U.S. Performing Arts Scholar: “Korean Musical Actors Are Triple Threats, Excelling in Singing, Acting and Dancing”

[Financial News]  “Korean musical actors are among the best I have seen. The only exception may be the United States.”
American performing arts scholar David Savran, a distinguished professor emeritus at the City University of New York, praised the skills of Korean musical actors.

Professor Savran met with reporters in Seoul’s Jongno District on the 3rd and said, “There are amazing performances on Broadway, too, but honestly, Korean musical actors are far more impressive than the actors I saw in Germany.” He added, “The talent and professionalism of Korean actors are truly amazing.”
He is a scholar who has studied American theater, musicals and popular culture. In his 2024 book, *Tell It to the World: The Broadway Musical Abroad* (*Tell It to the World: The Broadway Musical Abroad*), he analyzed how Broadway musicals are received and localized in different countries, focusing on South Korea and Germany. 
His visit to South Korea was for a keynote address at the “2026 Global Musical Industry Academic Conference,” to be held on the 7th at the Seoul Trade Exhibition Center (SETEC) in Seoul’s Gangnam District. The event is jointly hosted by the Korea Arts Management Service and the Korean Society for Musical Studies, and Professor Savran will speak on “Korean Musicals on the World Stage.” 
He cited the actors’ solid fundamentals and ability to convey emotion as strengths of Korean musicals. “The training process for developing singers, actors and dancers is second to none,” he said, explaining, “What moved me about Korean musicals was the power of the performances themselves, their ability to convey emotion to the audience, and the performers’ skills in singing, acting and dancing.”
On Broadway, an actor skilled in singing, acting and dancing is called a “triple threat.” Professor Savran emphasized that actors with these abilities are “an enormous asset for South Korea.”

Professor Savran recalled being deeply moved by the Korean musical *Hero*, which he saw for the first time that day, even though he did not know its historical background. Of *Seopyeonje*, which became a decisive turning point in his study of Korean musicals, he said, “It is one of the greatest musicals of all time,” adding, “It was the work that drove me to write this book.”
He said he plans to see the musicals *Let Me Fly* and *Ms. Chunja in Wonderland* during this visit to South Korea. “I’m very much looking forward to both,” he said, adding that he also plans to see pansori and changgeuk.
He described the Broadway hit *Maybe Happy Ending* as “a truly beautiful work.” He added, “It was fascinating to consider, ‘Why does this musical resonate with Americans?’ and ‘What is Korean about this musical?’” He said he plans to focus on these questions in his presentation at the conference.

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