South Koreans are celebrating their first win within the Tony Awards, which they are saying highlights their nation’s standing as a cultural powerhouse.
The acclaimed Broadway manufacturing of Perhaps Comfortable Ending, which debuted in South Korea nearly a decade in the past, received six Tonys, together with greatest musical.
Perhaps Comfortable Ending is in regards to the romance between two humanoid robots residing in an residence constructing on the outskirts of Seoul. It entered Sunday evening’s awards ceremony with 10 nominations.
The wins have given South Korea EGOT standing – recognition from the 4 most coveted awards in US leisure. Squid Sport received Emmy awards in 2022 whereas Parasite received 4 Oscars in 2020. Soprano Sumi Jo received a Grammy in 1993.
On Sunday, South Korean lyricist Hue Park and American composer Will Aronson took dwelling the Tony for greatest authentic rating and greatest guide of a musical.
Earlier than making their Broadway debut with Perhaps Comfortable Ending in 2024, the ex-classmates at New York College had written the musical in each English and Korean.
“That is wonderful!” one publish on Threads reads. “I heard the Broadway model acquired much more polished. I am so proud that Korea is changing into a real cultural powerhouse.”
“This seems like a dream come true for the Korean Wave,” reads one other publish. “I am simply as thrilled as when Parasite received the Oscars, Squid Sport received the Emmys, and Han Kang obtained the Nobel Prize.”
Former Glee star Darren Criss, who performed one of many robots, Oliver, received greatest lead actor in a musical. It was his first Tony win.
The musical, which additionally stars Helen J. Shen as robotic Claire, was already on a streak this awards season.
It bagged a few of the prime prizes on the Outer Critics Circle Awards and Drama League Awards this 12 months.
First directed by Kim Dong-yeon, Perhaps Comfortable Ending premiered in Seoul in 2016 to a lot essential acclaim. It has since been revived a number of instances in South Korea and overseas – in each Korean and English.
Perhaps Comfortable Ending’s success comes as South Korean artists proceed to interrupt floor in leisure, particularly with Ok-pop acts like BTS and Blackpink dominating music in the previous couple of years.
It additionally serves as a window into Korean tradition, some social media customers say.
“It is wonderful that Korean components like Jeju Island, fireflies, and hwabun (a plant pot) had been stored within the Broadway model too,” reads on publish on Threads.
“I already felt proud simply seeing it nominated, however watching the native viewers react so positively made it much more particular.”
