Actor Jang Seung-jo is thrilling fans with a shocking update: he’s officially returning to the stage after a seven-year hiatus.
On the 11th, production company Project Group ILDA announced the star-studded lineup for the play The Lives of Others, produced by Library Company and co-hosted by LG Arts Center, which is set to open this summer.
The biggest buzz centers on Jang Seung-jo. Since the 2019 musical King Arthur, he has focused on screen roles, but in this production, he takes on the role of playwright Dreyman, leading the stage alongside actor Jung Seung-gil. Fans reacted in a frenzy, saying, "I’m absolutely going," and "I thought I was dreaming."
Returning to the role of secret police officer Wiesler are original cast members Yoon Na-moo and Lee Dong-hwi, while the role of Christa-Maria Sieland goes to Woo Jung-won and Im Soo-hyang. Veterans Kim Jung-ho, Lee Ho-cheol, and Park Sung-min, along with newcomer Kim Soo-hyun, also join to elevate the production’s completeness.
The play is based on the film of the same name by director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It delicately traces the psychological transformation of an East German Stasi officer as he surveils an artist couple, delivering a weighty message about human dignity and the value of art.
Garnering major attention with overwhelming records during its original run — a 98% seat occupancy rate and a 9.8 audience score — The Lives of Others will be staged at LG Arts Center Seoul U+ Stage from July 1 to September 13.