3069 KOR John Lee Musical
austraLasia #3069

New Musical Tells Story of the Late Fr John Lee


SEOUL: 14 May 2012 - A new musical is due to go public on 26 May, presenting hte life and work of the late Fr John lee SDB. In contrast to a number of earlier presentations through film, this musical has had close association with the Salesians and presents his life as Salesian, priest and missionary. It bears the same title of the film, however:  'Don't cry Tonj', and is produced by a professional entertainment company, 'Love Art' in collaboration with other associations.

The musical will first be presented to journalists on 19 May, and then will 'go public' on 26 May, most likely at the 'New Millennium Hall' in Seonggyunkwan University campus with 700 seats, located in the middle of Seoul city. Iit will play until 15 July, one show per weekday and twice over the weekends.

The Company has already presented the show to a packed 'early' audience of people who loved John and knew him well in his Salesian setting: his mother and family, SDBs FMAs, CSGs, many Sisters of other congregations as well diocesan priests, politicians, groups, corporations.

The new musical comes at a time when the country John loved and worked so much for along with other Salesians in Tonj who were with him and who carry on the work, is faced with conflict from without and to some extent also from within. Peace in the region is desperately needed.

"I have tried to say something about peace. The peace-building which we have to engage in more as did 'Fr Jolly'. He wrote a song immediately after the Peace Agreement was signed between two parts of Sudan as they were then, in 2005, with the title 'I give you Peace'. We introduced this song in the musical as a central theme" the show's director and producer, Mrs Shim Eunsook, a mezzo-soprano, said.

Fr Michael Chang SDB, who runs the Salesian Missions Office for KOR Province, spoke in glowing terms of the production at the end of its first semi-public performance: "We are very grateful to the production company, to the performers for their huge effort to present of our beloved late confrere Fr John Lee's life and spirit through this emotional and powerful medium, a musical. We hope it will be a great success not only commercially but also in spreading the true John Lee and his charism, which was non other than Don Bosco's charism".

When the Musical goes public, tickets will sell at prices ranging from the equivalent to 30 - 70 US dollars.