0 Summary

Maria Maria (마리아 마리아) is a Korean original musical that reinterprets the biblical story of Mary Magdalene through a contemporary musical language, gaining international attention with its invitation to the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2006.

1 Origin

Premiered in 2002 in Seoul, the musical was created with book and lyrics by Yu Hye-jung and music by Cha Gyung-chan, produced by Joa Musical Company. It emerged from the early 2000s wave of Korean original musicals and combined biblical narrative with pop and rock musical idioms. The work gained significant recognition by winning multiple major awards at the Korean Musical Awards.

2 Story

Set in a biblical era, the musical follows Maria, a prostitute living under Roman oppression, who is offered a chance to escape her life by seducing Jesus. As she repeatedly attempts to approach him, she instead encounters compassion and spiritual transformation. Maria’s internal conflict deepens as she confronts her traumatic past and her growing faith. Ultimately, Jesus is betrayed and executed, and Maria is left to witness his death, marking a tragic yet redemptive conclusion. The work blends religious narrative with emotional character focus and contemporary musical styles.

3 Korean Runs

2002 – premiere, Joa Musical Company
2007 – Chungmu Arts Center Grand Theater run
2010 – Myeongbo Art Hall Gaon Hall run
2012 – 10th anniversary production at National Museum of Korea Theater Yong
2016 – BBCH Hall at Gwanglim Arts Center
The musical received four awards at the Korean Musical Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book & Lyrics, and Best Actress.

4 Exports

United States, 2006
Korean-language tour – New York Musical Theatre Festival invited production
The musical was presented at the Gerald W. Lynch Theatre in New York from September 22 to October 15, 2006 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. It was the only non-English-language production among over 100 participating works. Performed by an all-Korean cast in Korean with English supertitles, the production served as a showcase platform aimed at potential commercial transfer and international licensing. The run marked an early example of Korean original musicals entering the U.S. market through festival circuits.