Actor Hwang to Star in New Play

Renowned movie star and musical actor Hwang Jung-min will star in a new play, ``University of Laughs'' written by Japanese dramatist Koki Mitani.

The play will be shown in Korea for the first time as the ninth work of the Yeongeuk Yeoljeon 2 (Best Plays Series) programmed by veteran actor Cho Jae-hyun. The play will be staged at Dongsoong Art Center in central Seoul Oct. 24 to Nov. 30.

The piece is a comedy based on the story of an artist's freedom of expression when faced with censorship. The work is a two-man play set over seven days amid World WarII in 1940.

A young playwright comes up against a government censor to put a comedy on stage. The censor's job is to prevent anything political or taboo from getting into the pre-war media, but this particular censor has a thing against comedy, too.

Hwang will play the role of a young writer while actor Song Young-chang will take the role of a cold-blooded government censor.

The play was originally performed at Parco Theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan in 1997 to high acclaim. It was also made into a film which was then released in 2004 by Toho Studios, and directed by Hoshii Mamoru.

``It is the first time for me to take a leading role in a play. I will show how exciting the play is,'' Hwang said in a press conference on Friday.

``The script is so well-organized that the audience can spontaneously laugh. This work reflects the scriptwriter's philosophy about laughs,'' said Hwang.

Hwang gained popularity as a movie star but he began his acting career in theaters. The award-winning performer first began his acting career as a musical actor in ``Line 1'' (1995) and then starred in various musicals such as ``Jesus Christ Superstar,'' ``Cats'' and recently ``Nine.'' ``I think a movie is the art of a director but the play is the art of an actor,'' he said.

Starring in various musicals and plays in Daehangno, Hwang is now a household name on the big screen with successful performances in ``You Are My Sunshine,'' (2005) ``Black House'' (2007) and ``Happiness'' (2007).''

Hwang's debut film was ``The Waikiki Brothers'' in 2001. Then he appeared in prominent films like ``A Good Lawyer's Wife,'' ``You're My Sunshine,'' and ``Bloody Tie,'' in which he portrayed many diverse characters.