[On Stage] "Roxy on Stage, Finally Achieved Her Dream"

Returning after beating 200:1 odds since 2011's 'Fame'
"As expected, Tiffany" - Colleagues' words give the most strength
Will continue challenging works like Jekyll & Hyde and Wicked

Tiffany Young. (Photo by Shin Company)

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] "I love Roxy more than the audience thinks. The audience will come to love Tiffany Young's Roxy even more."

Tiffany Young (32), a member of the second-generation representative girl group in the Korean music industry 'Girls' Generation' and also a solo singer, has returned to the musical stage after 10 years. She plays the sensual and charming 'Roxy Hart' in the musical 'Chicago,' which is celebrating its 21st year of performance this year.

Recently, Tiffany, whom we met at a cafe in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, showed endless affection for Roxy throughout the interview. Roxy has been Tiffany's number one dream character ever since she first saw 'Chicago' on Broadway in the U.S. in her twenties. In 2009, watching the Roxy portrayed by Girls' Generation members Taeyeon, Seohyun, Sooyoung, and Ok Joo-hyun, she vowed to definitely perform on the domestic stage.

Finally, she challenged the 'Chicago' audition. Tiffany prepared more than others to win the role of Roxy. In the end, she moved the staff. She overcame a competition rate of 200 to 1. She said, "Because the work itself is minimalistic, actors had to prepare music, dance, costumes, and so on in advance," adding, "I practiced these parts very hard." She also added, "Especially since the musical is based on jazz, I studied the tone of female jazz vocalists a lot."

Tiffany cited Roxy's pure desire to always be loved as the reason she was attracted to Roxy's charm. In the play, Roxy is an ambitious woman who does not hesitate to commit murder for success, combining sexiness with a bit of naivety. Tiffany tried to add her own inner self to Roxy to rebirth her as a more human character.

"At first, I liked Roxy because I thought she resembled me a lot as someone dreaming of becoming a star. But when I actually acted as Roxy, I began to see other charms. Everyone has feelings of wanting to be loved and protected. Roxy does not hide these feelings but expresses them honestly. These feelings of Roxy transfer to government official Fred Casely, Velma Kelly, Mama Morton, and Billy Flynn. I researched many details to express Roxy's humanism shown in this process."

Tiffany Young. (Photo by Shin Company)

During her idol days, Tiffany was often told she seemed like a perfectionist. But meeting Roxy taught her to let go of the strictness she always imposed on herself.

"In the past, I blamed myself a lot whenever I made a mistake. Even if just one fingernail was strange or there was one blemish on my face, I lived under the judgment of 'she's not good.' But Roxy doesn't panic as if the world is collapsing even if she makes a mistake. She always chooses other options positively and flexibly, thinking, 'So what? It can happen. Let's try something else.' I feel that Tiffany has become healthier by meeting the safe space that is Roxy. You could say the balance has been restored."

This is not Tiffany's first musical stage. She debuted as the lead Carmen Diaz in 'Fame' in 2011. Since then, she has devoted herself to singing activities, alternating between group and solo. She also released a self-composed album. Then, in her thirties, she opened the door as an actress rather than a singer. She feels she has grown over the past 10 years.

Tiffany said, "I have been studying acting since 2017," and revealed, "But 'Chicago' is the first work where I received full training." She added, "So far, as a singer, my stage experience and as a composer, my etiquette, understanding of songs, attitude, and absorption have changed a lot."

Tiffany Young performing in the musical 'Chicago'. (Photo by Shin Company)

'Chicago' has been explosively popular, maintaining a 98% seat occupancy rate since its opening on the 2nd. When asked who she wants to invite to the performance first, Tiffany laughed, saying, "There are no tickets." She said, "Last week, sister Lee Yeon-hee came, but she said she couldn't get a first-floor ticket and watched from the second floor, which touched me," and added, "People around me want to see it quickly, but there are only tickets for next month," expressing regret.

Tiffany likes hearing the word 'as expected' from her colleagues the most. It contains various meanings. Tiffany said, "Recently, when my friends said, 'As expected, you didn't have to worry,' I felt good all day as if I had won a gold medal," adding, "I think the word 'as expected' comes out only when steady effort and results accumulate, and I will continue to do my best."

Tiffany plans to challenge musicals more often in the future. She cited Lucy from 'Jekyll & Hyde' and Glinda from 'Wicked' as roles she wants to take on later. If given the chance, she also plans to challenge the Broadway stage with roles like Princess Jasmine from 'Aladdin' or Satine from 'Moulin Rouge.'

Tiffany said, "I love singing, dancing, and acting so much that I want to challenge musicals anytime as long as the story and message are good," adding, "I want to be someone who arouses anticipation about what kind of story will continue, whether in music or acting."

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