[NANTA Official Press Release] -2015-

[PMC Production Overseas Marketing Division]

Jieun Kim T. +82-2-6920-7768 M. +82-10-9189-4129 E. kimje@nanta.co.kr

１. Show Outline

The power of a show running for 17 years!

Attracting the biggest number of audience in the history of Korean shows!

Chosen by 10 million audiences, a “made in Korea” show that touched the world!

① INFO.

Running time : 90min. (no intermission)

Rate : Children over 12 months (Children over 36 months will be charged)

Tickets : Premium 70,000won , VIP 60,000won, S 50,000won, A 40,000won

Producer : PMC Production

Sponsor: Nonghyup Distribution

Contact : PMC Production 02)739-8288

Website : http://nanta.i-pmc.co.kr Jeju theatre http://jejunanta.tistory.com

Booking : R ticket 1577-8748/ Interpark ticket 1544-1555

② CREDIT.

Producer: Song Seung-whan, Lee Kwang-ho

Director: Song Seung-whan

Music: Lee Dong-jun

Percussion: Lee Byeong-hwan

Choreography: Kang Ok-sun

Stage Design: Park Dong-woo, Seo Suk-jin

Light Design: Park Jong-hwa, Gu Yun-yeong, Kim Hak-young

Sound Design: Kim Gi-young, Park Jae-hyun

Costume Design: Kim Hee-ju

Martial Arts Choreography: Park Gyehwan, Jamie Guan

Magic Choreography: Kim Jung-woo

Cooking Action Choreography: Choi Yo-seop

Stage Set-up : Seoul Stage Setting

Creative Consultants : Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Lawrence F.Pisoni, Lynne

Taylor-Corbett

２. History

▶ 1997.10 Premiered at Hoam Art Hall, Seoul

▶ 1999.08 The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, U.K., all tickets SOLD OUT

▶ 2000.07 Opened the first Exclusive theatre for a single show in Korean ‘NANTA

Theatre’

▶ 2000.10 Recorded the 1,000th performance

▶ 2000.11 Started NANTA experience program (the first Japanese school attended for

field trip)

▶ 2002.03 The total views of both Korean and foreign audience breaks a record of 1

million

▶ 2002.04 Opened NANTA Gangnam NANTA Theatre (PMC Theatre)

▶ 2002.08 Performed at the opening ceremony of the 14th Asian Games

▶ 2003.09 The first Asian musical to be staged on Broadway N.Y (New Victoria Theatre)

▶ 2004.03 The first Asian musical to open its own Off-Broadway Theatre (Minetta Lane

Theatre)

▶ 2005.01 Performed overall 400 times at Off-Broadway NANTA Theatre

▶ 2005.05 Gathered a total of over 2,000,000 visitors

▶ 2006.09 Gathered 1,000,000 non-Korean visitors

▶ 2007.10 10th anniversary of NANTA

▶ 2008.04 Opened Jeju NANTA Theatre

▶ 2008.06 The total views of both Korean and foreign audience break a record of 4

million

▶ 2009.07 Achieved 10,000 shows at NANTA Theatre

▶ 2009.10 Opened Myeong Dong NANTA Theatre

▶ 2010.07 10th Anniversary of NANTA Exclusive Theatre

▶ 2010.08 Performed in 41 different countries

▶ 2011.01 The total views of both Korean and foreign

audience breaks a record of 6 million

▶ 2011.07 Recorded 20,000th performance

▶ 2012.01 The total views of both Korean and foreign audience breaks a

record of 7 million

▶ 2012.04 1st Anniversary of Hong-dae NANTA Theatre

▶ 2012.10 15th Anniversary of NANTA

▶ 2012.12 Selected by The Guinness of Korea Tourism Records

Hit 1,000,000 Korean audiences in 1 year

Hit a total 8,000,000 audiences

▶ 2013.01 Opened NANTA Theatre in Bangkok, Thailand

▶ 2013.02 Opened Chungjeongno NANTA Theatre

▶ 2013.12 Hit a total of 915million visitors

▶ 2014.12 10,000,000th NANTA Audience

３. What is NANTA?

AA ppeerrffoorrmmaannccee ““MMaaddee iinn KKoorreeaa”” aanndd hhiigghhllyy pprraaiisseedd

bbyy tthhee wwoorrlldd,, NNAANNTTAA

Since 1997

Korea’s traditional Rhythm, Samulnori

No.1 Korea non-verbal show <NANTA>

The first Korean non-verbal performance that integrates

Korea’s traditional rhythm, Samulnori (the traditional

rhythm of Korea) with comedy in the kitchen.

