Musical mix 'n' match

South Korea's Ryu Jeong-seok plays the role of Arrow in Shooting Star. [Photo/China Daily]

The musical Shooting Star is an attempt to combine popular South Korean culture with China's ethnic culture.

The story revolves around a South Korean band whose lead singer, Arrow, leaves the group after losing his girlfriend and his passion for music.

He seeks inspiration at a Dong village, an ethnic group in Guizhou province, Southwest China. There he meets Ling, a born singer. She encourages Arrow to regain his confidence and write more music.

When Arrow returns home to stage his solo concert, he recalls his time with Ling and realizes that what he really wants is to be with his true love.

First-time scriptwriter Shelley Cao says: "We've seen actors from South Korea and China starring in the same movie and TV series, and singers from the two countries sharing the same stage. But we have never tried a musical to present the two styles. "

Directed by Hwaug Hyun-min, it has South Korean Ryu Jeong-seok in the lead role and actress Lee Ai-rin, as well as two actresses from China, playing Ling.

The dancing and singing will see popular South Korean musical elements and Dong music. The clothes and accessories of the ethnic group will also be shown.

"South Korea's soft power has a long reach in China but Chinese culture, especially the culture of Chinese ethnic groups, is rarely known in South Korea. We want to turn this around," Cao says.