Nanta is Coming to Town

Nope.  No spelling errors there.  While, Santa is (or should I say better be) coming to town, Nanta came to Songtan.  Nanta, a world renowned South Korean musical, captures what every 2 year-old knows how to do best- making music out of kitchen utensils.  Solely relying on knives, Tupperware, and other standard Korean cooking appliances, the cast of Nanta will leave every member of the audience in awe. 

Where to begin to describe it… It’s like Jackie Chan meet STOMP, on stage, equipped with knives and brooms, banging on drums, and tossing food in the air.  A child’s dream- fighting, drumming, and excessive food fighting. 



Cutting food or making music?  Or BOTH!



Traditional Korean drums replaced with water tubs and frying pans.

Knives bang on cutting boards, cabbage flies through the air, tensions raised with the addition of a new cook, and water jugs become drums for a traditional Korean drum performance.

With a mixture of dancing, music, cooking, audience participation, and lack of Korean words, this musical was beyond enjoyable.  How many people have seen a Broadway musical based exclusively around kitchen utensils?  I’ll be the first to admit, that I don’t believe that one even exists back in the States.

And unfortunately, while Nanta has staged in 18 different countries, it seems as if its American dream has come to an end.  Opening on Broadway in March 2004 and ending a short 17 months later, Nanta, or commonly referred to as Cookin in English, has veered back to the Korean audience. 

While my words fall short to explain this experience, I highly encourage you, if ever in Korea, to book reservations for this unique musical performance, as although only a musical, it brings to life the culture and customs of Korean cooking and society in a mere 90 minutes.  Perhaps you can urge them to one day take the stage again on Broadway.  If that’s the case, order an extra ticket for me- I’ll be sitting in the front row.

Video Advertisement of Nanta