The original Korean musical "The Great Gatsby" on June 16 won Best Costume Design of a Musical at this year's Tony Awards, or the Oscars of theater, at the ceremony held at Lincoln Center in New York. (OD Company's official Instagram account)

By Yoon Seungjin

Director Shin Chun-soo's original musical "The Great Gatsby" has won Best Costume Design of a Musical at this year's Tony Awards of the U.S.

Linda Cho, the Korean American costume designer of the production, received the honor on June 16 at the awards ceremony held at the David H. Koch Theater of Lincoln Center in New York. The Broadway veteran won the same prize in 2014 for her work in Robert L. Freedman's "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder."

The honor was also the second for Shin's musical, following Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical from the Drama Desk Awards, which recognizes New York theater, on June 10. This shows how Korean musicals have raised their profile on the global market led by the director.

"Linda Cho added her own interpretation and recreated the 1920s costumes in a stylish and wonderful way," Shin said. "This enabled the audience to instantly enter Gatsby's world, immerse themselves in it and enjoy it together."

The annual Theater Fans' Choice Awards, which also recognizes the best in New York theater through audience voting, gave "Gatsby" nine honors including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Music and Best Direction.

Premiering on Broadway on April 25, the hit musical earned USD 1.28 million in its first three weeks of release. Originally slated to run until November, the show received an extension through spring next year.

scf2979@korea.kr