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차미

2021

#チャミ

ChaMe (차미) is a Korean original musical about identity, self-image, and social media, following an ordinary young woman whose online persona comes to life and begins taking over her real life. Since its 2020 premiere, the show has been licensed for a full Japanese production in 2021, marking its first international staging.

차미

English:

ChaMe

Korean:

차미

Country: Japan | Language: Japanese

🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.

ORIGIN

The musical was developed by PAGE1 and created by writer-lyricist Cho Min-hyun and composer Choi Seul-gi, with direction by Park So-young for early versions and later stagings by Song Hyun-jung and Lee Soo-in. After two tryout runs in 2017 and 2019, it premiered as a full production in 2020 at Chungmu Arts Center in Seoul. The work was conceived as a contemporary comedic narrative about curated online identity, using split-role casting to contrast real-world Miho and her idealized SNS avatar “ChaMe.” The show combines pop-influenced musical numbers with fast-paced dialogue and has developed a young fanbase through multiple domestic revivals.

STORY

Miho is an insecure part-time worker who feels invisible in real life, but gains validation from the “likes” she receives online as her digitally perfected alter ego, ChaMe. As Miho begins posting photos stolen from others, her idealized online self suddenly appears in the real world, offering to take over her life and deliver all the success she ever wanted. While ChaMe easily wins attention, love, and admiration on Miho’s behalf, Miho becomes increasingly uneasy as she loses control over her own identity. The musical portrays the collapse of boundaries between real self and constructed self, raising questions about authenticity, desire, and the emotional cost of social comparison.

POSTER COLLECTION

Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.

KOREAN RUNS

2020 premiere, PAGE1, recurred in 2022 and 2025 (three seasons total)

GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS

Japan, 2021
Licensed adaptation – Japanese-language production at Jiyu Theatre (Tokyo)
Ran September 9–21, 2021 with 22 performances, featuring Ayame Gouriki and Dream Ami alternating in the dual roles of Miho/ChaMe. Directed and adapted by Satoshi Taoshita, the staging preserved the original Korean structure and score while localizing dialogue and humor. Marketing emphasized the relevance of its social-media satire for young Japanese audiences, positioning the musical as a contemporary youth comedy with cross-cultural resonance.

REFERENCES

NamuWiki – musical overview

https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%B0%A8%EB%AF%B8

     

Theatertainment Japan – 2021 Japan production interview

https://theatertainment.jp/translated-drama/86122/

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