Actor Kwak Do-won's return to the theater stage has been canceled.
According to the performance industry on the 4th, Kwak Do-won, who was cast as Stanley in the play 'A Streetcar Named Desire' scheduled to be performed at the National Theater's Daloreum Theater on October 9-10, has withdrawn.
The theater company Ttoemaroo stated, "The cast for the role of Stanley in this performance has changed due to the production company's circumstances," and added, "We will do our best to make it a good production with the new casting."
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ was published in 1947 and earned Tennessee Williams the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize, elevating him to the ranks of mainstream American playwrights.
It was also made into a film, featuring Vivien Leigh as Blanche and Marlon Brando as Stanley, winning four Academy Awards for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Art Direction at the 24th Academy Awards.
Not only Kwak Do-won, but also the initially cast lineup including Song Sun-mi, Kwak Do-won, Oh Jung-yeon, and Bae Gi-sung are not visible in the lineup photo announced by the theater company.
Currently, Bang Eun-hee, Han Da-gam are cast as Blanche, Lee Se-chang and Kang Eun-tak as Stanley, Seo Ji-yoo and Kim Se-ram as Stella, and Park Hyung-jun as Mitch.
Kwak Do-won was caught drunk driving in Jeju Island in September 2022, and in 2023, the Jeju District Court issued a summary order imposing a fine of 10 million won on him.
Following the incident, Kwak Do-won suspended his activities. Although the film 'Firefighter', in which he starred last year, was released, he was excluded from the promotional schedule. The director, Kwak Kyung-taek, also expressed disappointment, stating, "I feel very resentful and disappointed."
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
