▶ ‘Frida’ Invited for a Special Performance in LA
▶ September 6 at USC Bing Theatre
The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA), directed by Jung Sang-won, announced that it will host a performance of the Korean original musical Frida: The Last Night Show on Friday, September 6, at 7:00 PM at the Bing Theatre on the USC campus.
This performance is part of USC's renowned arts and humanities program USC Vision and Voices for the 2024-25 season, and is co-organized by KCCLA and the USC School of Dramatic Arts.
K-Musical Frida was produced by the well-known Korean musical company EMK, led by CEO Um Hong-hyun, with the goal of entering the global musical market. The show depicts the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
The musical won the Best Original Musical Award at the Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) in 2020 and was nominated in seven categories at the 7th Musical Awards. It was also performed at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in 2022 and at the Coex Artium in 2023.
The show is a frame musical performed by four actresses, portraying the final days of Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter who, despite suffering from lifelong health issues due to a life-changing accident, transformed her pain into art without losing her zest for life. In this U.S. performance, actresses Kim So-hyang, Jeon Soo-mi, Park Sun-young, and Park Shi-in will deliver a powerful and passionate performance as Frida, conveying a message of hope to the audience.
Following the performance, a panel discussion featuring the show's director Chu Jung-hwa, producer Kim Ji-won, actress Kim So-hyang, and USC faculty will be held. The panel will discuss the ethics of multicultural representation and transnational creativity with the audience.
Director Jung Sang-won of KCCLA expressed his hopes that this performance would serve as an important opportunity to showcase the strength of K-Musicals in the U.S., building on the popularity of K-Pop and K-Movies. He added that the day when Korean original musicals captivate audiences in the U.S. and worldwide is not far off, thanks to their excellent artistry and performances.
Tickets can be reserved starting Friday, August 30, through the USC Vision and Voices website here.
To RSVP for free, select the KCCLA category during ticket reservation, and seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets must be picked up at the ticket booth no later than five minutes before the performance on the day of the event. The performance will be in Korean, with English subtitles provided.