Actor Cho Jung-seok returns to musical 'Hedwig' for show's 14th run in Seoul

From left, actors Cho Jung-seok, Yoo Yeon-seok and Jeon Dong-suk have been cast as Hedwig in the upcoming musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." [SHOWNOTE]

Actors Cho Jung-seok, Yoo Yeon-seok and Jeon Dong-suk have been cast as leads in the upcoming musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," according to local production company Show Note on Monday.

The show is slated to run from March 22 to June 23 at Charlotte Theater in Songpa District, southern Seoul.

"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is a rock musical memoir of an East German genderqueer singer named Hedwig Robinson.

The three leads are all seasoned returnees to the musical.

Cho has played Hedwig four times already, in the musical's 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2016 runs.

"I've said in the past that I wanted to play Hedwig even after I passed 40, and it looks like I will be able to keep my word now," he said through the Show Note's press release. "I've been part of the musical four times since 2006, but it is a musical that I have fun with in each season and a show that still makes my heart beat, so I am very excited to star in it again."

Yoo last played Hedwig in 2017, and Jeon in 2019.

Actors Jang Eun-a, Lee Ye-eun and Yeo Eun have been cast as Yitzhak, Hedwig's husband.

"Hedwig and the Angry Inch," with the book written by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, first premiered off-Broadway in 1998, then played on West End in 2000 and Broadway in 2014. Some of its accolades include the Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. It has been adapted into a movie of the same title, released in 2001, and starring musical director Mitchell in the titular role along with actors Andrea Martin, Michael Pitt and Miriam Shor.

The musical was first staged in Korea in 2005. It most recently opened in 2021, and the upcoming 2024 production marks its 14th run in Seoul.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]