NANTA is a performance in which knives and other

kitchen utensils are transformed into musical instruments in the hands of the

performers. They thrill the audience with acrobatic cooking shows, a surprise

wedding ceremony, an exciting dumpling challenge, and a fantastic ending with

powerful drum striking. Audiences enjoy the show regardless of gender or age.

NANTA has been one of the most popular shows in Korea ever since it premiered in

October 1997, drawing the largest number of spectators in Korean theatre history.

Instead of remaining where it is, the artistic and cultural values of NANTA has

constantly been upgraded. NANTA made its international debut in 1999 at the

Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it received an award for the best performance.

Since then, NANTA has performed in the U.K., Germany, Austria, Italy, Japan, Taiwan,

Singapore, the Netherlands, Australia, etc. Eventually NANTA made it all the way to

New York, premiering at the Minetta Lane Theater (off-Broadway) on March 7, 2004

and had a run for one and half years.

Currently NANTA can be seen in exclusive theatres in Seoul and Jeju, and is also

highly recommended by tourists and locals alike as a “must see performance”.

４. NANTA Theatre 2 theatres in Seoul, 1 theatre in Jeju, and 1 theatre in Bangkok, Thailand

① Myeong Dong NANTA Theatre

Best shopping street ‘Myeong Dong’ in Seoul

－ Open : 2009.10.10~OPEN RUN

－ Address : Unesco Building 3F, 50-14, Myeong Dong 2 Ga, Jung Gu, Seoul

－ Seats : 386 seats (PREMIUM-34 seats, VIP-85 seats, S-156 seats, A-111 seats)

▼ outside ▼ inside

▶ map

③ Chungjeongno NANTA Theatre

Chungjeongno is easy to find as it as to connected to subway line no.2 and no.5

－ Open : 2013.02.01~OPEN RUN

－ Address : 476, Chungjeongno 3-ga, Seodaemungu, Seoul, Korea

－ Seats : 540 seats (PREMIUM-10 seats, VIP-139 seats, S-245 seats, A-146 seats)

▼ outside

▼ inside

▼ map

③ Jeju NANTA Theatre

The island of stone and wind, that holds the spirit of Korea, Jeju

－ Open : 2008.04.18~OPEN RUN

－ Address : Jeju MediaCenter, 837-20, lldo 2 dong, Jeju, Jeju

－ Seats : 336 seats (VIP-128 seats, S-218 seats)

▼ outside

▼ inside

▼ map

④ Bangkok NANTA Theatre

－ Open : 2013.01.17~OPEN RUN

－ Address: 31/6 RCA Plaza Bldg. Fl. 1, Soi Soonwijai, Pharam 9 Rd., Banhkapi,

Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310 Thailand

－ Time : Monday ~ Sunday 20:00, Wednesday , Friday, Saturday 17:30, 20:00

－ Seats: 548 seats (R-196 seats, S-228 seats, A-124 seats)

－ Contact: 02-641-4407~10 (Local number)

▼ outside

▼ inside

５. Characteristics of NANTA

① Non-verbal performance

Unlike traditional performances, NANTA is performed with sounds

and movement instead of dialogue. As a result, language barriers are

collapsed, allowing NANTA to escape the cultural differences and

perpetrate the global market.

② Traditional Korean Beats

The traditional rhythm and beats of Korea are globally acknowledged

for its uniqueness. NANTA combines these rhythm and beats with

modern music to create a unique but familiar sound to the

international audience. As a special mixture between Korean

traditional rhythm and the modern audio system, NANTA became a

super-rookie in the world culture market.

③ Drama

Many non-verbal performances are considered dull due to the

repetitive rhythms and beats and lack of excitement. NANTA

overcomes this drawback by combining a storyline with various

comical scenes in a kitchen. By adhering to its storyline, NANTA

manages to excite the audience without using any verbal scripts.

④ Audience Participation

Unlike other performances in which the audience just simply “watch”

the performance, all of the audience can participate in the show.

Spectators can become the bride and groom in a traditional Korean

wedding ceremony, compete in a dumpling challenge, and interact

with the performers to make a unified rhythm. The audience

participation doubles up the fun. This is a unique but charming point,

which only belongs to NANTA.

⑤ NANTA Theatres

By celebrating the 10th anniversary of Gangbuk NANTA Theatre in

2010, NANTA has not only become a “mecca” for Koreans, but has

become a “must-see” for foreign tourists as well. It is the only

performance in Korea that possesses 4 exclusive theatres.

