Odi Company's Shin Chun-soo to produce new Julie Taymor musical at BAM in New York
In short
Odi Company said on 19 October that its producer Shin Chun-soo (신춘수) will make a new musical, The Grand Delusion, with director Julie Taymor and composer Elliot Goldenthal. It will have its world premiere at the Harvey Theater of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) from 11 May to 6 June 2027.
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Odi Company said on 19 October that its producer Shin Chun-soo (신춘수) will make a new musical, The Grand Delusion, with Julie Taymor, director of The Lion King. The production will have its world premiere from 11 May to 6 June 2027 at the Harvey Theater of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
The Grand Delusion is a fantasy musical set in contemporary New York and India, in a world where magic and myth coexist. Hankook Ilbo described it as a love story about finding a perfect partner. Outlets said Taymor will combine choreography, stage design, puppetry and music, and Seoul Shinmun reported that she wrote the script as well as directing. Seoul Shinmun also quoted BAM as calling the show an ecstatic and erotic musical with a mischievous humour. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Composer Elliot Goldenthal, who won an Academy Award for the film Frida, is also taking part. Hankook Ilbo said he and Taymor have worked together on the musical Juan Darien and the opera Grendel. Asia Economy, Seoul Shinmun and Seoul Economic Daily reported, citing Odi Company in the case of Seoul Shinmun, that Taymor and Goldenthal proposed the project to Shin. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Outlets described Taymor as the first woman to win the Tony Award for direction of a musical, for The Lion King. Several said she also won the costume design award. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
BAM was founded in 1859 and, according to several outlets, shows experimental and avant-garde work, unlike Broadway's commercial theatres. The Harvey Theater seats about 837. Seoul Shinmun and Korea Economic Daily quoted Odi Company as saying that choosing BAM over Broadway is a strategic choice to prove the work's artistic quality and competitiveness. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Several outlets noted that Shin produced the Broadway musical The Great Gatsby. Chosun Ilbo said it has passed 100 million dollars in revenue and 1,000 performances, finished a London West End run, is on a US tour and is scheduled for a Polish licensed production next year. Seoul Economic Daily gave 143 million dollars in ticket sales and 1.38 million spectators, and said costs have not yet been recouped. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Shin said he finds it very meaningful to present the work with Taymor. Several outlets quoted him as saying that the artistic spirit of Taymor and Goldenthal combined with the production capability of a Korean producer would deliver the essence of stage art. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Why it matters
The documents present the project as a Korean producer's new work with Taymor and Goldenthal, staged at an institution known for experimental work rather than on Broadway. They give no ticket, budget or casting details, so its commercial prospects are not covered.
Key facts
- Odi Company announced on 19 October that Shin Chun-soo is producing the new musical The Grand Delusion with director Julie Taymor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The world premiere is set for 11 May to 6 June 2027 at BAM's Harvey Theater in New York. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The Harvey Theater seats about 837 people. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
- Composer Elliot Goldenthal, an Academy Award winner, is part of the production. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The musical is a fantasy set in contemporary New York and India, where magic and myth coexist. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- Taymor won the Tony Award for direction of a musical for The Lion King and is described as the first woman to do so. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Odi Company said Shin Chun-soo will produce The Grand Delusion with Julie Taymor, with a world premiere at BAM's Harvey Theater from 11 May to 6 June 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Goldenthal won an Academy Award for the film Frida and is involved in the production. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The story is set in contemporary New York and India, with magic and myth coexisting. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- BAM was founded in 1859 and is described as presenting experimental, avant-garde work unlike Broadway's commercial theatres. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Taymor and Goldenthal proposed the project to Shin, according to Odi Company. [ 5 , 7 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Taymor also wrote the script. Only Seoul Shinmun says Taymor handled both script and direction; other outlets mention only direction.
- The plot of the musical. Only Hankook Ilbo describes it as a love story about finding a perfect partner; other outlets give only the setting.
- How successful The Great Gatsby has been. Chosun Ilbo reports revenue above 100 million dollars and over 1,000 performances; Seoul Economic Daily reports 143 million dollars in ticket sales and 1.38 million spectators, and says costs have not yet been recouped. No other outlet gives these figures.