Actress Kim Tae-ri is reopening the era of national theater.
tvN's new weekend drama 'Jeong Nyeon' (written by Choi Hyo-bi, directed by Jung Ji-in) will premiere at 9:20 PM on the 12th. Ahead of its first broadcast, it revealed key viewing points.
Set in the 1950s after the Korean War, the drama centers on Jeong Nyeon (played by Kim Tae-ri), a genius in singing who challenges herself to become the best national theater actress. The story portrays her competition, solidarity, and brilliant coming-of-age journey.
The subject matter is unique. 'Jeong Nyeon' is the first drama to feature women in national theater. The journey of Yoon Jeong Nyeon overcoming her limitations to become a star in the theater troupe is depicted.
The drama captures powerful fandom episodes of the national theater scene at the time, comparable to current K-pop idols, adding vitality to the narrative.
The highlights of 'Jeong Nyeon', the play-within-a-play, are completed with stage sets, costumes, and props that blend traditional Korean aesthetics with modern elegance, enhanced by the actors' explosive energy.
Director Jung Ji-in, known for 'The Red Sleeve', took the helm. Director Jung said, "I aimed to realistically portray the everyday life of the Maeran National Theater troupe, but make the stage performances feel as if they transcend reality."
He continued, "We had a dedicated stage director. We discussed at length how to differentiate modern plays while adopting the form of traditional plays and musical dramas. We did our best."
The anticipation was raised with a trusted cast lineup. Kim Tae-ri is known as the actual muse of the original webtoon. Shin Ye-eun plays the role of 'Heo Young-seo', forming a fiery rivalry with Kim Tae-ri.
Ra Mi-ran takes on the role of 'Kang So-bok', the charismatic and authoritative head of the Maeran National Theater troupe. Jung Eun-chae (as Moon Ok-gyeong) and Kim Yun-hye (as Seo Hye-rang) each play the lead stars of the troupe.
Moon So-ri (as Seo Yong-rae) and Lee Deok-hwa (as Gong Sun-bu) make special appearances, enhancing the drama with their robust acting. The skilled actors add to the completeness of the work.
As part of 'Maeran National Theater troupe', the actors had to learn singing, dancing, and stage acting. They underwent intense training from as short as one year to as long as three years to transform into national theater actors.
Sound director Kwon Song-hee recalled, "It was a high-difficulty task because it required everything: movement, sound, acting. We all worked hard and were highly focused."
Choreographer Lee I-seul added, "Without basic skills, it's impossible to show graceful movements. We emphasized fundamental training a lot," and testified, "In the case of Tae-ri, she practiced relentlessly to the point where I worried she might collapse."
<Photo courtesy of tvN>
