Children’s Theatre Company Announces Performers and Creative Team for Cookin’

Minneapolis— July 27, 2023 — Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is pleased to announce the performers and creative team for Cookin’ also known as Nanta 난타) the international smash-hit sensation from South Korea that will be playing at CTC in the fall of 2023. The Minneapolis premiere engagement of Cookin’ at CTC is the production’s only Midwest stop in 2023-2024 touring season.

With a crazy deadline looming near, four frenzied chefs turn their kitchen into a dynamic, veggies-flying-everywhere performance as Korean samulnori drumming and martial arts take center stage. During this wildly energetic cooking competition, the chefs put on a masterful display of percussive food chopping, knife throwing, pot banging, and fire-blowing wizardry that will make you laugh, scream in delight, and even beg for a chance to sample their food. Get ready to stomp your feet and clap your hands for a show that’s truly Cookin’!

Cookin’ is the longest-running show in South Korea’s history (over 1.48 million people have attended performances), and has performed in more than 60 countries throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.

“Music, mayhem and magic are only a few of the ingredients in the savory stew of skillful, high-energy, silly good fun.” – The New York Times

“A big hit! Spectacular!” – Newsweek

“Call it Benihana goes berserk. Take equal parts of Jackie Chan, The Marx Brothers, and Stomp — and blend.” – CBS Sunday Morning

Cookin’ will play from September 12-October 22, 2023 at CTC’s UnitedHealth Group Stage (2400 Third Avenue South Minneapolis MN 55404). Opening Night is Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 7:00pm. Tickets may be purchased online at childrenstheatre.org/cookin or by calling the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15.

Cookin’ is proudly sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

“We are thrilled to bring the international sensation Cookin’ to our audiences in Minnesota,” said CTC Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius. “This dynamic and hilarious show has delighted audiences around the world with its virtuosic percussion, incredible comedy and amazing physicality. We cannot wait for you to experience the joy and exuberance of Cookin’!”

“I can’t wait to meet the audience in Minnesota at a prestigious theatre like Children’s Theatre Company,” said Cookin’ Director Seung-Whan Song. “I hope you will feel the freedom from the unique rhythm of Korea and, through the comedy on stage, also feel the great pleasure of getting away from your daily life.”

The performers for Cookin’ are Ho Yeoul Sul, Changhwan Ko, Min Goo Jung, Hyejin Song, and Jung Hwan Hyun. Dong Keun Lee and Kyuna Kim are the understudies.

The creative team for Cookin’ includes Seung-Whan Song (Artistic Director/Producer), Kwangho Lee (Producer), Dong Jun Lee (Composer), Kicheol Cho (Percussion Director), Oksoon Kang (Choreographer), Dongwoo Park (Scenic Designer), Sookjin Seo (Scenic Designer), Jonghwa Park (Lighting Designer), Yunyoung Koo (Lighting Designer), Kiyoung Kim (Sound Designer), Heeju Kim (Costume Designer), Kyewhan Park (Martial Arts), Jungwoo Kim (Magic Tricks), Yosub Choi (Cooking Skills), Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Creative Consultant), and Cheol Ki Choi (Associate Director).

The production staff for Cookin’ includes Young Eun Park (Production Supervisor), Daehui Yun (Technical Director/Stage Manager), Hoon Young Kim (Lighting Director), and Hyuna Park (Sound Director).

Ticket Information

Tickets to Cookin’ may be purchased online at childrenstheatre.org/cookin or by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15.

School groups interested in attending Cookin’ can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org for more information.

Cookin’ has a run time of 90 minutes with no intermission.

This production is best enjoyed all ages. Lap passes are available for children 3 years and younger.

Cookin’
a sizzling entertainment
Produced by PMC Production Co. and Broadway Asia Company Directed by Seung-Whan Song September 12-October 22, 2023 UnitedHealth Group Stage Best enjoyed by all ages!

Proudly sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Creative Team and Production Staff

Performers

Ho Yeoul Sul
Changhwan Ko
Min Goo Jung
Hyejin Song
Jung Hwan Hyun

Understudies
Dong Keun Lee
Kyuna Kim

PERFORMERS

Ho Yeoul Sul
Ho Yeoul Sul joined Cookin’ in 2000 and appeared in the New York production at New Victory Theater in 2022 He has been featured in various Korean TV series, including Arthdal Chronicles.

Changhwan Ko
Changhwan Ko joined Cookin’ in 2008 and appeared in the New York production at New Victory Theater in 2022He has been featured in various Korean TV series such as Arthdal Chronicles, Wok of Love, and Can’t Stop My Boss. He has a bachelor’s degree in Acting.

Min Goo Jung
Min Goo Jung joined Cookin’ in 2004and appeared in the New York production at New Victory Theater in 2022. He has been featured in various Korean TV series, including Wok of Love. He has a bachelor’s degree in Acting.

