JUMP Comes To New York This Spring

This spring, Jump, the internationally-renowned live-action martial arts comedy created by Yegam, Inc. Productions, comes to New York in a new production featuring new music, new plot twists and a new cast of hilarious martial artists. Presented by Show & Arts USA, LLC., Jump, begins performances Off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Wednesday, May 11. Opening night is Thursday, June 23.

Seen by over 3 million people worldwide, this gravity-defying, internationally acclaimed show combines comedy, martial arts, acrobatics and butt-kicking, live-action shenanigans. It's the story of one, very unusual family and all the mishaps and misadventures that ensue.

Directed by Jun-SAng Lee, the new production of Jump features Seok-Hoon Gu, Yeop Heo, Yun-Gab Hong, Hun-Young Jo, Eun-Jin Jung, Dong-Kyun Kim, Myoung-Sub Kim, Ju-Hee Lee, Gi-Heon Paek, Yeon-Jeong Park, Sang-Rok Seo, and Jung-Hoon Shin. Jump features a scenic design is by Mi-Ran Park; lighting design by Sun-Ju Jung; sound design by Ju-Hwan Eum; costumes design by Dolsilnai, Inc.; original music composed by Wook-Hyun Lee; and martial arts choreography by Gye-Hwan Park. Chul-Ki Choi is the artistic director and Won-Kil Paek is the comedy director.

"Jump has played all over the world," says executive producer Cara Han. "No matter the culture, language or age, we're always thrilled to hear our audience laugh out loud at the physical humor and cheer for the high-energy ‘martial-arts-ography.' We are all so excited to bring Jump back to New York in a new and updated production."

Jump begins performances Wednesday, May 11 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Opening night is Thursday, June 23. Performances are Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 7PM with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at 3PM. Via subway, take the 1/C/E trains to 50th Street. Tickets are $48-$65 (+$1.50 facility fee). A limited number of premium seats are available at each performance. Tickets are available through Telecharge.com, 212-239-6200.

ALL ABOUT JUMP

Originally conceived in 1999, Jump (originally titled Crazy Family) premiered at The National Theatre in Seoul in August 2002. Over two years, the show continued to develop through six different scripts and acrobatics training under the guidance of a Women's National Gymnastics team coach. In April 2003, the show was renamed Jump and performed at various theatres throughout Korea. The show continues to play at the Jump Theatre in Seoul, where it opened in September 2006, and in Busan, where it opened in May 2008.

Since 2005, the show has toured internationally to festivals and venues including the Israel Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe (sold-out performances in 2005 and 2006) and in various countries including England (Peacock Theatre), Spain, Greece, Russia, South Africa, Bahrain, India, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia, Laos and more. In 2007 - 2008, Jump played an exclusive one-year run at New York's Union Square Theatre. Recently, Jump toured 13 cities in China, Netherlands, Turkey, Australia and more. This spring Jump opened in Jeju Island in Korea prior to an Off-Broadway return at New World Stages in May.

The recipient of numerous international prizes, Jump won the 2006 ‘Comedy Award' at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the ‘Grand Prize for Drama and Musical' from the Korean National Assembly, and was featured in ‘The Royal Variety Performance' shown on BBC TV in December 2006. In 2007, the Korean International Trade Association gave a special citation to Jump for its outstanding international, commercial performance. In 2008, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism award Jump the prize as ‘The Best Performing Arts of Korea.'

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Seok-Hoon Gu (Father/Burglar 1) is studying Sports & Leisure. He achieved a 3rd grade from the Korea Hap-Ki-Do Federation (KHF) and was awarded a 3rd prize at the KH Competition in 2006.

Yeop Heo (Burglar 2) majored in Theatre at university. His performance credits include Dasepo Naughty Girls (movie, 2006), Time (short film, 2006) and Jesus Christ Superstar (musical).

Yun-Gab Hong (Burglar 1/Father) was the XLP National Representative of Tae Kwon Do from 2001 to 2002 and took part in the show Tae Kwon Diamond from 2002 to 2004.

Hun-Young Jo (Son-in-Law) majored in Architecture and worked as a bodyguard at the International Bodyguard Association (Korea). He was a student-actor/stuntman at Seoul Action School and has been featured in Korean movies including Oh, My God (2006) and Hwang Jin Hee (2007).

Eun-Jin Jung (Mother) majored in Broadcasting and Entertainment. She achieved a 2nd grade in Tae Kwon Do and worked as a stunt-woman in 2008. She has performed in many genres including TV dramas and movies, and also played main characters in The Mask of Fire at the Young Theatre Festival.

Dong-Kyun Kim (Son-in-Law) majored in Tae Kwon Do and has performed in the Tae Kwon Do exhibition games in Korea and abroad, including Mexico and the USA.

Myoung-Sub Kim (Grandfather) was a gymnast and majored in Physical Education at university. He obtained a secondary teaching certificate, and has teaching experience in gymnastics for seniors.

Ju-Hee Lee (Daughter) majored in Gymnastics. She achieved a 1st grade instructor certificate in Child Physical Education and a 2nd grade certificate in Gymnastic coaching.

Gi-Heon Paek (Old Man) majored in Apparatus Gymnastics at Korea National Sports University. He worked as a stunt man for 6 years and has teaching experience in gymnastics. He appeared in many TV dramas including The Great King's Four Gods, Lee San, King Geunchogo and Surprise for a major television network.

YEON-JEONG PARK (Daughter/Mother) majored in Tae Kwon Do and was a Tae Kwon Do representative at university. She was a member of the martial arts team X-file and a Korean National Exhibition Team member of Tae Kwon Do. She has toured Mexico and Japan in several Tae Kwon Do performances.

SANG-ROK SEO (Burglar 1/Uncle) majored in Police Administration and started his career as an actor in 2006, appearing in many plays and TV programs, including Marshmallow, Gag Concert, Lee Su Il & Shim Soon Ae.

JUNG-HOON SHIN (Uncle) majored in Hap Ki Do and Tae Kwon Do at university. He achieved a 4th grade in Tae Kwon Do, a 4th grade in Hap Ki Do, and a 2nd grade in Judo.

JUN-SAng Lee (Director). Directing credits include Our Broken Here (1994); King Wooboo (1997); performances at the Japan International Mask Dance Festival (2002); and Anton Chekov's Three Sisters (2003). He has been directing Jump since 2003.

Cara Han (Kyung-Ah Han) (Executive Producer) is CEO/Producer of Show & Art, Inc., which develops, produces and manages performing arts productions. She worked at the Sejong Cultural Center for eight years and coordinated events for The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Maurice Bejart and others in Seoul. In New York, she was an international supervisor of Jump (2007-2008) and a producer of the extreme dance comedy Break Out with SevenSense Inc. (2008). Korean Contents Awards awarded her their 2009 President's Award.

LUCIA HAN (SONG-YEE HAN) (Co-Producer) is a managing director at Show & Arts, Inc. where she served as a supervisor for Break Out in New York and in Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and coordinated many overseas tours including Jump and Break Out.

William Mead (Associate Producer) Grammy nominated record producer with more than 100 recordings to his credit. Theater: Over 30 Broadway shows and over 80 National and International Tours. Television: co-produced the "The Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration of the Opening of Diplomatic Relations between the United States and China" for CCTV. Performed, produced and written for the "Super Bowl Half Time Show," "The Miss America Pageant," "Royal Pains," "Love Monkey" and "Sex and the City." Conceived with Johnny Cash the Broadway production of "Ring of Fire."

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