Written by In Hun ChoiTranslated by Sun Ah Jung
Arranged & Directed by Yongsuk Yoo

CalArts Studio Theatre: E400

Through timeless Korean folklore, When Spring Comes to Hills and Dales reveals the life of a family torn by the ailments of traditional society. Faced with the restraints of loneliness, loss, and love, the play follows the family’s journey for freedom of a different lens. A native of Seoul, Korea, director Yongsuk Yoo shares that “…The performance is not only just an opportunity for storytelling, but also a kind of meditation and contemplation about the life of human beings who are silent and oppressed in modern society.” Representing the diversity of talent from the international community on the CalArts campus, Yoo hopes to forge the combination of foreign artists who have western worldview experiences with the multiplicities of Korean traditional culture. 

Published in 1977, When Spring Comes to Hills and Dales will host its American and international premieres on the CalArts stage. Playwright and novelist In Hun Choi, professor emeritus at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, creates most of his work centered on individuals suffering from the ideological conflicts around Korean national separation. In this translation, Yoo uses original music, video design, shadow play, and scenic elements to transform the story for American audiences. “The overall goal is to not only understand, but to feel the experience being shared on stage…”