A stage hit that ran multiple times as a play is making a shocking comeback — this time as a musical.
On the 20th, the producers of the musical M. Butterfly unveiled the principal cast.
M. Butterfly reimagines David Henry Hwang’s modern play about love, power, desire, and illusion as a musical. It draws on the shocking true story of a French diplomat who, for 20 years, loved a partner who turned out to be a male Peking opera performer and a spy. The narrative uniquely fuses elements from Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly and the Chinese legend The Butterfly Lovers, using Madama Butterfly as a play-within-a-play motif.
Beyond the story of René and Song, key figures like Pinkerton, Agnes, and Toulon are woven in. Through music and performance, Pinkerton visualizes René’s contradictions and desires. The production spotlights how political, cultural, and gender conflicts are translated into music and choreography.
The cast features Joo Min-jin, Ahn Jae-young, and Yoo Hyun-seok as French diplomat René Gallimard, while Kim Bada, Yoo Tae-yul, and Hong Gi-beom portray Song Liling, the Peking opera performer.
Additionally, the role of Japanese diplomat Toulon is double cast with Hwang Man-ik and Kim Seung-yong. The newly expanded role of Pinkerton goes to Jang Jae-woong and Nam Min-woo, while Ahn Sang-eun and Jeon Ha-young take on a dual role as Agnes and Chin.
Previously staged in Korea as a play five times since 2012, M. Butterfly will open as a musical amid heavy anticipation on September 22 at YES24 Stage 1.