1. Overview

Dalí, Gala Exhibition was a hybrid performance that blurred the boundary between exhibition and musical, exploring the unconventional relationship of Salvador Dalí and his muse and partner, Gala. Rather than framing them as sympathetic figures, the piece presented the two artists as morally ambiguous, unsettling, and irresistibly human. Created by YoonJi Cho and Seungmin Kim, the production encouraged audiences to move freely through the performance space, interacting with the actors and observing scenes as if navigating a curated installation. The work experimented with spatial composition, active audience participation, and a gallery-like theatrical environment.

2. Story

The musical focused on the surreal, volatile, and at times ethically troubling love between Salvador Dalí and Gala. A performer acting as a docent guided audiences through a series of staged “exhibits,” each revealing another facet of the couple’s desires, fears, and power dynamics. Without fixed seating, viewers were free to move around the space, shifting perspectives as the narrative unfolded through song, monologue, and physical performance. The show depicted Dalí and Gala not as idealized figures but as flawed artists whose lives challenged conventional morality. The experience combined immersive installation, close-up acting, and live music, resulting in an intimate and unconventional portrait of two singular creators.

3. 2025 K-Musical Roadshow in New York

Dalí, Gala Exhibition made its United States debut at the 2025 K-Musical Roadshow in New York City, an invitation-only industry event held on November 18, 2025, at Open Jar Studios. The English-language presentation blended musical storytelling with exhibition-style staging, offering a fantastical guided tour through Dalí’s world. The piece was written and directed by YoonJi Cho, with music by Seungmin Kim, music direction by Pete White, and associate direction by Lauren Zeftel. It was produced by Jakjak Company. The New York cast included Kelsey Angel Baehrens, Blair Baker, Travis Keith Battle, Mara Cecilia, John El-Jor, Alyssa Fox, and Nick Martinez.

The Roadshow was presented by the Korea Arts Management Service, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Korea), and The Business of Broadway. Designed to introduce Korean originals to industry professionals, it showcased Dalí, Gala Exhibition alongside Let Me Fly and Rimbaud. Since its first staging in Shanghai in 2016, the Roadshow has supported the international development of Korean musicals in the UK, Japan, and the United States. With renewed global interest following the Broadway success of Maybe Happy Ending, Dalí, Gala Exhibition was positioned as a distinctive and export-ready title entering the international marketplace.