top of page
2009
明成皇后
The Last Empress (명성황후) is a large-scale historical musical based on the life and assassination of Empress Myeongseong, the final queen of the Joseon Dynasty. First staged in 1995, it became the first Korean original musical to tour internationally on a major scale and is widely cited as the starting point of Korean musical exports.
English:
The Last Empress
Korean:
명성황후
Country: Japan | Language: Korean
Review
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Premiered in 1995 at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House, produced by ACOM International (Yoon Ho-jin & Kim Hee-gap). The musical was conceived as a national repertory-scale work combining Korean history with Western-style staging, using a full orchestra, traditional costumes, and large ensemble scenes. It was developed with the explicit aim of reaching global stages, leading to early investment in surtitles, portable set systems, and overseas touring plans.
STORY
Set in the late 19th century, the musical follows Empress Myeongseong as she rises to political influence while resisting growing foreign intervention, particularly from imperial Japan. Court factions, shifting alliances, and diplomatic pressure threaten both her authority and the nation’s sovereignty. The story culminates in her assassination, after which a symbolic epilogue presents the Empress and other fallen figures in white, suggesting national endurance rather than historical finality.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
1995 – Premiere at Seoul Arts Center Opera House (ACOM)
Became a long-running repertory production with repeated revivals in the late 1990s and 2000s, often staged at major national theaters and commemorative events.
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
United States – New York (1997)
Korean-language tour with English surtitles
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, Aug 15–24, 1997
First overseas engagement of the musical, covered by major U.S. outlets including The New York Times and Playbill.
United States – New York (1998)
Korean-language return engagement
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, Jul 31–Aug 23, 1998
Second New York run presented in the same format, with revised casting and streamlined technical setup.
United States – Los Angeles (1998)
Korean-language tour
Shubert Theatre, Sep 11–27, 1998
West Coast engagement presented with surtitles following the two New York runs.
United Kingdom – London (2002)
English-language production by the original Korean creative team
Hammersmith Apollo, Feb 1–16, 2002
Featured new English lyrics and book revisions by Georgina St. George, retaining full orchestra and large-scale staging.
United States – Los Angeles (2003)
English-language production
Kodak Theatre, Apr 18–May 4, 2003
Restaged London version, promoted as the first English-language production of a Korean musical in the United States.
Canada – Toronto (2004)
English-language production
Hummingbird Centre, Aug 5–Sep 1, 2004
Presented as part of a cultural exchange program using the same English adaptation and touring set.
Japan – Kumamoto (2009)
Showcase performance (hybrid screening + live excerpts)
Kumamoto Gakuen University, Oct 8, 2009
One-day invitational event organized by local civic groups, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Empress’s assassination rather than a full commercial run.
REFERENCES
Playbill – “Korean Musical Last Empress Runs Aug. 15–24 in NY”
https://playbill.com/article/korean-musical-last-empress-runs-aug-15-24-in-ny-com-71251
New York Times (1997) – “The Ascent From Wife to Empress”
https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/21/theater/the-ascent-from-wife-to-empress.html
Playbill (1998) – “The Last Empress Returns to New York”
The Guardian (2002) – London Review
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2002/feb/05/theatre.artsfeatures2
Khan Newspaper (2009) – Japan Kumamoto Showcase Coverage
bottom of page