I can see an outside shot at Score, Choreography, Scenic and Lighting Design (they love a transformation of a theatre). This video alone makes a case for all four of those. There’s so much competition in Actress, but I could see her being picked over Lorna perhaps.
Score and Choro I have long thought were pretty much sure things for it, even with the short run. There are not a lot of original scores to fill this year and there are certainly worse scores that have graced Broadway this season. As long as they fill the category, I can't see it not getting in simply due to lack of options.
What a tragedy, this show deserved a longer run.
Luna and the company performing "Upduryuh (Bow Down)":
Jiho Kang, John Yi, Joshua Lee, Kevin Woo, Abraham Lim, Eddy Lee, James Kho, and Zachary Noah Piser performing “Amerika (Checkmate)”:
I can't believe that the Broadway audiences are so basic, they won't give a chance to anything different.
Julia Abueva, Bohyung, Amy Keum, Kate Mina Lin, and Min performing "Perfect":
Luna performing "Still I Love You":
This song is gorgeous. KPOP really earned that Best Score nomination. Can’t wait for the whole album to drop on Monday!
Digital release is tomorrow.
The whole album is finally out! Thoughts below, everyone.
Just pressed play. This is already such a unique Broadway cast recording. The sound quality feels immersive. The score is like nothing else heard on Broadway.
Happy listening, everyone!
Their YT channel dropped the final performance video as well. It's Supergoddess. So happy to see that all three of the acts each got to have one of their full performances released.
There will be a cast album signing this week at the Museum of Broadway. Sign up details are on the link in their Instagram bio.
Was only able to listen to part of it this morning on the commute in this morning, and I was really astonished by the production quality. It really was produced as a proper pop album, the sound quality is quite impressive.
I agree, the production of this album is something we don’t typically get on musical theatre albums. Astonishingly, this is how the songs were presented in the show as well (with an added verse in one of the songs), so it is very representative of the show. I’m so glad this score was preserved.
Of course, I can’t help but think that this production could have possibly found an audience if the album came out before the show started performances. I imagine the music/songs didn’t change throughout previews, so it might have been wise to get the music out there before all the confusion and production woes. Ah well. At least we have this fun album, three full performance videos, and three well-deserved Tony nominations. KPOP will always be part of the conversation now.
Well, after listening to a few songs I'm sold. I wish I could have seen it. I'm cringing at the NYtimes complaints about the 'orchestrations' - there is nothing wrong with the sound, it's the style (does J Green not listen to pop or electronic music?) and I can imagine if amplified in a theatre well it would have sounded much more striking and impactful than a more traditional show that has a reduced acoustic 'orchestra' of 10 pieces. I really miss Ben Brantley.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/12/14
Am loving the album so far, everything sounds fantastic! If there's an available cast album, are critics ever given that to listen to outside of their experience of seeing the show to help inform their review? I also believe that if they had pushed the music/dances harder earlier in the run (or even before the run) then they could've gained a little more traction. I have to imagine that the nominators also probably got tracks from the album to review before voting as well, right? Either way I'm so glad this got a well-deserved score nomination.
I believe KPOP was just the second show to have played Ars Nova and eventually transfer to Broadway, and it's safe to say I love them both. I have waited years for this album, and it delivers and then some.
This entire recording slaps... most of it consists of EDM-heavy tunes with hooks guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days. Banger after banger after banger! It sounded great inside Circle in the Square but it's even better on recording. The show does lose a bit of its punch without Jennifer Weber's energetic choreography (which — hot take — makes her own & Juliet look like child's play), but who cares when the music is this irresistible?
There are some iffy lyrics here and there that would make musical theatre purists scoff, but this is supposed to be pop pastiche so I'll let that slide.
THIS CAST. Luna, in particular, sounds magnificent.
What an amazing memento from what was a thrilling experience last fall in spite of all its flaws. A well-earned Original Score Tony nomination for Park and Vernon!
Understudy Joined: 1/3/23
As soon as I came out of the theater, I know what was keeping this show from greatness. This is one of the few shows that I think REALLY would have benefited from having the album come out during previews.
KPOP fans would eat this music up. TikTok would make dances to this music. This is THE strongest score of the year. I am so happy to finally have it released.
I wake up every morning singing THIS IS MY KOREA ... can't wait to see what this music team does next!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
This is certainly a well produced recording. After giving it a listen, it feels more akin to something I'd hear in a club than a Broadway show. It sounds great, but I can understand why it didn't sell to the casual theatre going crowd, as it has a very different sound than what one would expect from Broadway. In any case, it is nice to have the score preserved.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/24/14
Phenomenal recording, I'm so glad it received a Tony nom for Original Score!
We’re throwing a listening party with @STATIONHEAD & you’re invited! Experience the KPOP cast album with Tony nominee @HelenHjPark & @kpopbroadway fans around the world🎧 Join us Thursday May 11th at 7pm eastern🤍 https://stationhead.com/kpopbroadway
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