Hyejin Song
Hyejin Song joined Cookin’ in 2015 and appeared in the New York production at New Victory Theater in 2022 She has been featured in various Korean theatre productions such as the musicals The Wizard of Oz and Nonsense. She has a B.F.A. in Acting from the Seoul Institute of the Arts.

Jung Hwan Hyun
Jung Hwan Hyun joined Cookin’ in 2007 and appeared in the New York production at New Victory Theater in 2022.

UNDERSTUDIES

Dong Keun Lee
Dong Keun Lee recently joined Cookin’. This will be his first time working in an international theatre production. He has a bachelor’s degree in Acting.

Kyuna Kim
Kyuna Kim recently joined Cookin’. This will be her first time working in an international theatre production. She has a bachelor’s degree in Acting.

CREATIVE TEAM AND PRODUCTION STAFF

Seung-Whan Song (Artistic Director/Producer) Seung-Whan Song is a well-known actor and producer in Korea. He has won awards such as the 13th Korea Musical Award (2007), the 56th Seoul City Culture Award (2007), the 40th Rep. of Korea Culture & Arts Award (2008), and the Korea Popular Culture & Arts Award (2012). He received the Order of Sport Merit in 2019 as recognition for his work as the Executive Artistic Director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Kwangho Lee (Producer)
Kwangho Lee is the CEO of PMC Production Co. and PMC Networks. He has received numerous awards, including the Korea Tourism Award (2000), the Korea Marketing Frontier (2002), and the Korea Venture Award (2008). He was a formal Performance Management and Planning Professor at Chungwoon University and his Ph.D. is in Financial Management.

Dong Jun Lee (Composer)
Dong Jun Lee is a music composer, whose film credits include, Green Fish, Lost Memories, TAEGUKGI: Brotherhood of War, and Miracle in Cell No.7. He won Best Music at the Grand Bell Awards (1997) and was nominated for the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Kicheol Cho (Percussion Director)
Kicheol Cho first joined Cookin’ as an actor and has recently been working as the percussion director. He has won multiple awards in the field of samulnori, a traditional Korean rhythm, such as the Jeonju Daesaseob Nori (2001) and the Nationwide Samulnori Contest (2003).

Oksoon Kang (Choreographer)
Oksoon Kang started her career as an actor in musicals, including Guys & Dolls. She debuted as a choreographer with Cookin’. Since then, she has been working in musicals, films, and TV shows. She was the choreographer of the 2014 Asian Gamesand the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Dongwoo Park (Scenic Designer)
Dongwoo Park is a well-known scenic designer in Korea and has received awards from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea in recognition of his work (2005 and 2018). Additional awards include the Korea Musical Awards (1995, 1996, 1997, 2010) and the Yegreen Musical Award (2012). He was one of the Artistic Directors of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. He is currently a professor in the Scenic Design program at Hong-Ik University.

Sookjin Seo (Scenic Designer)
Sookjin Seo is known for her design work on one of the most popular musicals in Korea, Elizabeth. She has worked on numerous musical productions, including Mozart, Monte Cristo, and Frankenstein. She is a recipient of the Korea Musical Awards (2005), and is a Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti alumnus in Milan, Italy. She is currently teaching Scenic Design at Chung Kang College of Cultural Industries.

Jonghwa Park (Lighting Designer)
Jonghwa Park has been working as a Lighting Designer and Operator for various musical productions with PMC Production Co., including The Wizard of Oz, Brothers Were Brave, Legally Blonde, and March of Youth. He is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Arts of Chung-Ang University.

Yunyoung Koo (Lighting Designer)
Yunyoung Koo is a recipient of the Korea Musical Award (2018). She has worked in various theatrical productions including Oasis Laundromat; After Midnight Club; and The Glass Menagerie, and the musicals Mary Antoinette; and Monte Cristo. She currently teaches Lighting Design at Chung Kang College of Cultural Industries.

Kiyoung Kim (Sound Designer)
Kiyoung Kim is one of the most well-known Sound Designers in the theatre field in Korea. He received the 2009 and 2011 Korea Musical Awards. His work includes West Side Story; Mamma Mia!; Brothers Were Brave; The Nutcracker; and Les Misérables. He has also worked on TV shows such as Phantom Singer, and Voice Korea. In 2021, he received a commendation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea as a recipient of the Popular Culture and Art Staff Award.

Kyewhan Park (Martial Arts)
Kyewhan Park started his career as an actor in Beauty and the Beast; Bandit; and Marriage. He has also worked as a Martial Arts Director and choreographer of the Korean non-verbal performance Jump.

Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Creative Consultant) Marcia Milgrom Dodge is an American director, choreographer, and writer for the stage. Dodge directed and choreographed her first Broadway production, a revival of Ragtime, in 2009. The production received seven Tony Award® nominations, including one for Dodge for Best Director of a Musical. Her Kennedy Center production of Ragtime received four 2010 Helen Hayes Awards, including one for her for Best Director, Resident Musical.
Cheol Ki Choi (Associate Director)

From 1999-2001, Cheol Ki Choi worked with Cookin’ as an Associate Director. He is the Producer of the Korean non-verbal performance Jump, presented Off-Broadway in the Union Square Theatre (2005). He was one of the Artistic Directors of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Young Eun Park (Production Supervisor)
Young Eun Park began working with PMC Production Co. in 2011 as an Assistant Production Manager. Her work includes the Korean musicals March of Youth; Romance of Their Own; and Pinocchio. As a Company Manager for overseas productions, she has worked on K-pop Music Festival (Japan) and Brothers Were Brave (Japan). She has been working as a Production Manager for the world tour of Cookin’, including engagements in Japan, Vietnam, and Europe. She was also the production supervisor of the New York production of Cookin’ at New Victory Theatre in 2022. She has an M.F.A. in Theatre Design and Technical Production.

Daehui Yun (Technical Director/Stage Manager) Daehui Yun has been working with PMC Production Co. since 2013 as a Technical Director and Stage Manager. Productions he has worked on include: Treasure Island, Children’s NANTA (Cookin’), and numerous overseas productions of Cookin’ including Kazakhstan and Japan.

Hoon Young Kim (Lighting Director)
Hoon Young Kim has been the Lighting Designer and Operator for PMC Production Co. since 2006. Productions he has worked on include: Brothers Were Brave (Seoul and Japan); Pull & Push (Seoul and Japan); and numerous overseas productions of Cookin’. He has a BFA in Acting from the Seoul Institute of the Arts. His recent work includes the New York production of Cookin’ at New Victory Theatre in 2022.

Hyuna Park (Sound Director)
Hyuna Park has been working with PMC Production Co. since 2018 as a Sound Director for Cookin’s resident theatres in Seoul, Korea, and its overseas productions (including South Africa). She has also worked as a sound operator for Treasure Island and Children’s NANTA (Cookin’).

Broadway Asia Company, LLC
Broadway Asia Company, LLC is among the largest production, management, and distribution companies of live entertainment throughout the global markets with focus in New York, London, Europe and Asia. Its founders, Simone Genatt and Marc Routh, are two of the most active commercial Broadway and West End producers. Over the last 25 years, theatrical productions by the Broadway International Group partners have performed in over 400 cities, 60 countries, and garnered over 56 Tony, Olivier, Grammy Awards and many other global theatrical accolades. Select live entertainment productions and attractions include: An American in Paris, The Sound of Music, Back to the Future, The Producers, Hairspray, Anastasia, Amelie, Legally Blonde, The Great Comet, Stomp, COOKIN/NANTA, Shear Madness, The Addams Family, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The King and I, Cinderella, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Rock of Ages, Immersive Great Gatsby, Immersive Doctor Who, Neverland, the Peter Pan Immersive, Murder Ballad, Tape Face, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Little Shop of Horrors, Jay Chou’s THE SECRET, Manual Cinema, ICE AGE LIVE: A Mammoth Adventure, SpongeBob SquarePants Live, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Madagascar Live, Fuerzabruta and many more. Select forthcoming productions and attractions include: Immersive Great Gatsby in New York at the Gatsby Mansion and multiple Asian territories, Anastasia and Beetlejuice in Japan, Marilyn Monroe Hollywood Experience: The Global Tour, and Journey, an immersive technology dining attraction in New York.

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is the nation’s largest and most acclaimed theatre for young people and serves a multigenerational audience. It creates theatre experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire for more than 250,000 people annually. CTC is the only theatre focused on young audiences to win the coveted Tony Award® for regional theatre and is the only theatre in Minnesota to receive three Tony® nominations (for its production of A Year with Frog and Toad). CTC is committed to creating world-class productions at the highest level and to developing new works, more than 200 to date, dramatically changing the canon of work for young audiences.

CTC’s engagement and learning programs annually serve more than 93,000 young people and their communities through Theatre Arts Training, student matinees, Neighborhood Bridges, and early childhood arts education programs. ACT One is CTC’s comprehensive platform for access, diversity, and inclusion in our audiences, programs, staff, and board that strives to ensure the theatre is a home for all people, all families, reflective of our community. childrenstheatre.org

WHAT: Cookin’
a sizzling entertainment
Produced by PMC Production Co. and Broadway Asia Company Directed by S Seung-Whan Song September 12-October 22, 2023 UnitedHealth Group Stage Best enjoyed by all ages!

Proudly sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

WHEN: from September 12-October 22, 2023 (Opening Night is Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 7:00pm)
WHERE: CTC’s UnitedHealth Group Stage (2400 Third Avenue South Minneapolis MN 55404)

AGE RECOMMENDATION: This production is best enjoyed by all ages. Lap passes are available for children 3 years and younger.

RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission.

TICKETS: Starting at $15 and available at childrenstheatre.org/cookin by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400.