“Queen of Art Deco” Tamara de Lempicka Becomes a Musical Star in Seoul
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
A new Korean production of the Broadway musical Lempicka, about Polish-born painter Tamara de Lempicka (1898–1980), opens March 21 at the NOL Theatre COEX Woori Bank Hall in Seoul. The released teaser emphasizes mood over exposition: high-heel silhouettes, close-ups of red lips and eyes, and poses that echo Lempicka’s famous portraits. Known as the “Queen of Art Deco,” Lempicka rose from aristocratic beginnings, survived revolution and exile, and reinvented herself in Paris by courting high society—turning her image into a personal brand. Her signature style features polished forms, cool gazes, and controlled sensuality associated with art deco (a post–World War I aesthetic favoring geometry and urban modernity). The musical promises to blur the line between painting and stage, portraying Lempicka’s determined, self-made journey as an artist and woman. Korean collaborator Kim Tae-hoon leads direction, with Broadway original director Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown) coming to rehearse. Lempicka earned multiple Tony nominations and a Drama League nod; producers say the story, though historical, speaks to today’s audiences.
