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Kpop, which broke ground on Broadway for its casting and representation of Korean culture, is closing just a few weeks after opening at the Circle in the Square.

The musical, which originally premiered off-Broadway in 2017, will end its run on Dec. 11, the producers announced Tuesday. Written by Jason Kim and directed by Teddy Bergman with music and lyrics by Helen Park and Max Vernon and choreography by Jennifer Weber, Kpop‘s closure follows 44 previews and 17 regular performances.

The final performance will feature a panel discussion celebrating and reflecting on Aapi representation on Broadway. Those panelists include David Henry Hwang, the first Asian American playwright to win a Tony; Kpop‘s Park the first Asian female composer in Broadway history; Korean playwright Hansol Jung; and actor Pun Bandhu. In support of that final performance, 200 complimentary tickets are being offered to Aapi community members and youth.

Kpop, the history-making Broadway musical depicting and celebrating the Korean pop genre phenomenon of the title, will play its final performance this Sunday after a struggle at the box office.

The final performance of the musical, which features a cast of young actors and actual K-pop stars including Luna, BoHyung and others, will close after its performance on Sunday, December 11, at Circle in the Square Theatre. It will have played only 17 regular performances after 44 previews.

Despite generating considerable excitement among K-pop fans, the musical has not drawn big audiences – or at least audiences paying top dollar for tickets. Last week, the show, which received mixed reviews from critics, grossed just 126,493, and although 72 of the venue’s seats were filled, the average ticket price was a tiny 32.

The show began previews on Oct. 13, and officially opened Nov. 27.

For the final show, producers are offering 200 complimentary tickets to Aapi community members and youth,...

Kpop, the Broadway musical celebrating the international musical phenomenon, is delaying its official press opening by a week due to Covid among the principal cast.

Critics initially were invited to attend press performances this week, but have been asked to reschedule for Thanksgiving weekend instead. The official opening night at the Circle in the Square Theatre will now be Sunday, Nov. 27, although various festivities originally slated for the previous Nov. 20 opening will go on as planned.

According to a spokesperson for the show, a principle cast member of the musical, who was not identified, will be out of the show this weekend. Kpop has repeatedly missed some performances in recent weeks.

Kpop, according to the official synopsis, “is the story of global superstars putting everything on the line for a special one-night only concert, when one singer’s inner struggle threatens to dismantle one of the biggest labels in the industry.

A new Broadway season has started, and there are currently seven productions of musicals set to open this fall. Could we be seeing any of them contend at next year’s Tony Awards? Below is an overview of the plot of each musical as well as the awards history of its author, cast, creative team, and the opening and (where applicable) closing dates.

“Almost Famous” (previews begin October 3; opens November 3)

In this stage musical adaptation of Cameron Crowe’s 2000 Academy Award-winning film, William Miller is an idealistic 15-year-old aspiring music journalist. When Rolling Stone magazine hires him to go on the road with an up-and-coming band, he is thrust into the rock-and-roll circus, where his love of music, his longing for friendship, and his integrity as a writer collide.

This musical has a book written by Crowe, who also co-wrote the score with Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tom Kitt.

The upcoming Broadway production of Kpop, a new musical about the global phenomenon, will feature real-life K-pop stars BoHyung, Min and Kevin Woo in addition to the previously announced Luna.

The complete cast for the show was announced Monday by producers Tim Forbes and Joey Parnes. Kpop begins previews at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre on Thursday, October 13, with an official opening Sunday, November 20.

In addition to Luna, in the starring role of MwE, the cast will feature Julia Abueva, BoHyung (formerly of Spica and half of the duo Keembo), Major Curda, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Marina Kondo, Eddy Lee, Joshua Lee, Jully Lee, Lina Rose Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Min (formerly of Miss A), Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Zachary Noah Piser, Kevin Woo (formerly of U-kiss) and John Yi.

The show’s synopsis: “As global superstars put everything...

Additional casting for the upcoming Broadway premiere of Kpop, the new musical about the global K-pop phenomenon, was announced by producers today, with Julia Abueva, Will Brill, Major Curda, Joomin Hwang, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Bo Hyung Kim, Eddy Lee, Jully Lee, Min Young Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Kevin Woo, and John Yi joining the previously announced star Luna in the production.

Kpop will begin previews on Thursday, October 13, at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre, with an opening night of Sunday, November 20.

Producers Tim Forbes and Joey Parnes announced the casting today, noting that the K-pop backgrounds of some of the show’s performers: Bo Hyung Kim is formerly of Spica and half of the duo Keembo, Min Young Lee is formerly of Miss A, and Kevin Woo is formerly of U-kiss. Apart from their...

The L.A. Stage Alliance, the 46-year-old nonprofit service organization behind the Los Angeles-area’s annual Ovation theater awards, has ceased operations following the mass resignation of members last week sparked by the misidentification of an Asian actress during the awards ceremony.

“It is with deep regret that the Board of Governors has unanimously decided to cease all operations for L.A. Stage Alliance,” the organization tweeted this morning.

“We have come to this conclusion with a heavy heart,” the statement reads, adding, our intention was to represent and promote the entire Los Angeles theater community. Lasa has existed for the past 46 years and has worked to acknowledge, support and celebrate artists, theatres from all communities. We believe in equity, diversity and inclusion at all levels.

“We’ve had many challenges like many other organizations and at this time we are unable to continue.”

See the entire statement below.

Last week,...

More than 25 Los Angeles area theater companies, including the Geffen Playhouse, the Pasadena Playhouse and the Deaf West Theatre, have revoked their memberships in the L.A. Stage Alliance after the nonprofit organization misidentified and mispronounced the name of Asian actress Jully Lee at an awards show earlier this week.

The L.A. Stage Alliance has issued an apology and pledged to undertake “a visible and transparent transformation.”

The incident occurred Tuesday night at the virtual Ovation Awards for local theater productions. Lee’s first name was mispronounced when the nominees for best featured actress were read, and a photo of another Asian actress was shown onscreen.

Lee was nominated for her performance in Jiehae Park’s Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, a co-presentation of East West Players and the Fountain Theatre. The following day, East West Players left the organization, posting an Instagram statement saying, in part, “The mispronouncing...

Freestyle Digital Media has bought North American digital rights for “Reach,” a high-school drama about bullying from the perspective of the bully, the bullied, and the bystanders.

“Reach” will debut theatrically through Christian Meoli’s Voltaire Media in 10 major markets on Oct. 19 along with a day and date VOD release.

“The serious topic of bullying resonates with so many children and families these days,” said Freestyle Digital Media acquisitions director Rachel Koehler. “With our acquisition of ‘Reach,’ we at Freestyle are proud to be able to contribute to the conversation by giving the topic the exposure it so richly deserves.”

“Reach” stars Garrett Clayton as a band geek who divulges to an online pro-suicide support group that he plans to kill himself. Although his first attempt is botched, he is determined to find a way to escape his suffering. He is constantly picked on by former childhood friend and school...