In a landscape dominated by major ceremonies like the Korea Musical Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards, a new awards show spotlighting small-to-mid-sized theater productions is grabbing attention.
On the 30th, Nol Universe and the YouTube channel Hyehwaroun Performing Life co-hosted the 'HyeGong Awards.' The event was streamed live on YouTube and focused on Seoul-based musicals staged in small theaters with 700 seats or fewer. Winners were chosen through audience surveys and voting, shining a light on the creativity and potential of small-theater musicals.
A wide range of categories were awarded, from Rookie to Best Actor. The Rookie Awards went to Lee Se-heon and Jo Young-hwa, while Best Actor was taken by Kim Kyung-soo and Jung Woo-yeon. Notably, Mad Hatter—which had been nominated for Writing and Directing at the 10th Korea Musical Awards—proved its dominance with four wins, including Best Production.
Mad Hatter is an original musical inspired by the 'mad hatter' character, following two boys on a journey to find the hat they truly desire. It wrapped its January run to rave reviews, earning a 9.9 rating on ticketing platforms. During the winners' speeches, the team announced an encore run slated for June 9 at TOM Theater Hall 1. The encore will move to a larger venue than its premiere, promising an even more expansive production.
After the ceremony, social media and online communities lit up with reactions like, "The celebratory performance was unforgettable," "You can really feel how much the actors love Daehangno," "It was a touching ceremony," and "As someone who watched Mad Hatter on repeat, I'm proud."
Having cemented itself as a meaningful event for fans of small-theater musicals, anticipation is already building to see what surprises and emotions next year's 'HyeGong Awards' will deliver.