Since September 9, SF9's Yoo Taeyang has joined the cast of the musical 'Rent' at the Coex Artium in Seoul. On the 16th, he shared his thoughts on the production with the media.
'Rent' first premiered on Broadway in 1996. It's a modern adaptation of Puccini's opera 'La Bohème,' depicting the intense lives of artists living in New York's East Village. The musical addresses taboo topics like homosexuality, AIDS, and drugs, delivering messages of empathy and solace through the voices of the youth.
This year marks the tenth performance since its debut in July 2000. Yoo Taeyang has been newly cast as Roger, the male lead. Although he auditioned for the role in 2023, he was unsuccessful, but now he finally meets the audience through this tenth performance.
In the musical, Roger is an obscure musician, a character shrouded in darkness and disconnected from the world. Yoo Taeyang felt an immediate connection, thinking, "This is just me." Driven by a desire to showcase himself, he secured the role of Roger in 'Rent.'
What aspects of Roger resonate so deeply with Yoo Taeyang? He explained, "Whenever Roger tries to pursue his dreams or love, he stumbles and things don't go as planned. That's similar to my experiences." He added, "I've always valued my alone time since childhood, and despite the love from fans, I often feel incomplete, much like Roger's internal conflicts."
Though Roger seemed similar, Yoo Taeyang found him darker than expected. From the moment he began rehearsing, it felt like digging a tunnel. He often sought solitude during rehearsals, believing Roger's character was too dark for cheerful interactions with fellow actors.
"From the moment I leave home for the theater until just before the performance, my expression isn't great. But the audience's support helps me get through the day. This routine repeats itself."
Does the persistence of dark emotions affect his daily life? Yoo Taeyang admitted, "I feel a significant drop in stability in my daily life," but added, "I also want to maintain this feeling, so I'm trying to keep it going."
Yoo Taeyang's vocal range doesn't match Roger's. He performs for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes without much rest, demanding both physical and emotional energy. He stated, "All I think about is doing well. I've never thought about conserving energy," and added, "Even after the show, I reflect on the performance, asking myself, 'How was it today?' 'Did I do well?'"
"The production of 'Rent' and all the actors and creators feel immense to me. Even after a month since the opening, it still feels unbelievable at times."
Having initially dug a tunnel, Yoo Taeyang has now embodied the depth of Roger's emotions. He shared, "Director Andy often told me, 'Just do what you feel. It's not strange at all,'" and added, "'Rent' has been an opportunity to unlock parts of myself that were confined. It made me reconsider who I am. While I'm grateful for the role of Roger, I'm also thankful for learning more about myself." He concluded, "While compliments on my acting and singing are nice, I hope the audience feels, 'I want to see that Roger again,' after watching my performance."
By Dayeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr