Marie Curie (musical)

Last updated
Marie Curie
MusicJongyoon Choi
LyricsSeeun Choun
Book Seeun Choun
Premiere2018: Hongik Daehangno Art Center
Productions2018 Seoul
2019 Shanghai
2020 Seoul
2022 Warsaw
2023 Tokyo
2024 London
Awards2021 Korea Musical Awards

Marie Curie is a Korean musical with book and lyrics by Seeun Choun and music by Jongyoon Choi. [1] The show tells the life story of Marie Curie from her arrival at the Sorbonne University in Paris to study, to her discovery of radium with husband Pierre and her winning the Nobel Prize.

Contents

The musical premiered in South Korea in 2018 and has since seen several performances in Asia and Europe, most recently in London's Charing Cross Theatre, UK.

Synopsis

As she arrives from her native home in Poland to study at the Sorbonne University in Paris, young Marie Sklodowska is certain she can make a name for herself and change the course of science. She discovers radium, a new chemical element, with her husband Pierre Curie and she's lauded with the Nobel Prize.

But she is faced with an overwhelming moral dilemma. As Marie discovers the lifesaving potential of radium to cure cancer, factory workers handling the glowing substance are succumbing to the insidious grip of radium poisoning.

As a woman with society against her, can she wrestle with both the potential danger of her discovery - and what is she if radium's dangers overshadow its possibilities?

Musical numbers

Production history

Original Korean production

Writer Choun See-un fell in love with musicals at a very young age and was inspired to write about Marie Curie when her daughter asked her the first name of Madame Curie, from one of her children's books. See-un had to find out, as she couldn't remember, and started reading more and more about the scientist, leading her to write a musical about her life story. [2]

The musical received founding from the Arts Council Korea, in the attempt to promote arts and cultural activities in the country and had a try-out premiere in Seoul in 2018 at the Hongik Daehangno Art Center. [3] [4]

2019 the musical was part of the K-Musical Roadshow in Shangai (Shanghai Culture Plaza, hosted by Korea Arts Management Service - KAMS).

In 2020 Marie Curie received its Korean premiere in Seoul at the Chungmu Art Center. Joohyun Ok and Sophie Kim were sharing the lead role of Marie. [5]

London try-outs (2022)

In 2022 Marie Curie was showcased in London at Gatsby's Mansion, together with two other Korean shows, as part of K-Musical Roadshow hosted by KAMS. The creative team included director Sarah Meadows, music director Emma Fraser and dramaturg Tom Ramsay. [6]

European concert

In 2022 select songs from the musical were performed at a Gala concert in Warsaw, at the Music Garden Festival in Curie's homeland, Poland. [7] This marked the first time that an Asian musical cast was officially invited to the festival. Lead actress Kim So-hyang (also known as Sophie Kim) performed Curie's solo song "Another Name" and Kim and actress Lee Bomsori, who played Anne, sang their duet "You're My Star." [8]

Asian productions (2023-2024)

After a 2023 licensed production in Japan, Tokyo (Tennozu Galaxy Theater) and Osaka (Umeda Arts Theater) [9] the show ran for several performances across South Korea, including a third run in Seoul (at the Hongik Art Center), one in Gwangju (Mar 24), one in Andong (Mar 24) and one in Gimhae (May 24).

London production (2024)

Ahead of its official opening in London, a recording of the 2020 Seoul show was screened at the Korean Cultural Centre in London in June 2024. The Seoul version of the show starred Joo-hyun Ok and So-hyang Kim as Marie Curie, and the two actresses were reunited to share insight about the show, after the screening. [10]

An English version of the show, with new musical arrangements and titled Marie Curie a New Musical, ran in June and July 2024 at the Charing Cross Theatre. The cast starred Ailsa Davidson as Marie Curie, [11] Chrissie Bhima as Anne Kowalska and Thomas Josling as Pierre Curie. The creative team included director Sarah Meadows, music director Emma Fraser (who returned to work on the show after the 2022 showcase) and choreographer Joanna Goodwin, with the English Book Adaptation by Tom Ramsay and Lyrics Adaptation by Emma Fraser. [12]

Cast and characters

CharacterSeoul (2020)Seoul (2023)London (2024)
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Joohyun Ok and

Sophie Kim

Kim So Hyun, Lee Jung Hwa and

Yu Ri A

Ailsa Davidson
Anne Kowalska Bomsori LeeKang Hye In, Hyo Eun and

Choi Ji Hye

Chrissie Bhima
Pierre Curie Chan Ryeol LeePark Young Su, Lim Byeol and

Kim Zy Chul

Thomas Josling
Ruben DeLongSeng Lee YangKim Chan Ho, Yang Seunglee and

An Jaeyoung

Richard Meek
Irene Curie and LouiseOck Gyeongmin and Min Jung AhLucy Young
Marcin and Dr ChagallSong Sang Hoon and Cho Bae GeunDean Makowski-Clayton
EmiliaMaya Kristal Tenenbaum
JankaIsabel Snaas
Lech, Dean and Hospital DirectorLee Chan Ryeol and Shin Eun HoChristopher Killik
PawelYujin Park

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2021 Korea Musical Awards [13] [14] Grand PrizeMarie CurieWon
Best DirectorKim Tae-hyungWon
Best ScreenplayCheon Se-eunWon
Best Music - CompositionChoi Jong-yoonWon
Best ProducerKang Byung WonWon

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References

  1. ↑ "Marie Curie at Charing Cross Theatre". Charing Cross Theatre. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  2. ↑ "From page to stage: Musical writer Choun See-un reflects on London debut of 'Marie Curie'". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  3. ↑ Ga-young, Park (2024-03-05). "English version of Korean musical 'Marie Curie' to make historic West End debut". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  4. ↑ Eun-byel, Im (2021-01-12). "Korea Musical Awards recognizes 'Marie Curie' with four awards". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  5. ↑ "2023 〈Marie Curie〉 - Seoul". 예스24 티켓. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  6. ↑ Wild, Stephi. "Three Korean Musicals Will Be Showcased in London as Part of the K Musical Roadshow". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  7. ↑ "Marie Curie Musical Gala". Sinfonia Varsovia (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  8. ↑ "Korean original musical 'Marie Curie' cast wraps up visit to Poland's Warsaw Music Gardens Festival". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2022-07-12. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  9. ↑ "Marie Curie – A New Musical -". 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  10. ↑ "Marie Curie: original cast screening + Q&A | London Korean Links". 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  11. ↑ "Interview: Ailsa Davidson, Marie Curie The Musical". Theatre & Tonic. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  12. ↑ Outthere1971 (2024-06-08). "Marie Curie A New Musical". Theatre, Films and Art reviews. Retrieved 2024-09-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "제6회 한국뮤지컬어워즈 수상작(자) – 한국뮤지컬어워즈" (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  14. ↑ "[TRANS] "8th Korea Musical Awards" Nominees revealed". Musical in Life. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
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