The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards–nominated musical Mad Hatter: The Mad Hatter's Story (hereafter 'Mad Hatter') has unveiled a final round of rehearsal photos as it races toward its encore opening.
On the 5th, the 'Mad Hatter' team amped up anticipation by releasing behind-the-scenes B-cuts from the practice room, packed with sweat and intensity.
'Mad Hatter' is an original musical inspired by the 'Mad Hatter' from Lewis Carroll's classic 'Alice in Wonderland.' It follows two boys on a grueling yet radiant journey to find the hat they truly desire. Set in London in 1851 during the Industrial Revolution, the show moves between a harsh reality—where survival means crafting the 'assigned hat'—and the boundless imagination of dreaming up the 'hat you want to wear,' ultimately delivering a powerful message about agency, ideals, and the courage to keep dreaming.
The rehearsal cuts spotlight the cast's deep immersion, tight chemistry, and layered character work. Returning originals preserving the premiere's rich sentiment and newly joined cast members are building precise emotional arcs and relationships in their own ways, accelerating preparations for opening night.
Playing Noah, a boy who sells hats to survive, Lee Han-sol, Jo Hwan-ji, Lee Bong-jun, Kwak Min-su, and Hong Gi-beom each bring a standout interpretation of an unbreakable spirit that refuses to give up on the life he wants, even against the wall of reality. To convincingly deliver Noah's agonizing dilemmas and defining choices, they are throwing themselves into practice with full-body commitment.
Park Young-soo, Jo Seong-yoon, Seo Dong-jin, and Song Yoo-taek, who tackle multiple roles including Jocelyn, are also reinforcing the spine of the narrative. As characters shift moment to moment, the actors continue refining distinct rhythms and tones for each role while painstakingly checking details to ensure seamless scene transitions.
Especially notable this encore season are newcomers Jo Hwan-ji, Kwak Min-su, and Seo Dong-jin. Backed by a strong grasp of the script, they are forging a tight ensemble with the original members, injecting fresh energy into the rehearsal room. The deepened prowess of the returning cast and the newcomers' spark are set to become the biggest highlights of this encore run.
This encore engagement of Mad Hatter will meet audiences at Daehakro's TOM Theater 1, a larger venue than its premiere. The cast and creative team are in the final stretch, meticulously calibrating staging and movement to the expanded space to deliver an even more overwhelming realization of the show's imagination and message.
Drenched in sweat and polishing the final details, Mad Hatter runs from June 9 to August 30.