🎭 L’art Reste (New York Concert & Reading)

📅 Reading:

October 23, 2023 – New York, NY
Presented as part of the K-Musical Producers Workshop (2nd annual)

📅 Concert:

November 19, 2024 – The Green Room 42, New York, NY
Format: English-language concert performance (~150 seats)

🧭 Overview

L’art Reste is a Korean original musical that explores the life of Kim Hyang-an (1916–2004), a writer, painter, and cultural pioneer. Known as the muse and wife of both poet Yi Sang and painter Kim Whanki, Kim Hyang-an’s own legacy had long been overshadowed. This musical re-centers her life—spanning personal transformation, artistic identity, and the enduring question of what it means to leave something behind.

The title, L’art Reste (“The Art Remains”), captures the thematic core: the resilience of art and its capacity to outlive individual memory. Following a 2022 premiere and encore run in Seoul, the musical took key steps toward international recognition through two New York showcases.

🎤 2023 New York Reading

Held at the second K-Musical Producers Workshop, the 2023 reading introduced the work to U.S. theater professionals. Co-organized by Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) and The Business of Broadway, it featured a cast of Asian-American actors and highlighted Kim Hyang-an’s personal relationships and cultural significance. The reading emphasized the show’s potential for cross-cultural resonance.

🎶 2024 Green Room 42 Concert

Presented in cabaret format with piano, violin, and cello, the 2024 concert was part of a multiyear KAMS-supported initiative to prepare Korean musicals for English-language adaptation. The Green Room 42, known for featuring stars like Eva Noblezada and Josh Groban, hosted the one-night event for Broadway producers and the public.

The concert was directed by Seonjae Kim (KPOP: the musical) and musically directed by Sujin Kim-Ramsey, with support from The Business of Broadway. The cast included Stella Kim (as Hyang-an), Austin Ku (Kim Whanki), Claire Kwon (Byun Dong-rim), and Gen Parton-Shin (Yi Sang).

📝 Critical Response

While formal reviews were not published, audience and industry feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Viewers praised the emotional depth of the story and music, as well as the musical’s relevance across cultures. Producers noted its universal themes and remarked on the cast’s strong performances.

🌍 Production Background

L’art Reste is produced by Hong Company, founded in 2018 with a focus on market-adaptive original musicals. The show received support from CJ Cultural Foundation for development and was endorsed by the Whanki Foundation and Whanki Museum.

🧵 Narrative Format

Structured as two overlapping storylines — Yi Sang and Byun Dong-rim (Kim Hyang-an’s birth name), and Kim Whanki and Hyang-an — the musical reverses time to emphasize the tension between youthful passion and mature introspection. It blends lyrical monologues, visual projection of artwork, and thematic use of color to portray emotional and historical contrast.

🏆 Awards

Winner of three 2023 Korea Musical Awards (Under 400 Seats):
- Best Musical
- Best Book (Script)
- Best Music (Composition)