Grab a microphone and practice your moves—KPOP will release its original Broadway cast recording album February 24, 2023. The musical, which opened November 27 at Circle in the Square Theatre, features music, lyrics, music production and arrangements by Helen Park, and music and lyrics by Max Vernon. Read reviews here.
On the forthcoming album from Sony Masterworks Broadway, listeners will be able to follow along as fictional K-pop girl group RTMIS, boy band F8, and solo artist MwE come together for a one-night-only concert while facing a variety of personal and cultural challenges that threaten one of the industry's biggest music labels.
Check out below the "HANGUKNOM" teaser from the musical's boy band F8, posted to KPOP's Instagram.
Renowned music producer Harvey Mason, Jr. will produce the album, combining his theatrical and K-Pop backgrounds. Mason worked on the Dreamgirls film and NBC's The Wiz Live! and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, and counts K-Pop sensations Kim Jong-hyun, Taemin, NCT, EXO, Girls Generation, BoA, Red Velvet, and SHINee amongst his clients. The Grammy nominee has also written and produced songs for such artists as Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Aretha Franklin.
"I am such a fan of this music and this musical!," shares Mason in a statement. "Having worked in the K-pop music space for over a decade, finally experiencing the music live on a Broadway stage has been so exciting. With the popularity and impact of this music, it’s the perfect time for the KPOP show and the cast album."
Watch the teaser for "GIN & TONIC" from KPOP's girl band RTMIS via Instagram below.
Featured in the cast are real life K-pop artists Luna, Min, BoHyung, and Kevin Woo, joined by Marina Kondo, Joshua Lee, Lina Rose Lee, Dear Evan Hansen star Zachary Noah Piser, Hamilton's Eddy Lee, Julia Abueva, Major Curda, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Jully Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, and John Yi. Nineteen company members are making their Broadway debuts.
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Director Teddy Bergman helms the production, which features choreography by Jennifer Weber, music direction by Sujin Kim-Ramsey, scenic design by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn, costume design by Clint Ramos and Sophia Choi, lighting designer Jiyoun Chang, sound designers Peter Fitzgerald and Andrew Keister, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by Mia M. Neal, and makeup designer Suki Tsujimoto. Cherie B. Tay serves as production stage manager, and casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
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Conceived by Jason Kim and the Woodshed Collective, KPOP features a book by Kim; 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 at Ars 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.
To preorder, visit KPOPBroadway.lnk.to.
Check out the cast performing on Good Morning America.
