2025 Asia Performing Arts Forum: The Making of Musicals

Time：Nov 28, 2025（Fri）11:00-14:00
Place：Studio 3, 11 fl of TPAC
Instructor：So-Yeong GU
Interpreter：Hsin-Tzu CHANG

About the Instructor：

So-Yeong GU｜Music Director

Music director, director, and vocal coach with over two decades of experience in musicals, plays, and concerts. She has served as music director for Werther (also collaborative director, conductor, and pianist), If/Then, Come From Away, The Bridges of Madison County, and Pungwolju, with productions staged in Korea, Japan, and beyond. She has taught at leading institutions including the Seoul Institute of the Arts, and is currently a lecturer at the Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) Academy. Gu is also CEO of Company SUM and Complex Cultural Space JA-U.

Time：10:15-12:00, Nov 29, 2025（Sat） 
Place：Studio 1, 11 fl of TPAC
Moderator：Wu-Ming CHEN
Speakers：Wu-Ming CHEN, Shohei SANO, Paul TAM, Jongyoon CHOI
About the Speakers：

Wu-Ming CHEN｜Founder, Activa Productions

 

Wu-ming Chen is a theatre producer and A Cappella music developer. He founded Activa Productions with Hsiaoli Wu, focusing on introducing licensing musicals and business model innovation of performing arts industry.  Recently he produced off-Broadway musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, which is the longest running musical in Taiwan for the present. He also produced Next to Normal, The Play That Goes Wrong, Titanic, and Korea licensed play Beautiful Life.

Shohei SANO｜Development and Acquisitions Division in the Theatrical Department, TOHO Co., Ltd.

Sano joined Toho Co., Ltd. in 2008. As a member of the Development and Acquisitions Division in the Theatrical Department, he is currently in charge of musical programming, casting, planning and development, after working in theater promotion and theater management. Prior to joining the Theatrical Department, he was involved in the promotion and creative work of Japanese and American films.

Paul TAM｜Executive Director, Performing Arts of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

Tam joined WKCDA in March 2020 and leads the Performing Arts Division to deliver world-class programmes and performing arts venues and facilities in the WKCD. He is responsible for steering the strategic planning and sustainable development of these venues, and overseeing their business direction, artistic development, venue operations, technical and production, facilities planning and delivery. Before joining WKCDA, he served as Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet, where he oversaw its strategic development, institutional advancement, brand-building, education and community outreach, and international touring. He is Director of the International Society for the Performing Arts, Board Member and former Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association Governor of the Federation of Asian Cultural Promotion and Advisor for Our Hong Kong Foundation. 

Jongyoon CHOI｜Composer, professor of  Korea National University of Arts 

 (Due to a health issue, Mr. Jongyoon Choi will attend by a pre-recorded video in lieu of in-person.)

Jongyoon Choi is a composer and educator based in Seoul, Korea. He leads the Musical Theatre Writing Program at the Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS), mentoring emerging writers/composers and fostering cross-border collaboration in Asia. His work spans new musicals, adaptations, and music direction for the stage, with a focus on dramaturgically driven songwriting and writer development. Choi has advised international showcases and workshops with regional partners, and contributes to policy dialogues on artist-centered ecosystems. He is currently developing new works and guiding artist-led productions that explore contemporary narratives and musical languages.

Time：13:00-14:20, Nov, 29, 2025（Sat） 
Place：Studio 1, 11 fl of TPAC
Moderator：Owen WANG
Speakers： Ji-Eun SUN, Ivanhoe Chun-Ho LAM, Yulia CHEN
About the Speakers：

Owen WANG｜Artistic Director, Studio M

 

Adept in film scoring, musicals, arranging, and producing, Wang holds an M.A. in film scoring from New York University and a B.A. in International Relations from National Taiwan University. He studied with veteran Hollywood composer Ira Newborn and seasoned Broadway music director Joseph Church. His musical style is diverse, blending rock, pop, jazz, blues, classical, and world music. He has been nominated multiple times for the Golden Horse, Golden Bell, and Golden Melody Awards, and received a Golden Bell Award. In 2011, he founded Crazy Musical Studio, becoming a key promoter of contemporary musicals in Taiwan.

