Seung-Woo Cho, "The stress reached its peak in 'Phantom of the Opera',"

Actor Cho Seung-woo revealed that there was a time when he thought about leaving the musical 'Phantom of the Opera'.

Recently, an interview with Cho Seung-woo was released on the official SNS of his agency Goodman Story. Seungwoo Cho is currently appearing in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, which is currently being performed at the Busan Dream Theater.

Seungwoo Cho said, "I made the decision quite a while ago, probably before I even started working on 'Hedwig'. It was a role I really wanted to try someday, so I thought, 'Let's try it when given the chance!' “I made the decision with that in mind. Since I had to master the high baritone range, I continued to take vocal skills lessons for the first time so that I could easily perform long-term performances that lasted over a year,” he said.

He continued, "Because all the ghost cast members majored in vocal music, I was intimidated without realizing it, but even if I learned vocal music through a few months of hard training, it would be obvious that I would not be able to follow the sounds of the actors who have been honing their skills for 10 or 20 years and would only be imitating them. “Rather, I started step by step with the purpose of strengthening the sound I had and gradually increasing my vocal range so that I could produce it without difficulty,” he added.

Seung-Woo Cho said, "My hope was, 'Let's just give my sound the color I seek! It may not be enough, but as always, let's approach it with a song that puts words first.' Of course, after the curtain rose, we performed 7 times, but there are still many people looking for it. I don't think I was able to do it. There were a lot of twists and turns. It's just an excuse, but from the beginning of practice, acute sinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, and cold came one after another, so I couldn't do anything during practice, so I was worried about all the actors and staff, including the director. “It caused a lot of damage,” he confessed.

He said, "There was no progress for over a month and a half and it was a nuisance to everyone, so I thought I should just say 'I was off topic. I'm sorry' and get out. Even during the dress rehearsal, my voice didn't come out. What the hell." I wonder how dramatically the performance is going to go up like this. Will I be able to hit the first ball? The stress was at its peak and the pressure was weighing down on my shoulders. I couldn't breathe, I wanted to give up, and the whole time felt like hell. While doing a musical, “It was my first time experiencing it,” he said.

Seung-Woo Cho said, "I received treatment at ENT clinics in Seoul, ENT clinics in Busan, and Oriental medicine clinics. I did everything I could. It was difficult to endure the miserable time any longer. However, the prayers of my colleagues, the support of my teammates, Director Reiner, music director William Seong-woo, music director Yang Joo-in, stage director Won-seok Lee, CEO Dong-won Shin, the original ghosts Yeong-seok, Ju-ji, and Dong-seok, who believed in actor Cho Seung-woo until the end, gave him only good energy, and focused on his recovery. “All of our actors and staff prayed and supported us, and like a miracle, the sound gradually began to return from the final dress rehearsal.”

He also said, "I'm still recovering, but if it weren't for them, I probably wouldn't have been able to do my first performance. I feel this every time I perform. I'm trying my best, but I'm sorry for making you feel like I'm missing you. I want to recover quickly and repay you with stable sound and acting. “This is my biggest goal. Of course, I cannot satisfy everyone who took this difficult step, but my current big wish is to at least give them a small impression so that they can think, ‘You are really truly trying your best!’” .The following is Seungwoo Cho’s Q&AQ. I heard that you put a lot of effort into preparing the musical <Phantom of the Opera>. What parts in particular did you focus on in your preparation?

I made the decision quite a while ago, probably before I even started “Hedwig.” <Phantom of the Opera> is a truly amazing work, and it is a role I have always wanted to play, so I decided to take on it with the thought, ‘When given the opportunity, let’s try it!’

Because I had to master the vocal range of a high baritone, I took regular vocal lessons for the first time to help me perform long-term performances that lasted over a year. I didn't learn vocal music. Since all the ghost cast majored in vocal music, I felt discouraged without realizing it, but even if I learned vocal music through a few months of hard training, it would be obvious that I would not be able to follow the sounds of the actors who had been honing their skills for 10 or 20 years and would only be imitating them. I started step by step with the goal of strengthening the sound I had and gradually increasing my vocal range so that I could produce it without difficulty.

Just ‘let’s give my sound the color I pursue! It may not be enough, but as always, my hope was to approach the song with words that come first.' Of course, after the curtain rose, we performed 7 times, but I don't think we've been able to find many people yet. There were many twists and turns. It's just an excuse, but from the beginning of practice, acute sinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, and cold came one after another, and I couldn't do anything during practice, which caused a lot of worry to all the actors and staff, including the director.

Since no progress had been made for over a month and a half and it was causing trouble to everyone, I even thought about getting out of the situation, saying, "I was presumptuous. I'm sorry." My voice didn't come out until just during the dress rehearsal. How on earth are we trying to make the performance so dramatic? Will we even be able to hit the first ball? The stress was at its peak and the burden was weighing down on my shoulders. I couldn't breathe, I wanted to give up, and every time felt like hell. It was my first experience while doing a musical.

Treatments available at ENT clinics in Seoul, ENT clinics in Busan, and Oriental medicine clinics... I did everything I could. It was no longer difficult to endure the miserable time. However, thanks to the prayers of my colleagues, the support of my teammates, director Reiner, who believed in actor Cho Seung-woo until the end, gave him only good energy, and focused on his recovery, music director William Cooper, music director Joo-in Yang, stage director Won-seok Lee, CEO Dong-won Shin, and the original ghost, Yeong-seok. Thanks to the prayers and support of Lee Hyeong, Joo Soo-i, Dong-seok, and all of our staff, the sound gradually began to return from the final dress rehearsal, as if by a miracle.

I'm still recovering, but if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't have been able to hit my first pitch.
I feel this every time I perform. I'm doing my best, but I'm sorry that I feel like I'm causing you some disappointment. My biggest goal is to recover quickly and repay you with stable sound and acting.
Of course, I can't satisfy everyone who took this difficult step, but my current big wish is to at least give them a little bit of inspiration so that they can think, 'I'm really doing my best!'

I know I can't be the best. Because I never once dreamed of being the best. However, I will not deceive myself and will always keep my promise to do my best on stage. Absolutely!

Q. You have successfully completed your first preview performance on March 25th and are continuing to show good acting. I am curious about your impressions as you perform one performance after another.

I don't think I completed it successfully. I'm just grateful for the applause even though there were a lot of shortcomings. I took it as a sign to do better and develop further. I'm always afraid of the stage, but I will overcome it well and continue to grow so that I can get a little closer to my sincerity.

Q. Please say a word to the people who love actor Cho Seung-woo and <Phantom of the Opera> and to the audience who will come to see the performance in the future!

I sincerely thank you for loving <Phantom of the Opera> and the actor on stage named Cho Seung-woo.
This is a meaningful stage that I will put my whole heart into so that you will not be disappointed in your heart and steps! We will do our best to show you. Please look forward to the performance of our house, Dong-seok, and Jae-rim, who have always given us great strength and will, and come visit us. Just thank you.

Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr