Line #8 Theatre/KPOP


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3	''KPOP'' is a stage musical inspired by the [[KoreanPopMusic Korean music industry]] of the same name, featuring music from Helen Park & Max Vernon and a book by Jason Kim. It follows several different Korean pop groups who have gathered for a special concert in New York City, but find themselves facing cultural and personal issues that put the future of their careers at risk.
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5	The show first ran off-Broadway, September 5 — October 21 2017. A [[TheRemake revised version]] came to Broadway in 2022, running from November 27 to December 11. The Broadway cast featured a number of [[StarringAStarAsAStar real-life Kpop stars]], including [[Music/{{FX}} Luna]], [[Music/UKiss Kevin Woo]], [[Music/MissA Min-Young Lee]], and Bohyung Kim.
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7	!!This musical contains examples of:
8	* AmbiguousEnding: It's not entirely clear by the end of the show [[spoiler:whether [=MwE=] stays with [=RBY=] or goes off to live with Juny]].[[note]]This was not always the case, however: at the start of previews, an announcement before her song in the finale medley claimed it was her last performance with the company. This announcement grew increasingly vague as previews went on, at one point claiming the concert is the beginning of her "next phase", before it was removed entirely by opening night.[[/note]]
9	* AudienceParticipation: As much of the show is structured as a concert, audiences are encouraged to cheer and react likewise.
10	* BilingualBonus: At one point a member of [=F8=] quotes what he believes to be from a rap "People contain multitudes." Another member, in fluent Korean, proceeds to berate him as he is actually quoting Creator/WaltWhitman. It's a fairly easy joke to understand even if you don't speak Korean, but as he rants at them those who do know the language will realize he's berating this guy for getting it wrong even though he went to Harvard.
11	* ChildhoodFriendRomance: Juny and [=MwE=].
12	* DiegeticMusical: The story takes place during a rehearsal & concert, and most songs are being performed (and reacted-to) by the characters in-universe.
13	* EnsembleCast: While [=MwE=] is the central figure, the story also involves her fellow music groups [=RTMIS=] and [=F8=] as well as various corporate figures.
14	* FriendOrIdolDecision: [=MwE=]'s central conflict, whether to stay in the music industry with her mentor Ruby or leave it for a quieter life with her love interest Juny. [[spoiler:The ending is left ambiguous]].
15	* GirlGroup: Naturally, although some of the musician characters are male.
16	* LighterAndSofter: The second version of the musical definitely has a lot less focus on systemic processes & issues within the Kpop industry (though some such elements are still present). Writer Jason Kim was quoted as saying "we weren't interested in making an exposé."
17	* MistakenForForeigner: Jun Hyuk trying to get the rest of the band to agree that it's not right to have an American in their Korean boy band backfires. Massively.
18	-->'''Jae Ik:''' Dude, I'm from Queens!
19	-->'''Danny:''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Hey, me too!]]
20	* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The plot is supposed to be taking place in the present day, and the original version centred around the artists struggling to break into the American market. By 2022, several real-life Kpop groups like {{Music/BTS}} have already made it big in America, so the new version focuses more on the characters' personal issues and relationships.
21	* RealityHasNoSubtitles: While the majority of the show is in English, there is also some music and dialogue in Korean.
22	* SellingTheShow: In-universe example. A major plotline involves shady filmmaker Harry trying to get the artists to spill their personal issues and complaints on camera. However, he is mostly rebuffed, especially by the members of [=RTMIS=].
23	** On a meta-level, what a lot of fans of the Off-Broadway production felt the creative team did with the Broadway version.
24	* TheSvengali: Ruby, although she softens up by the end.
25	* WeightWoe: A flashback sequence shows thirteen-year-old [=MwE=] being berated for her "tree-trunk legs".
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Context Theatre / KPOP