works including gospel. On October 24, they will showcase 'Signal: Choral Music with Organ,' utilizing the advantages of the venue, Lotte Concert Hall.

Classical planned performances will also be held. The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra’s visit scheduled for November will feature conductor Chung Myung-whun and pianist Lim Yunchan as soloists on the main stage of Sejong Center. The 'Sejong Chamber Series,' known for high-quality chamber music performances, will feature pianists Lim Donghyuk, Park Jaehong, and Lee Hyuk with various programs to meet audiences.

Marking the 45th anniversary of its opening this year, President Ahn expressed, "I feel a responsibility to respond with internal changes and programs that match the changed environment," emphasizing, "In an environment of quantitative growth in the performance market and polarization of performance demand alongside the popularity of Hallyu, we will strive to fulfill our role as a pure arts genre performance institution."