６. Characters

① MANAGER

A snappy and picky manager

For a 6 o’clock wedding party, the manager keeps pushing the chefs to prepare the

dishes on time. This manager is the one who brings his nephew to the kitchen and

makes the chefs complete a chaotic task.

② HEAD CHEF

A timid leader, Head chef

Sometimes yells at other chefs, but the Head chef is very humane. During the chopping

board scene the Head Chef performs fantastic knife skills to the audience!

③ HOT SAUCE

One and only independent woman in the kitchen, sexy and wild Hot Sauce

She is very powerful, but sometimes out of sorts. Hot sauce and sexy guy are a lovely

couple, but the nephew gets on her nerves by continuously bothering them.

④ SEXY GUY

Tough guy with big muscles, Sexy guy

Sexy guy shows powerful movements like Kung Fu, sharpening knives, and slaughtering

actions etc. With his sexiness, he wins the hot sauce’s heart and earns her love.

⑤ NEPHEW

Trouble maker of the kitchen, Nephew

The manager brings him to the kitchen. He is way out of sorts and messes up the

kitchen atmosphere. Yet, in the end he plays an important role when make the wedding

cake.

７. Synopsis

Three cooks start their day.

While they are preparing for to get to work, the manger shows up!

The manager orders menus, including Japchae (stir-fried noodles and vegetables), Injeolmi (Korean

traditional rice cakes with bean flour), and Cream cake etc.

Preparation for an unplanned wedding party!

The worst part is that he brings his reckless troublemaker nephew with him and demands the cooks to

teach him how to cook!

Only ONE HOUR left!

Will they complete the preparation in time for the wedding party?

Non-stop episodes, laughter, and beats! No more stress!

８. Highlights

９. Global NANTA

①Highly praised in the world

★"Cookin" gives off good vibes. -The New York Times-

★ “Great Fun! Superb!” -The Herald-

★ “Top Entertainment!” -The Stage-

★ “High energy experience with infectious rhythms.” -The Guardian-

★ “Toast of 1999 Edinburgh Festival. Completely Sold-out!” -CNN-

★ “More fun than should legally be allowed” -Korea Herald-

★ “A Big Hit! Spectacular!” -Newsweek International-

★ “Western humour with Oriental dance, percussion and acrobatics. This show

really cooks.” –The Daily mail-

②First Asian show to run in Broadway

NANTA became the first Asian musical to debut on Broadway in September 2003 at

the NEW VICTORY THEATRE on 45nd Ave., New York. Since the first performance in

1997, staging NANTA on Broadway was a burning ambition for the cast and crew.

The performance was successful and the audience’s support was beyond

expectations. Just 6 months after its Broadway debut, NANTA became the first Asian

musical to be staged as a regular show, appearing at the MINETTA LANE THEATRE

taking rank with all the famous worldwide performances.

NANTA on Broadway ended its run on August 7, 2005 after one and half years. This

productive and edifying experience served as a launching pad for the show’s

NEW VICTORY THEATRE

MINETTA LANE THEATRE

worldwide success. After that, NANTA toured in more than 250 countries, and

NANTA continues to touch the hearts of the audience all over the world.

③The biggest number of audience and country visits

After the premiere in 1997 and until now, NANTA has toured in a total of 289 cities.

In each city, the clapping and cheers of the audience continued even after the

audience left the stage. NANTA became a tempting source for both critics and the

media.

NANTA

Country 51 countries

Cities 289 cities

No. of Shows 31,580 times

Total Views 10,153,999 audience

(Based on January 2015)

▶North America / 2 countries USA, Mexico

▶South America / 2 countries Argentina, Brazil

▶Europe / 20 countries United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Austria,

Portugal, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech, Russia, Belarus, Latvia,

Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Poland

▶Oceania / 2 countries Australia, New Zealand

▶Asia / 12 countries Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong,

Indonesia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, India

▶Africa / 2 countries Tunisia, Morocco

▶Middle East / 9 countries Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Turkey,

Kuwait, Israel, Iran

10. NANTA in Numbers

(Based on January 2015)

- Performance: Total 31,580 times

- Audience: Total 10,153,999 visitors

(85% of the audience is tourists from Japan, China, Southeast Asia, America, etc.)

- Total vegetable consumption: approximately 315,800 cucumbers, 126,320 onions,

315,800 carrots, and 221,060 cabbages

- Total knife and cutting board consumption: approximately 18,975 knives and 2,070

cutting boards

- Actors on the show: 10 teams, total 47 actors

Blue Red Black White Green Purple Yellow Brown Orange Navy

（5 actors in each team）