[On Stage] "Playing Peggy in Broadway's 42nd Street Brings Me Joy"

'Broadway 42nd Street' Peggy role Kim Hwan-hee, first lead in a large theater musical
"Excited as Hwan-hee and Peggy... Already sad to say goodbye"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] "Mom, I made it. I became the lead in a grand theater musical." If there were a scene where Peggy Sawyer, the female lead of the musical 'Broadway 42nd Street,' calls her mother after being cast as the lead in the in-show musical 'Pretty Lady,' she might have said this.

Kim Hwan-hee, who plays Peggy Sawyer in 'Broadway 42nd Street,' received the final acceptance call for the audition last January. Kim Hwan-hee sat down right in front of the clock tower at the entrance of the Seoul Arts Center and cried uncontrollably, ignoring the stares of people around her.

"It was my world. It was just me and the person on the other side of the phone who said I passed. 'Hwan-hee, yes, we would like you to play Peggy Sawyer.' I cried so much it was dazzling." After crying her heart out, Kim Hwan-hee first shared the good news with her mother. At that time, she was on her way to perform in the musical 'Big Fish.' "I did an eye massage and performed. Even during the show, I kept telling myself not to get too excited."

Photo by CJ ENM

'Broadway 42nd Street' is a musical that tells a typical Cinderella story. The protagonist, Peggy Sawyer, is a country girl who dreams of becoming a musical dancer. Chasing her dream, she recklessly enters New York's Broadway and, after many twists and turns, is cast as the lead in the musical 'Pretty Lady,' becoming a star.

Kim Hwan-hee shares similarities with Peggy Sawyer in that this is her first time playing the lead in a grand theater musical. "There is a scene early in Act 2 where Peggy Sawyer has her first rehearsal. Strangely, I get excited then. I practice happily, feeling like Peggy Sawyer who has landed the lead role. That excitement feels very similar to how I felt when I first started 'Broadway 42nd Street.' It's an exciting and thrilling scene both as Kim Hwan-hee and as Peggy Sawyer."

In the story, Peggy Sawyer steps onto the stage in place of Dorothy Brock, the original lead of 'Pretty Lady,' who suddenly gets injured. With only 36 hours left before the performance, Peggy Sawyer undergoes harsh training without sleep.

Kim Hwan-hee also trained rigorously to learn tap dance for 'Broadway 42nd Street.' "From the end of January, I practiced more than 4 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, at choreographer Kwon Oh-hwan's studio."

Kim Hwan-hee's amount of practice is evident on stage. While continuously performing tap dance, she never loses Peggy Sawyer's joyful and happy expression. About two months before the opening, she suffered from Achilles tendon inflammation. "I couldn't wear shoes. I went to the hospital every day. It was the most depressing time while preparing for 'Broadway 42nd Street.' Most people learning tap dance for the first time go through this pain. Maybe because we shared the pain, there seems to be a special bond among the cast members."

Photo by CJ ENM

As this is her first lead role in a grand theater musical, 'Broadway 42nd Street' is a special work for Kim Hwan-hee. "It's very precious. Even when I'm still, thinking about it makes me feel so tender. It will be a huge memory in my 31 years of life. I learned a lot and gained confidence and courage." Kim Hwan-hee added, "Lately, my feelings are strange. Because it's a grand theater performance and the lead role, the burden started to appear after passing the halfway point of the show. It feels like a fear born from the regret of not wanting to let go of 'Broadway 42nd Street.'"

Kim Hwan-hee will also appear in 'Kinky Boots,' opening on the 21st at Blue Square Interpark Hall. She described her character Lauren as a tomboy and said she would show a different side from the calm Josephine in 'Big Fish' and the lively Peggy Sawyer in 'Broadway 42nd Street.'

'Big Fish' was the first production where Kim Hwan-hee played a named role, Josephine, rather than an ensemble part. From 'Big Fish' to 'Kinky Boots,' she will be performing in three consecutive grand theater productions. She said, "Small theaters have a different charm from grand theaters. I want to show various roles regardless of whether it's a grand or small theater stage."

"As an actor, I have gained some stability, but ultimately, an actor becomes what they work for. I am actually more cautious. There is also the burden of having to stay focused. I don't want to settle, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't just settle. Five or six years ago, my dream was to make money by singing, and I achieved that dream. I want to continue acting until I die. It's not a very high dream, but I will strive for just one step higher than now."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.