NEW YORK — Producers of the recently opened “KPOP” musical announced Tuesday that it will play its last show at New York City’s Circle in the Square Theatre on Sunday.
The final performance will be dedicated to the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community and will include a panel discussion focusing on representation on Broadway and beyond.
Panelists include “M. Butterfly” scribe David Henry Hwang and “KPOP”'s Helen Park. Wang is the first Asian American playwright to win a Tony Award, while Park is the first Asian female composer in Broadway history.
The event’s supporters include The Asian American Foundation in collaboration with Gold House, Asian American Performers Action Coalition, and New York City’s Ma-Yi Theater Company. The special closing day event will also offer 200 free tickets to AAPI community members and youth.
Though short-lived, the Jason Kim-conceived musical made history as the first Broadway production to feature Korean stories written by Korean American creatives, along with 18 cast members, all of AAPI descent, making their Broadway debuts.
Named after the fast-rising music genre known for international superstar groups like BTS and Blackpink, “KPOP” stars top-selling recording artist Luna. The story centers on how one singer’s inner turmoil threatens to upend one of the KPOP industry’s biggest record companies just as an internationally renowned group prepares for a special one-night-only event. BoHyung (formerly of SPICA and half of the duo KEEMBO) along with Min (formerly of Miss A) and Kevin Woo (formerly of U-KISS) also star.
A spokesperson for The Broadway League declined to comment about the closing.
Another New York City theater stage show will also shutter in the coming weeks.
After a near 29-year run, the final performance of “STOMP” will take place Jan. 8 at downtown’s Orpheum Theatre.
Producers announced the award-winning East Village staple will end, citing is “unmistakable imprint on the theatre landscape here and all over the world.”
The North American and European tours of “STOMP” will continue to run, a rep confirmed.
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