 Ji-Eun SUN ｜Director of Korea Production 

Sun is a Korean director whose work spans musicals, plays, and concerts across Korea, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and Japan. Her musical directing credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Korea production and Taiwan tour), Agatha (China production), Troll’s Child (Korea and Vietnam productions), In the Heights (co-director, Korea production and Japan tour), and Maybe Happy Ending (2025 Korea production). She also directed the theme performance of the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo and currently teaches at Baekseok University of the Arts.

Ivanhoe Chun-Ho LAM ｜Director of Hong Kong Production

He received a B.A. in Choreography from Codarts in Rotterdam. His recent work includes Still, Not Still (Opening Programme of the New Premises of Hong Kong Arts Developement Council), Living Up to Death (City Contemporary Dance Company), and Report ii - the illegal i (New Vision Arts Festival 2021). He is the residency artist at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (HK) until March 2026. His work spans stage direction, choreography and movement design. His collaborations include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (WestK x Ivanhoe Lam x Jordan Cheng), The Little Things in Life (Yatpo Singers), Garden of Repose (HK Arts Festival 52nd), The Impossible Trial - a Musical (Freespace x HK Repertory Theatre), St. John Passion (New Vision Festival 2023), and Gay Games 11 in Hong Kong Opening Ceremony.

Yulia CHEN ｜Director of Taiwan Production

Artist, theatre director and performer. Her works often integrate the local environment, using sound, video, installation, and live performances as creative tactics. She likes to mix forms and sound for developing themes in her performative works. Chen is the Founder and Theater Director of Her Lab Space, which opens up trans-disciplinary collaboration with artists from various backgrounds.

Time：14:40-16:00, Nov, 29, 2025（Sat） 
Place：Studio 1, 11 fl of TPAC
Moderator：Mel YANG
Speakers：Mardy LEE, Chris TSENG, Paul TAM
About the Speakers：

Mel YANG｜CEO, Quanta Arts Foundation 

Yang had served as the Artistic Director of Allmusic Musical Theatre, the CEO of Poco-a-poco Music Education Foundation, a board member of the Digital Art Foundation, and the Artistic Director of the Hsinchu Concert Hall. He won a Taiwan Golden Melody Award for Best Classical Album Producer and was nominated for Best Lyricist. As a Musical Artistic director, his works include April Rain, My Dear Next-Door, The Impossible Time, among others--totaling 11 productions. He is dedicated to creating a Taiwan Original Performing Arts Empowerment Base. He founded the Quanta Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cross-Strait Arts Festival, the Technology Performing Arts Award, the Performing Arts Golden Creative Award, the Cloud Stage Award, and other significant initiatives.

Mardy LEE ｜Producer, 3AQUA Production

Producer and co-founder of 3AQUA Production, Lee graduated from the Department of Psychology at Kaohsiung Medical University and studied Stage Management and Production at the Tokyo School of Music & Dance in Japan. During this period, he participated in the production of nearly a hundred plays and 2.5-dimensional theater performances. Production credits include Old Boys, God Convenience Store, Taipei Air Raid, Freedom New Town SP, Freedom New Town 1.5, Rain Port Keelung, and others.

Chris TSENG｜Artistic Director, VMTheatre Company

 

A native of Hsinchu, Taiwan, Tseng currently serves as the Artistic Director of VMTheatre Company and as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Drama at Taipei National University of the Arts. He holds a master's degree in musical theater performance from New York University, is an active musical theater director in Taiwan, and manages the Musical Theater Talent Training program at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. His works are diverse in style. He is adept at combining the concepts and creative framework of New York musical theater performance with the essence of Eastern performing arts, drawing nourishment from his own culture to tell Taiwanese stories. This approach not only draws audiences in with original musical theater works but also creates exciting fusion between Eastern and Western cultural elements. In 2023, he was selected as the Person of the Year by PAR. Notable directed works include The Three Sisters Who Advise the World, Chuan'er, The Last Night of Leejing Karaoke, and DAYLIGHT.

