'Chicago' celebrates 21st anniversary in Korea with Tiffany Young

By Kwon Mee-yoo

"Chicago," Broadway's second longest-running musical, also has a long history in Korea, celebrating its 21st year with the upcoming production starring Tiffany Young of Girls' Generation as the new Roxie Hart.

The musical, set in jazz-age Chicago, centers on Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, two murderesses who seek fame in show business even while in prison, and their eloquent lawyer Billy Flynn.

Tiffany debuted as a member of Girls' Generation in 2007 and headed to the U.S. to continue her career as a solo artist in 2018 when her contract with SM Entertainment expired. This is the K-pop idol's second appearance in a musical after playing Carmen Diaz in the musical "Fame" in 2011.

Tiffany said “Chicago” is the first show she ever saw on Broadway, the heart of musical theater industry in New York.

“I saw the Korean production back in 2009. I watched Chicago about once every year as I visited New York with my sister. I dreamed of playing Roxie someday. So when I received the list of auditions early last year, Chicago caught my eyes,” Tiffany said during an online presser of the show's rehearsal, Thursday.

“Of course, I had a long discussion with my American agency as I wanted to head back to Korea for Chicago, but I don't regret my decision to audition for Chicago and my agency congratulated me on landing this role.”

Seasoned from her experience as an A-list K-pop idol for 10 years, Tiffany finds the charms of musical theater in teamwork.

“When I am on the stage as a singer, I prepare for the perfect three minutes or up to a one- or two-hour concert. However, in the musical, I find another beauty of singing as the character, which is rawer,” Tiffany said. “This team is like a fine wine, which gets better with time and I am getting much support from them as well.”

Tiffany said she learned hope and dreams from Roxie while rehearsing the show.

“I thought I was the kind of person who acts before thinking, but I realized that I think more than I thought. Roxie taught me that people can make mistakes and it wouldn't make the whole world come apart,” she said.

Tiffany alternates the role with singer-turned-actress Ivy and musical actress Min Kyoung-a. Ivy first played Roxie nine years ago and this is her sixth time playing the aspiring vaudevillian who murders her lover and is sent to jail.

Opposite Tiffany, veteran actresses Choi Jung-won and Yoon Gong-ju will play Velma Kelly, while Park Gun-hyung and Choi Jae-rim take on the role of lawyer Billy Flynn.

For authenticity of the production, associate director Tania Nardini and associate choreographer Greg Butler flew to Korea amid the worldwide pandemic situation.

Nardini said Korea holds a special place in her heart as it was the first international company she directed.

"I am working with very hardworking and talented people. Some are seeing me since 2007, while newcomers bring fresh blood and creativity to the show," Nardini said.

Butler expressed his gratitude to Seensee Company, the Korean production company behind “Chicago,” for staging the musical.

"Theater around the world has stopped and it has been challenging not to have theater in live. Thank you Seensee Company and Korea for continuing presenting live theater. I hope everyone will get insight and encouragement from this production," Butler said.

Butler mentioned Ann Reinking, actress of the original production of "Chicago" who choreographed the revival production in 1996 in style of the original choreographer Bob Fosse who passed away on Dec. 20, 2020.

"On Dec. 20, we lost the heart and center of Chicago the musical. Ann Reinking was a friend of ours and my mentor. She went to Paris for a French production of Chicago and made some changes to choreography in 2018. We are honored to bring the changes to Korea as we hold Ann to the highest regard," Butler said.

The choreographer also spoke highly of the Korean actors, who execute stylish musical impeccably.

"Korea has such amazing talent and we have the cream of the crop in Chicago. They are not just a singer or an actor, but bring so much to the show. Chicago doesn't have a chandelier or a helicopter ― we only have music, script and actors," he said.

Musical "Chicago" will be staged at Daesung D-Cube Arts Center in southwestern Seoul from April 2 to July 18.