“Bolder and Brighter”: ‘Beetlejuice’ Musical Returns to Korea After Four Years
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
The musical Beetlejuice, based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film, returns to Korea in a revived production after four years. Director Shim Seol-in says the show keeps its quirky spirit while updating the dialogue to better suit the Beetlejuice character and Korean audiences. Korea uniquely retains the original production’s set design during the tour. The revival mixes original cast members and new performers: Jeong Seong-hwa, Jung Won-young, and KIM JUN-SU (Kim Junsu) all play Beetlejuice; Hong Na-hyun and Jang Min-je portray Lydia (a fearless teen who can see ghosts); veteran actors fill the ghostly couple Barbara and Adam, Lydia’s father Charles, and mentor Delia. The creative team localized humor further—translator Kim Soo-bin and comedian Lee Chang-ho adapted the comedy to a spicier (“maeun-mat”) style, adding bold Korean-flavored jokes and theatrical gags. The director promises a livelier, bolder comedy blending Tim Burton’s aesthetic with contemporary Korean sensibilities. Performances run Dec 16–Mar 22 at LG Arts Center (LG Signature Hall) in Seoul. (Lydia: the teenage heroine; maeun-mat: literally “spicy flavor,” used here to mean edgier comedy.)