Paul TAM｜Director, Performing Arts of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

Tam joined WKCDA in March 2020 and leads the Performing Arts Division to deliver world-class programmes and performing arts venues and facilities in the WKCD. He is responsible for steering the strategic planning and sustainable development of these venues, and overseeing their business direction, artistic development, venue operations, technical and production, facilities planning and delivery. Before joining WKCDA, he served as Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet, where he oversaw its strategic development, institutional advancement, brand-building, education and community outreach, and international touring. He is Director of the International Society for the Performing Arts, Board Member and former Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association Governor of the Federation of Asian Cultural Promotion and Advisor for Our Hong Kong Foundation.

Time：16:20-17:40 , Nov, 29, 2025（Sat）
Place：Studio 1, 11 fl of TPAC
Moderator：Hsin-Tzu CHANG
Speakers：Vanessa LIN, Mariko KOJIMA, Mika ABE
About the Speakers：

Hsin-Tzu CHANG｜Artistic Director, C MUSICAL

 

Chang, a graduate of the Graduate Institute of Performing Arts at National Taiwan Normal University and former exchange student at Chung-Ang University in Korea, is the Artistic Director of C MUSICAL. She is a musical producer, lyricist, and composer. Her work Non-Reading Club received the Jury’s Special Award at the Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF). Her works spans Taiwan and Korea, including Chinese adaptations of the Korean musicals Let Me Fly, The Little Prince, and Yujin and Yujin; compositions for Oedipus and King Munyung; and original creations such as Huiyin, My Shanghai Mr. Right, and Falling City. Her signature works Non-Reading Club, Meant to Meat, and One Fine Day have been licensed for film/TV and international productions. She is dedicated to fostering collaboration in the Taiwan–Korea musical theatre industry.

Vanessa LIN｜Founder, AM Creative

Vanessa Lin is the founder of AM Creative and a musical theater producer. She holds a master's degree in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from City, University of London, UK. With a background in both Chinese and Western music, she has long been engaged in international productions and the promotion of family musicals. She has taught at several universities and was invited to serve as an overseas judge for the K-Musical Road Show in South Korea. With many years of dedication to international musical theater talent education and promotion, she also established AM Musical Theatre School, focusing on nurturing the next generation of creators and performers. Her works span original, licensed, and immersive theatre. Her credits include "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (licensed by RSC, UK), "Boom! Home Run" (licensed by LIVE, Korea), "The Watermelon Pool" (AMK, Korea), "Dinosaurs Are Back" (Culture Holic, Korea), "My Mom is Eny," and "Little Sun: A Family Musical," among others. She continues to work on incubating original Taiwanese content and introducing international classics to local audiences, creating a richer and more diverse performing arts landscape.

Mariko KOJIMA｜Chief Producer, Theatrical Department of TOHO Co., Ltd.

Chief Producer of the Theatre Division of Toho Co., Ltd., Kojima earned her M.A. in Dramaturgy from Columbia University and worked as a script reader at New York Theatre Workshop and The Public Theater before becoming Broadway’s youngest dramaturg in 2004. She studied musical theatre writing at Musical Theater Works and NYU, and continues translating musical books and lyrics. At Toho, she became the first female Chief Producer in the 101-year history of the Imperial Theatre. Her producing credits include Itaewon Class, Moulin Rouge!, Maybe Happy Ending, Ragtime, RENT, and nearly 100 shows.

 Mika ABE｜International Division in the Theatrical Department, TOHO Co., Ltd.

Abe Joined Toho Co., Ltd. in 2025. As a member of the International Division in the Theatrical Department, she is involved with acquiring licensing rights for musicals and plays worldwide as well as overseas tours, such as the Taiwan tour of Toho's original production. Preceding her role at Toho, she has managed the presentation of international touring musicals at Tokyu Theatre Orb.

