2024-07-29 01:15:36
‘Selling tickets to a play starring SHINee’s Minho for 300,000 won each.’
On the 28th, a sales post like this was confirmed on a ticket transfer platform. It was about selling tickets for the play ‘Waiting for Godot’ starring Choi Min-ho, a former member of the group SHINee and a singer and actor. Considering that the original ticket price was 66,000 won, the price was more than 4 times higher. The actual transaction price was usually formed at around 2 times higher.
The reason why such ‘laugh money’ is being formed is because Choi Min-ho is challenging stage acting for the first time through this play. Fans are flocking to get the chance to ‘see’ their favorite stars up close.
The same goes for the play ‘Bbangya’. Even after the performance, the theater is crowded. Fans are waiting for ‘The Way Home’ by actor Park Sung-hoon, who rose to stardom through the dramas ‘The Glory’ and ‘Queen of Tears’. ‘Bbangya’ is the stage he has returned to after 7 years. Actors Yoo Seung-ho, Son Ho-jun, and Go Joon-hee will star in the play ‘Angels in America’, which opens on the 6th of next month. This is a work with high expectations as it is the first play appearance of the three people who debuted 19 and 24 years ago, respectively.
There is an increasing trend of actors who have been active on TV and screens making a debut or return to the stage with the support of their existing fandom. It is a triple whammy: actors have the opportunity to show their acting skills directly to fans, fans can feel the star’s breath directly, and producers can increase the probability of box office success.
Star power is bringing money to the poor theater world. ‘Cherry Blossom Orchard’, which became a hot topic as a play in which Jeon Do-yeon returned after 27 years, had an unusual success for a play, with a total of 40,000 audience members flocking to the 30 performances held over a month until the 7th of this month.
According to the Arts Management Support Center, the play that ranked first in ticket sales among domestic plays performed last year was ‘Shakespeare in Love’. It was the play that drew attention with the debut of actors Kim Yoo-jung and Jung So-min and the luxurious cast including Kim Sung-chul and Lee Sang-yi. The second place was the play ‘Faust’ in which Park Hae-soo, who had become a world-class star in ‘Squid Game’, returned to the stage.
Production companies say that as production costs rise and they have to make ends meet with long-term performances or sold-out shows, star casting is becoming an inevitable element. An official from one production company said, “It is nearly impossible to fill theaters unless fans of other genres come in. In the case of a stage debut, the fandom effect is greater, while the actor’s appearance fee can be relatively lower.” “Actors can strengthen their professional image as actors and give the positive impression of regaining their original intentions, so it’s a win-win situation.” A public relations officer from the performance industry said, “A star posting one post on their personal SNS (social network service) has a much greater ripple effect than the organizer promoting the show ten times.”
As competition for video content becomes fiercer, some interpret it as actors seeking a breakthrough in the performing arts. One theater actor said, “As the number of newly produced movies and dramas has decreased rapidly, theater actors who were exploring content entry have found their sales channels blocked, and there are fewer places for actors to stand,” adding, “There are also many cases where actors stand on stage to fill the gap in acting.”
It is good for the audience that they have more opportunities to see the stars in person, but the problem is the rising ticket prices. Last year’s performance of ‘Shakespeare in Love’ broke the record for the highest price for a play at the time with VIP seats costing 110,000 won, while the VIP seats for ‘Angels in America’ opening next month are 120,000 won. The highest price for a play ticket has increased by 9%p in just one year.
Reporter Lee Ji-yoon [email protected]
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2024-07-29 01:15:36