Director Alina Chevik addressed the controversy surrounding performance distribution for actress-singer Ock Joo Hyun in the musical ‘Anna Karenina’.
On February 12 KST, Chevik held an interview in Seoul’s Jongno district ahead of the show’s return to the Korean stage for the third time since its 2019 revival. She has been involved with ‘Anna Karenina’ since its original Russian production and is known for reinterpreting classic literature through modern stage language.
Discussion recently arose over the number of performances assigned to the three actresses playing Anna — Ock Joo Hyun, Kim Sohyang, and Lee Ji Hye. Out of roughly five weeks of shows, Ock Joo Hyun is scheduled for 23 performances, while Kim Sohyang and Lee Ji Hye are slated for 7 and 8 respectively, drawing public attention.
Chevik said she is not deeply familiar with internal company matters but emphasized her perspective as a director. “From a director’s point of view, Ock Joo Hyun is a highly professional performer with tremendous energy. She has the vocal power, stage presence, and energy that I consider important,” she explained, adding that these qualities made her suitable for the role.
Regarding the performance allocation, Chevik stated she had heard about the situation but stressed that such decisions are not made unilaterally. According to her, the matter involved prior discussions among the production company, the Russian original creators, and the actors. She also suggested that some rumors may have been exaggerated, noting that it is easy to criticize without fully understanding the background.
Chevik referenced the Russian theater system, explaining that performance distribution can be flexible depending on production and actor schedules. In some cases, an actor may appear only a few times out of many shows due to overlapping commitments. She underlined that casting and scheduling are typically based on agreement rather than one person dictating terms.
The musical ‘Anna Karenina’ will open on February 20 and run through March 29 at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
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