Time：10:15-12:00, Nov 30, 2025 (Sun) 
Place：Studio 1, 11 fl of TPAC
Moderator：Jui-Chun SUN
Speakers: Mika ABE, Jongyoon CHOI
About the Speakers：

 Jui-Chun SUN｜CEO, GLORY Foundation for Creative Industries

  

Currently serving as the CEO of GLORY Foundation for Creative Industries, Sun specializes in production coordination, project development, and operational management. Graduated from the Graduate Institute  of Arts Administration ofTaipei National University of the Arts and the Department of Accounting at Fu Jen Catholic University, she was a producer of the musical Taiwan Has a Hollywood. She is the host of Reading Theatre Hub-Musical Theatre Venture Matching Platform and works to promote the industrialization of musical theatre in Taiwan and the establishment of a creative incubation mechanism.

 Mika ABE｜International Division in the Theatrical Department, TOHO Co., Ltd.

Abe Joined Toho Co., Ltd. in 2025. As a member of the International Division in the Theatrical Department, she is involved with acquiring licensing rights for musicals and plays worldwide as well as overseas tours, such as the Taiwan tour of Toho's original production. Preceding her role at Toho, she has managed the presentation of international touring musicals at Tokyu Theatre Orb.

Jongyoon CHOI｜Composer, professor of Korea National University of Arts

Jongyoon Choi is a composer and educator based in Seoul, Korea. He leads the Musical Theatre Writing Program at the Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS), mentoring emerging writers/composers and fostering cross-border collaboration in Asia. His work spans new musicals, adaptations, and music direction for the stage, with a focus on dramaturgically driven songwriting and writer development. Choi has advised international showcases and workshops with regional partners, and contributes to policy dialogues on artist-centered ecosystems. He is currently developing new works and guiding artist-led productions that explore contemporary narratives and musical languages.

Time：13:00-14:10, Nov 30, 2025（Sun） 
Place：Studio 1, 11 fl of TPAC
Moderator： Chris TSENG
Speakers：Shuntaro FUJITA, Yu-Mei CHANG
About the Speakers：

Chris TSENG｜Artisitc Director, VMTheatre Company

 

A native of Hsinchu, Taiwan, Tseng currently serves as the Artistic Director of VMTheatre Company and as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Drama at Taipei National University of the Arts. He holds a master's degree in musical theater performance from New York University, is an active musical theater director in Taiwan, and manages the Musical Theater Talent Training program at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. His works are diverse in style. He is adept at combining the concepts and creative framework of New York musical theater performance with the essence of Eastern performing arts, drawing nourishment from his own culture to tell Taiwanese stories. This approach not only draws audiences in with original musical theater works but also creates exciting fusion between Eastern and Western cultural elements. In 2023, he was selected as the Person of the Year by PAR. Notable directed works include The Three Sisters Who Advise the World, Chuan'er, The Last Night of Leejing Karaoke, and DAYLIGHT.

Shuntaro FUJITA｜Director 

Fujita, graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, whose recent directing credits include Jersey Boys, Take Me Out, Musical Tegami, Shakespeare in Tenpō 12, etc. He has received numerous theater awards, including: 2025 Japan Arts Selection Award, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Newcomer Award for The Tragedy of King Lear and VIOLET, 2024 Yomiuri Theatre Award Grand Prize and Best Director Award for Rabbit Hole and Ragtime. VIOLET premiered in London in 2019. He participated as the sole Japanese director in a company where all cast and staff were British. Following its run at London's Charing Cross Theatre, he also staged a Japanese version with a Japanese cast.

Yu-Mei CHANG｜Music Director

Chang is a music director, keyboardist, and vocal coach active in Taiwan, China, and the United States. Holding degrees from Taipei National University of the Arts and Carthage College, she teaches at Carthage and the University of Wisconsin–Parkside. Chang has worked on productions including Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, Laundry, Daddy Long Legs, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and Next to Normal, and performed in The Phantom of the Opera international tour and Thrill Me, etc. Dedicated to musical theatre education and production, Chang brings a steady hand and a nuanced sensibility to her music direction.

Time: 15:00-18:00, Nov 30, 2025（Sun） 
Place：Studio 3, 11 fl of TPAC

Table 1: Director
Hosts: Shuntaro FUJITA, Ivanhoe Chun-Ho LAM

Table 2: Music Director
Hosts: So-Yeong GU, Yu-Mei CHANG 

Table 3: Lyrics and Composition
Hosts: Chris SHUM, Ching-Yen CHANG