Ok Ju Hyun (Fin.KL) performs sensual belly dancing on a glamorous stage... The musical ”Mata Hari” returns

The story of Mata Hari, the epitome of a beautiful spy, will be re-played on the stage of a grand theater, heavily armed with splendor. Mata Hari was arrested by French authorities during World War I on suspicion of being a double agent.
This is an original musical based on the tragic true story of the dancer Mata Hari (real name Margaretta Gertrude Gerhl), who was assassinated and shot to death.
The antique set and over 200 costumes recreate the Belle Époque period in France, a time when culture and the arts flourished.
The costumes of the actors provide a rich highlight, inviting the audience into the life of the enchanting and beautiful dancer Mata Hari. The actress who plays Mata Hari will perform a sensual belly dance performance.
After Mata Hari is reborn as a dancer who will shake up the whole of Europe, she experiences a turbulent life as a spy in the middle of the war to protect her lover.
The film focuses on depicting certain episodes that add variety to the story, and also faithfully portrays the relationship between Mata Hari and Anna, who acts as a mother figure and protects her while helping her succeed.
Another notable feature is that the fictional Margaretta appears on stage and uses her graceful dance, incorporating ballet movements, to sensitively portray Mata Hari's past and inner pain.
Since its premiere in 2016, "Mata Hari" successfully attracted a cumulative audience of over 200,000 people when it was revived in 2017, and was also performed in Japan in 2018 and 2021 through license export.
Now in its fourth season, the production company EMK Musical Company has set up a real stage set in a studio of about 1,650 square meters, and is preparing for the performance while deepening the emotional lines and narrative of the work.
Ok Ju Hyun, who has played the role of Mata Hari since the premiere and has led the box office success of the show, said at a meeting on the 6th, "The humanism has become stronger and the emotional touch has become stronger.
"The story puzzle has come together better than it did last season, when the plot became more detailed," he said. "With the new season, we will present a more solid performance, like putting cement between bricks.
"I tried hard to reveal that," he continued. "After my activities in 'Fin.KL', I entered the musical world and had to fight preconceptions, so I've been dealing with that part of myself.
"It's a character with a lot of dialogue," he said, emphasizing, "I tried to meticulously embody all of the dancing, acting, and singing so that it would seem like I was really dressed as Mata Hari."
The music for "Mata Hari" was composed by Frank Wildhorn.
He is well known in Korea for his participation in many popular musicals such as "Jekyll & Hyde," "The Man Who Laughs," "Death Note," and "Dracula."
He was also in attendance at the meeting and said, "I was inspired by Ok Joo-hyun's voice, which has a soft yet powerful tone like a jazz saxophone, and I wanted to create a strong female character.
"I created music that is appropriate for the work that is the center of attention," he emphasized. "Mata Hari" will be performed until March 2nd next year. Solar (MAMAMOO) will alternate between the roles of Ok Joo Hyun and Mata Hari.
Ok Joo-hyun said, "Since it's rare to see a work that centers around a female character, I will be participating in the production with the determination to contribute to making 'Mata Hari' a long-lasting work."