(This interview took place on May 19th, 2015) Q. How were you cast for this musical? CNU: To be honest, there were opportunities to participate in a musical before. Truthfully I really wanted to do a musical. But back then I wasn’t ready. ‘Could I do this?’ I lacked confidence, so I needed time to improve myself. Then this great opportunity was provided, so I was able to participate. I thought firmly to myself, ‘Let’s accept this challenge, let’s do this’. Ken: I’m a main vocalist within my team, and I really enjoy singing. I thought, ‘It would be really great if I challenged myself by being in a musical where I could do both acting and singing.’ I also thought a lot, ‘If I do this confidently, I’ll have fun and I’ll also be able to receive recognition from others.’ So that’s why I thought about wanting to be in a musical. Since we’re only at the beginning stages of practice I’m very nervous, but the only thought that crosses my mind is that I must do well. I will do well. (Laughs) Q. What was it like reading the <CHESS> script for the first time? CNU: It was difficult. Before I can face the audience and receive appreciation, first I have to understand it and express it. But I thought, ‘Could I interpret this and deliver it well?’ So I searched a lot of foreign videos, took in the song lyrics, and questioned, ‘Why did they say this in this situation?’ I think I especially listened to the music. The more I listen to the songs, the more I feel like I can understand this project. So I’m listening to a lot of songs. Ken: When I received the script, my mood lifted because I was so happy that I would be a part of a musical. (Laughs) I kept thinking that I must learn the script and songs quickly, so while in a happy mood, I think I continuously read the script. Q. Have your fellow team members who have musical experience (Sandeul, Leo) shared any words with you? CNU: Sandeul is helping me greatly. From practicing the script to portraying different characters, he’s helping me in various ways. Also, Sandeul’s previous project was <All Shook Up>, but many of the ensemble sunbae-nims are also a part of <CHESS>. So Sandeul introduced me to some ensemble hyungs who he befriended, and he said a lot of good things for me too. Ken: Since this is my first musical there are many aspects I don’t know about yet. But Leo Hyung advised me by saying, “Don’t be nervous and don’t worry. If you focus on your practice, you’ll do well”. Q. With the same role, Jo Kwon and Key are idol singers as well. It must be a great support for you. Ken: Jo Kwon Hyung and Key Hyung have musical experience, so they are our sunbaes. They are very helpful and I feel supported by them. It was only recently that we’ve gotten closer, but if I ever have a question they provide good answers. They are great hyungs. (Laughs) CNU: Though the four of us portray the same character, our interpretations are individualized. If I see an interpretation that is different from my own, I realize that possibility, and I feel like we are able to help each other and support each other a lot. Also, even when we don’t have practice days, Ken and I meet up and talk a lot with each other. Though he is younger than me, he’s become a great support. Q. There are many other sunbaes. Have you become closer with them? CNU: We dined out together a while back, and with a few drinks we had a lot of conversations. Shin Sung Woo sunbae-nim is a ‘Shin’ like myself, and we are of the same generation [T/N: the meaning of ‘항렬’ is similar to ‘generation’, but not exactly that. In Korea this refers to generations under the same family name. So CNU (Shin Dong Woo) and Shin Sung Woo are within the same generation under their last name, ‘Shin’. Oftentimes a ‘generation character’ is passed, which is why brothers/cousins may have the same character in their name. E.g. Dongwoo,Dongmin, Donghwan]. As such he was very welcoming, and even gave me a lot of advice. I told Kyung Soo sunbae-nim that I would work hard, and he responded by saying “Anyone can work hard, so just do a good job.” I think that’s correct. As a professional. To do a good job makes more sense. Even elementary students work hard. I thought to myself, “It’s not that I should just work hard, but I want to become someone who does a great job.” Ken: Siha sunbae-nim and Lee Jung Hwa sunbae-nim, who both portray Florence, approached me first and asked me, “how did you interpret it?” Through that we started talking a lot. It was difficult for me to approach my sunbae-nims first, but I was so thankful that they spoke so comfortably to me. Q. You haven’t performed your first stage yet, but through your practice, what do you think about musicals? Ken: For musicals, you need to practice for a very long time, and only after you are sure that you are prepared can you go on stage. When I think of a musical, I first think of that feeling of a live broadcast. And for this project there are many participating actors. I think that it’s with the coming-together of each person’s unique charms that makes the final product. A musical is made in this way, and to me that is really appealing. CNU: I thought that practice would be incredibly difficult, but it was actually fun. I was excited because I was able to do what I wanted to do. While practicing for the musical, our team has also been preparing our next album. So I’ve been going back and forth between composing and practice, but that has actually sparked more inspiration for my composing, and has helped me greatly with my lyric-writing. My body and mind are tired, but are also having fun. I’ve watched a couple of musicals in the past, but now that I’m a part of one I feel the liveliness of it. Every