The world of musicals, which is struggling with a dearth of star power, has gone on the hunt to audition “idols” of its own.

The cable-satellite network Mnet’s show “Superstar K2” started an audition craze last year, and this process involves showing the auditioning process and actual musical performances online and offline, with stars-to-be selected through judgment and voting by experts and the public. Plans are under way to groom the discoveries into idols by giving them opportunities for album releases and singing debuts and sending them in for long runs with musical performances. Shin Chun-su, 44, the head of OD Musical Company, which is undertaking a new concept for the “idol discovery project,” emphasized the need for a new method of discovering musical stars.

Shin said, “Recently, idols and popular stars have been actively entering the musical market. Guarantees are going through the roof due to the overheated competition in the process of casting them. Ultimately, this produces side effects such as a production cost burden and higher ticket prices. So the idea is to actively search for potential stars and develop them, rather than casting established stars.”

Shin expressed his expectations for the project. “The goal is to discover stars, but we may also reap a synergy effect of increased viewer interest in musicals in the process, as with ’Superstar K2,‘” he said.

“In Great Britain and the United States, when the people discovered through open auditions starred in performances, there was an effect where the fans who chose them packed into the venues,” Shin noted.

“To date, OD Musical Company has been working steadily to discover new faces through performances of the musical ‘Grease,’ but this project involves expanding that to the discovery of all-around stars who can handle both musical performances and singing careers at the same time.”

In particular, this project is drawing attention from the singing world, with the participantion of the entertainment management agency DSP Media, under President Lee Ho-yeon. This company has produced records by the girl groups Kara and Rainbow.

Shin said his company was working with DSP to discover a new kind of star who can cross between the musical and pop music markets, and that hopes that through the discovery of such stars there will be vibrant exchange between the performance and recording industries.

By the end of January, some 20 to 30 hopefuls will be selected, about two to three times the number of major male and female roles in Grease, through a first audition and application reviews based on potential and suitability. Applicants must be over 18 and apply by Jan 18. Candidates will then undergo eight weeks of musical rehearsals from February to April, during which they will be judged by a panel of experts and audiences. There will be an online screening, too, with rehearsals put online. In particular, the candidates will show off their skills by appearing in “Grease” from April to August. During the 80 to 100 performances, the top idols will be selected based on their on-stage skills, including acting and singing. Of course, during this process, audiences will be able to vote at the performance venue or online. The final winners will star in the long-run showing of Grease and cut an album after undergoing vocal training.

Shin explained that Superstar K2 focused on auditions, but this project opens the door on rehearsals and even stage performances, so it will sufficiently verify the skills and potential of the actors. www.musicalgrease.com.            

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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Essential Vocabulary: permeate: 퍼지다/craze: 일시적인 유행/suitability:적합성