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2011
カンナさん大成功です！
200 Pounds Beauty (미녀는 괴로워) is a stage adaptation of the hit Korean film 200 Pounds Beauty (2006). The musical premiered in Seoul in 2008 and later toured to Japan in 2011, becoming one of the early examples of Korean commercial musicals exported to the Japanese market.
English:
200 Pounds Beauty
Korean:
미녀는 괴로워
Country: Japan | Language: Korean
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
The musical was developed after the commercial success of the original film, which centered on issues of appearance, identity, and the entertainment industry. The stage version premiered in 2008, retaining the film’s central narrative while adapting it for live performance through the use of special effects and real-time transformation onstage. The production won Best Musical and Best Actress (Bada) at the 2009 The Musical Awards in Korea.
STORY
The plot follows Kang Han-byeol, a talented singer who has been denied the stage because of her plus-size appearance, and who undergoes full-body plastic surgery to return as a new, physically unrecognizable version of herself. The musical preserves the film’s romantic-comedy tone while emphasizing the theatrical challenge of showing both the “before” and “after” versions of the heroine in one continuous performance. The signature song “Maria,” rearranged from the film soundtrack, serves as the musical’s central number.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2008 — Original production (starring Bada, Yoon Gong-ju, Song Chang-ui)
2011 — Revised second production connected to the Asia tour (starring Bada, Park Gyuri, Jeon Hye-sun, Oh Man-seok, Lee Jong-hyuk)
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
Japan – Osaka & Tokyo (2011–2012)
Licensed Japanese-language engagement
Co-produced by CJ E&M (Korea) and Shochiku (Japan), launched at Osaka Shochikuza Theatre
A high-profile press conference at the Korean Cultural Center in Tokyo drew over 200 media outlets, signaling strong public interest. Park Gyuri of KARA made her musical debut in the dual-identity leading role. The production was partially re-staged for Japanese audiences with revised direction, staging, and musical arrangements, and later returned to Seoul following the Japan run.
REFERENCES
NamuWiki – Overview of Korean productions
https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%AF%B8%EB%85%80%EB%8A%94%20%EA%B4%B4%EB%A1%9C%EC%9B%8C
NewsPost – Japan press conference coverage (2011)
https://www.newspost.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=6921
Oricon News – Announcement of Osaka production
https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/88869/full/?utm
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