150921 VOGUE GIRL KOREA OCTOBER 2015

Ever since our debut, I've always been interested in musicals. I was the first to try acting amongst the members, and am attending the Theatre and Film department in university. But Sandeul ended up doing a musical first. Upon seeing him on stage, my desire got even greater. However it was also me myself who rejected the offers from the musical management, because I felt the timing wasn't right. I tend to consider very seriously whenever I attempt to start something, so I felt that if I was going to do a musical I should do it perfectly. When I did my musical debut 'Chess' not too long ago, the seniors said something similar too. That there are many hard working people, that it is a must to be hard working, that one must do well. But that doesn't mean that I did very well in my first musical. Even though it wasn't 100% perfect, but I think I did well enough for me to comfort myself that I didn't do too bad. 'Chess' was a production that came in when I gained some confidence. It was a point where I felt that it was time to step up to the challenge no matter whether I end up doing well or not, and also a moment where I was sorry to the fans. Since I did not do any acting ever since the one drama I did in my early days. If I had decided to do all the theatre shows, musicals and dramas offered to me back then, I think I would have been very nervous and worried. 'Chess' revolves around chess competitions, but also touches on the ideologies of the Cold War as well as love. The role I played, Anatoly, was a world class Russian chess champion. He is someone who is inflexible as a result of living a suppressed life, but wishes to live freely. Despite him being of a different age and generation as myself, I could relate to how he remains calm and does not waver even in difficult situations. As it was a quadruple casting between Kwon hyung, SHINee's Key and VIXX's Ken, we were able to share our research of the character. Like myself, it was also Jaehwan's (Ken) first musical challenge. Kwon hyung and Kibum (Key) gave us advice, telling us that we have very distinct colors and that we should express that individuality to our hearts' desire. As for Shin Sungwoo hyung, he has the same surname and is of the same generation (in a clan) as me so I depended a lot on him. Senior Lee Gunmyung always asks me about my condition for that, as we wait backstage for a scene between Anatoly and Freddy in the early parts of the Act 1. On my last show, I recalled him asking me 'how is your condition today? Is it all right?' so I ended up crying after hugging him. All the seniors and the hyungs, noonas and friends in the ensemble are so talent. I remember being in so much shock after my first practice session. Idols also sing as we dance, but for them it was just the basics and they were all so good at everything else beyond that too. I think the members were a little shocked after seeing me on stage. It was like how whenever I watch them act, I think to myself that 'ah, that's not how he acts in real life'. It might have been weird seeing me not as myself but as someone else. Right, there was also feedback that I sung well. The numbers that were composed by 2 of the ABBA members had an interesting mix of classical and pop music style, and even the seniors found it difficult. People said that they felt a surge of electricity in themselves when they heard me sing the final number of Act 1, 'Anthem'.

Source: shindongwoo.com

Translation Credits: skipfire.tistory.com

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