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2018
马不停蹄的忧伤
In the Mood for Sorrow (시간 속의 그녀) is a Mandarin-language jukebox musical co-produced by Korean and Chinese creatives, adapting eighteen songs by Taiwanese singer-songwriter Huang Shujun into a time-bending love story. Premiered in Shanghai in 2018, the production later entered the Korean musical ecosystem when it was officially invited to the 2019 Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF), marking a rare case of reverse cultural flow from China to Korea.
English:
In the Mood for Sorrow
Korean:
시간 속의 그녀
Country: China | Language: Chinese
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
The musical was developed as a Korea–China co-production, written by Korean playwright Yoon Hee-kyung and directed by Korean director Oh Se-hyuk, with music drawn from the catalogue of Chinese-Taiwanese composer Huang Shujun. It was produced by Shanghai Zhijing Culture in partnership with Live Corp (Korea), premiering at the Shanghai Grand Theatre in 2018 before expanding into multiple Chinese regional runs. The work was conceived as a jukebox musical that would merge Chinese pop nostalgia with Korean narrative dramaturgy, allowing it to circulate in both markets.
STORY
The plot follows Lin Baosheng, a mysterious woman whose appearance has not aged for decades, and Jiang Dayu, a young singer who unintentionally enters her life. Their relationship grows through repeated encounters, while Baosheng’s secret slowly surfaces: her frozen youth is bound to the condition that true love must one day appear. The musical blends romantic melodrama, light comedy, and fantasy, using time as both theme and dramatic device. Its songs reframe Huang Shujun’s well-known pop tracks into theatrical storytelling.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2019 – Official invited production at the 13th Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF), Ayang Art Center, Daegu; performed in Mandarin with Korean surtitles.
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
China – Shanghai (2018)
Original Mandarin-language premiere – Shanghai Grand Theatre (Buick Chinese Theatre)
Introduced the musical to the Chinese commercial market, noted for its cross-national creative team and jukebox format using songs by Huang Shujun. Established the foundation for a long-running local model rather than a one-season import.
China – National (2019)
Extended commercial run – produced by Shanghai Zhijing Culture
Continued with additional Shanghai dates and touring engagements in multiple cities, using a rotating principal cast to keep the title active while expanding its audience base beyond the premiere venue.
China – Shanghai (2020)
Fourth-run restaging – Chinese Theatre
Presented with further revisions to staging, cast rotation, and orchestration. The sustained restaging confirmed ongoing market demand and marked the musical’s shift from a debut production to a recurring repertory title within China’s commercial theatre circuit.
REFERENCES
LIVE Corp – production listing
http://www.livecorp.co.kr/m31_view.php?idx=51&cate=4
ArtFantasia – DIMF official invited listing
Douban – production database
https://www.douban.com/location/drama/30317948/
iDongguan – jukebox structure + tour announcement
https://idg.timedg.com/p/21177438.shtml
Sohu – feature article
https://www.sohu.com/a/272371304_827253
Zhihu – audience review
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