Ivy to Make Broadway Debut as Lead in Musical 'Chicago'

[Anchor]

Actress Ivy is set to make her Broadway debut as a lead in the musical 'Chicago.' Meanwhile, the play 'I Am My Own Wife,' featuring a tour-de-force performance by an actor playing 35 different roles, has opened.

Culture Correspondent Kim Soo-hyun reports.

[Reporter]

Ivy will become the first Korean actor to perform as a lead in the musical 'Chicago' on Broadway in New York.

Following a proposal from the U.S. production company in 2024 and three rounds of video auditions, she has been cast as Roxie Hart for a three-week run starting this August at the Ambassador Theatre in New York.

Since 2012, Ivy has played the role of Roxie Hart 592 times in the Korean licensed production of 'Chicago,' making her the actor who has performed the role the most in Korea.

Ivy has been focusing on her practice to perform not only the songs but also the long monologues entirely in English. She stated that she would consider it a success just to effectively convey the story to American audiences.

[Ivy / Musical Actress: It has been 16 years since I debuted in musicals. I hope this serves as a source of strength, dreams, and courage for many people, showing that even if you aren't fluent in English, are older like me, or aren't a big star, such opportunities can still come your way.]

Ivy's Broadway debut reflects the 'color-blind casting' trend on Broadway, which selects actors regardless of race, as well as the recently elevated status of Korean musicals.

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[Play 'I Am My Own Wife' / Through July 12 / Doosan Art Center]

'I Am My Own Wife' is a play that depicts the tumultuous life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a real-life figure from Germany.

Written by American playwright Doug Wright, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner, the play captures the process of Wright interviewing Charlotte to write the script about her life.

Charlotte, who survived as a sexual minority and a cross-dresser under both the Nazi regime and the East German socialist system, operated a museum by collecting furniture and gramophones. She is a complex character who was both a victim and a perpetrator.

A single actor portrays a staggering 35 characters, including Charlotte, by utilizing different vocal tones, gestures, and German dialogue.

Actor Ji Hyun-jun, who delivered an intense performance as Charlotte in 2014, has returned to the role after 12 years, and actor Baek Seok-kwang has newly joined the production.

Reported by Seol Chi-hwan | Video edited by Shin Se-eun
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.