aspect of it is alive. Aside from whether the project is light or sad, I think there is a great thrill that comes with musicals. Q. Did you face any difficulties while practicing? Ken: Compared to usual singing, the style is different with musical singing. The character of Anatoly is in his mid-forties. So I thought that I should have a heavier tone, and practiced while singing in a lower tone. That was difficult. CNU: Since the style of singing is different, I struggle with the sound. When I was in high school, I learned about vocalization in order to enter applied music. I laid back a bit after debuting, but now it feels like I’m practicing like I did back then. I’m thinking about the basics of producing sound. Also, something surprised me during practice. I practiced my songs and came, but my sunbae-nims did more than just that; each line that they sang was like part of the script. They weren’t just singing, they were delivering the script. I was shocked after witnessing that, and started to think, ‘I shouldn’t just sing the song. I should sing as if I’m speaking.” Q. You are playing the male character of Anatoly. Could you introduce your character? CNU: For starters, he is a world chess champion. But he is also a cheater. (Laughs) He’s married, but has fallen in love with another woman and is craving freedom. While struggling between Russian and American ideologies, he also struggles between another woman (Florence) and his wife. He seems like a pitiful character. If you were to ask which character was the most pitiful, I would pick Anatoly. This man is suppressed and lacks freedom. He always craves freedom, so you may see him as someone who is always on edge. Thus, you start to think, “Is that why he also couldn’t easily fall out of love?” Though it’s hard for me to understand how he has a wife but can fall in love with another person, I am trying to understand his perspective. Ken: I feel bad for Anatoly. He loses in a match, and though he has a wife it basically ended with her long ago. He falls in love with Florence, but eventually that love fails as well. Though he is a bad person, you feel bad for him. If you look at it, he’s not a completely bad person. He’s lost a lot. Q. I heard that Anatoly is in his forties. There’s quite a gap between his and your real ages. How do you want to portray him? CNU: Because he’s in his forties, it’s hard to just pull something out or make imitations. I thought to myself, ‘I don’t want to make up something that’s not within me and forcibly portray the character.’ When you look at <CHESS> broadway videos, the character has a very youthful feel to him. So even though he’s in his forties, he has this youthful feeling inherent within him. So by putting aspects of myself into the character, I wish to keep his young emotions alive. Ken: I purposely don’t think about age. I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything if I think that he’s in his forties. I thought it would be cool to sing in a tone lower than my usual tone, so I’m focused on practicing to lower my singing tone. Also, though the audience can’t see closely, there are scenes of ‘chess’ within the musical. So I watched many clips of chess tournaments, and I’m practicing the posture of playing chess. Q. Members of ABBA created the music. There were a lot of great songs. CNU: The songs are really great. Amongst them is ‘Anthem’, the last song in the first half, which I think is especially great. The style of the song is magnificent. The song is performed when the main character is struggling with various things. So Shin Sung Woo sunbae-nim told me, “You have to perform this song very well. Through this song, you have to make the audience look forward to the second half.” He gave me this advice, and I agreed with his words. It’s a bit of pressure, but I think that I must do a good job. Ken: There are songs that go beyond classic and pop genres. I like them all, but among them I like ‘Anthem’ the most. I thought to myself, ‘How should I sing this in order for people to remember it?’ So I experimented with the melody. Q. There’s one month left until the opening show. What is it like when you imagine the first stage? Ken: The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is the largest theatre in our country, but compared to having a concert I think I’ll have a different nervous feeling. I’ll probably be nervous, but I think I’ll have enjoyable and even shocking moments. I’m looking forward to these things. CNU: The performance theatre is huge, but also it’s an honour for me since it’s a place where not everyone has the chance of standing. I imagine how the audience will view me, but it still hasn’t hit me yet. I think I need a bit more time to pass. (Laughs) Q. Through this musical, what sides of yourselves do you want to show? Ken: For starters, this is different than when I performed our album’s songs with VIXX. I have my own individual schedule. Since I’m doing this on my own, there is a bit of pressure. But I’m aware of the love that our fans give, so I hope that through my musical challenge my fans can be proud of me. That’s why I think that this musical is a great opportunity. I hope to do well and have a positive outcome. CNU: I originally thought that it would be nice to be a part of a musical. But now that I am finally doing it, I wish to hear from not only B1A4 fans but other individuals who come to watch <CHESS>, “I didn’t know about him before. He’s great.” Now is just the beginning, but I wish to give them faith. Source: playdb Trans: roz @ bethe1all4one Please remove all translations with full credits to source and translator.
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