The competition, aimed at discovering innovative narratives tailored for the stage, ran from June 26 to August 14. A total of 102 entries were submitted, with the selection process focusing on script completeness, originality, commercial viability, and stage suitability. The chosen scripts are 'Da Capo al Fine' by Baek Seung-woo, 'Majesty' by Sol Moon, 'Die, Anne' by Jung Soo-young, 'Ellen' by Go Seo-hyung, and 'Jayden' by Seok Hye-mi.
'Da Capo al Fine' tells the story of a conductor from the Pyongyang National Symphony Orchestra, whose life takes a turn when a mysterious assistant conductor, aware of his secrets, appears. The narrative traverses the Korean Peninsula, reflecting on Korea's history from the Japanese occupation to the present day.
Set in 19th-century America, 'Majesty' follows a young journalist who repeatedly fails until he meets an eccentric old man claiming to be the Emperor of the United States. Based on the real-life story of 'Norton I,' the musical portrays the struggles and camaraderie of society's underdogs in a heartwarming and humorous manner.
'Die, Anne' is a two-person play about a novelist named 'Emil' who, after facing harsh criticism, chooses to write under a pseudonym. Inspired by the true story of author Romain Gary, who won the Prix Goncourt twice under the pseudonym Emile Ajar, the play critiques the pervasive media culture of hate.
'Ellen' depicts the life of Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who developed a code-breaking machine during World War II but was ostracized for being homosexual. The musical highlights the societal prejudice and violence faced by Turing, despite his monumental contributions.
Lastly, 'Jayden' is a psychological thriller centered on the mother of a school shooter and the victim's son. The tension escalates as Jayden, the victim's son, challenges the shooter's mother, Suzy, to convince him not to commit suicide during a counseling session.
The creators of the five selected scripts will receive story consulting, access to the Storyum submission system, opportunities for business meetings, content image production and promotion, participation in creative material discovery lectures, and meetings with Live Co.
The top winner, 'Da Capo al Fine,' will enter into a formal contract with Live Co. for further development, with the potential to become a flagship K-musical. Live Co. praised the script for its harmonious blend of personal ambition and Korea's painful history, anticipating that the orchestral elements will be effectively integrated into the production.
Live Co. has been a pioneer in advancing Korean original musicals and expanding their reach in Asia, with productions like 'Fan Letter,' 'Marie Curie,' and 'Rimbaud.' Notably, 'Marie Curie' became the first Korean musical to have a long-term run in London's West End.
Through the 'Glocal Musical Live' competition, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, Live Co. has consistently supported promising works and creators since 2015. The competition has discovered numerous musicals, including 'Fan Letter,' 'Marie Curie,' 'Almond,' and 'Oji-ge Fun Gashina-deul.'
The newly launched 'Recommended Stories X Live Co.' competition is expected to broaden the scope of Korean original musicals and serve as a crucial starting point for discovering new IPs in the performance genre.
The five selected scripts from 'Storyum Recommended Stories X Live Co.' are available to members on the Storyum website.
By Dayeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr