Casting.
In the composition of a play, the most vital elements were the stage, the script, the actors, and the audience. These were often referred to as the four pillars of theater. However, if one were to identify the most crucial among them, it would undoubtedly be the script and the actors. No matter how exceptional a script might be, without skilled actors to bring it to life, it would be like a bun without filling—and the reverse was just as true.
“The Daehan Theater Festival?”
Actress Park Sangah frowned at the suggestion from her agency’s CEO. After finishing a project several months ago, she had been taking a break, and now they were urging her to consider theater. She had secretly hoped for an offer to do commercials instead, so this was unwelcome news.
“I don’t want to. It’s been over ten years since I quit theater. Now you want me to suddenly go back?”
“Park, are you not confident?”
Park Sangah narrowed her eyes at the CEO’s sly smile. The reason she left the theater scene was its low commercial value and lack of recognition. No matter how long she stayed in theater, her pockets grew emptier, and public recognition remained stagnant. In short, it was unrewarding.
Moreover, it had been ten years since she left the theater. Too much time had passed to go back. Movies, dramas, and theater each followed different trajectories of acting. In films, the director was central, while in dramas, the writer played a significant role. In contrast, theater revolved around the actor’s performance. Acting in such close proximity to the audience required different vocalization, breathing, movement, expressions, and gestures. It would be a lie to say it wasn’t daunting. However, the CEO’s next words left Park Sangah unable to hide her surprise.
“It’s a work by Jeong Yongdae. Aren’t you interested?”
“Jeong Yongdae? Are you talking about the Jeong Yongdae who won the Daehan Literature Award?”
“Yes, he wrote a play this time. I think he’s planning to present it at the Daehan Theater Festival, and he wants you as one of the actors. You’re familiar with the stage director, Seong Jihun, aren’t you?”
“Of course, I know him well. But are you saying those people are gathering in one place?”
It was astonishing. Even just the playwright Jeong Yongdae was surprising, but to have Seong Jihun as the stage director too? Stage Director Seong Jihun was quite a renowned stage director in the Korean theater scene. Just as a director’s skill was crucial in films and dramas, the same was true in the theater.
He oversaw the stage and directed the flow of the play. Often referred to as the “shadow of the stage,” he didn’t show his face to the audience but must control and coordinate the entire stage. In that sense, Seong Jihun was one of the top stage directors in Korea. Yet, she had heard that he had quit directing theater.
When I was in the theater scene, no matter how much I wished, they never called me. And now, out of the blue, they want me?
Countless theater actors had wanted to appear in works by playwright Jeong Yongdae and Stage Director Seong Jihun. Actress Park Sangah was one of them. She still remembered Seong Jihun’s sharp gaze when he dismissed her performance at an audition with a curt, “Next.”
As if reading her thoughts, her CEO added,
“Ahem, don’t think of it too negatively. It just means your acting has finally met their standards.”
“Hmph, whatever. Do they think I’m as desperate as I used to be? Besides, it’s only a theater festival, right? And why should I take a supporting role, not even a lead?”
The Daehan Theater Festival was a dream stage for any theater people. However, from Park Sangah’s perspective, it was different. It had been ten years since she left the theater, and she couldn’t confidently say her theater acting hadn’t rusted. If things went wrong, she could end up embarrassing herself.
“Really? I heard Son Jimin from Hyewon Entertainment accepted the offer.”
“Wait, are you talking about Son Jimin?”
“Wasn’t she your rival back in the theater days? I heard they also approached her, and she accepted it without hesitation, even though it’s just for a supporting role.”
The reason the CEO was provoking Park Sangah’s pride was simple: He wanted her to grow more as an actress.
Although she had left the theater scene and gained recognition—not to mention higher fees in commercial films and dramas—there were many reviews saying she always delivered the same performance. The CEO was aware that she had fallen into a rut. At that moment, Actress Park Sangah licked her dry lips and asked,
“Who exactly is the lead?”
The CEO suppressed a smile. At this point, it was almost as if he had caught her.
“Jang Yeongguk.”
* * *
Sehwa High School.
Sehwa High, an academic high school, was practically a school where celebrities didn’t enroll.
This was natural as not only did it require decent grades to get in but also most students aspiring to be entertainers or trainees usually went to arts high schools. However, for some reason, this year, among the new students, there were quite a few trainees and former child actors.
Is this a talent agency or a school?
Yeongguk smirked as he walked through the school, observing the underclassmen. It was common for juniors to glance at Yeongguk, but it was rare for them to come directly to his class to greet him.
“Hello, sunbae. I’m Kim Narin, a trainee from Hyewon Entertainment.”
“I’m from Hyewon too, sunbae! Do you remember signing an autograph for me when you were learning choreography at our agency?”
“I’m Kim Suyeong, an actor from Sunday Agency. Sunbae, I’ve always wanted to meet you, and it’s an honor to see you like this!”
“Thanks for coming to say hi, but let’s greet each other warmly when we meet in passing from now on.”
Yeongguk scratched his head as he watched the juniors bow at a ninety-degree angle and leave. He was used to receiving a lot of attention at school, so he wasn’t burdened by people’s gazes. But the current situation was an exception, with male students looking at him with envy and female students glaring at the juniors with inexplicable looks.
I wanted to spend the remaining year quietly.
He had less than a year left of high school. He had to prepare for the college entrance exam, decide which university to attend, and what major to choose for his future career. He wanted to spend the remaining school days quietly, but it seemed that it wouldn’t go as planned. As evidence of that…
“Why are you sitting here?”
During lunchtime, as he was eating, Yeonsu, wearing a Sehwa High first-year name tag, sat across from Yeongguk with her lunch tray. Considering that most students sat with their own grade, her action seemed bold.
“Do I need permission to sit now? I’m here to eat with oppa. By the way, are you being ostracized at school? Why is no one around you?”
As Yeonsu pointed out, no one was sitting around Yeongguk, as if there was an invisible barrier. It wasn’t that Yeongguk had poor relationships at school. But like anyone else, he wanted to eat comfortably during lunch. Yet, as if it were a celebrity’s duty, many students would glance at him while he ate, so his friends tended to sit far away.
“Enough, stop staring and just eat.”
Yeonsu pouted and picked up her chopsticks. As she was eating crunchy lotus root and stir-fried sausage, she suddenly asked,
“Oppa, I heard you’re doing a play for your next project?”
“Where did you hear that from?”
“Our CEO mentioned it. Everyone’s surprised you chose to do a play. What’s the project about?”
“I haven’t even properly rehearsed yet.”
What good would it do to boast about landing the role of Joseon’s greatest Casanova?
“By the way, you don’t seem busy these days, Yeon Su. I heard you’d be really busy with all the traveling for your historical drama, but you seem to be attending school fairly regularly.”
“Why does it sound like there’s a hidden jab in your words? Do you have a problem with it?”
“You’ve got rice on your mouth.”
Yeon Su wiped the rice off her lips and pouted again.
“Tsk, you never answer my questions. I finished filming the historical drama; the child actor part is done.”
“Really?”
“What’s with the ‘really’? No matter what, you have no interest in me, oppa. I watch every episode of the drama you’re in from start to finish, but you never invite me to fan meetings.”
Yeongguk showed a momentary look of surprise. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been paying much attention to Yeon Su. Even after moving to Seoul, he rarely contacted her. It was understandable, given that Yeongguk, despite looking like a high school student, had the mindset of someone much older. He still saw Yeon Su more as a younger sister than anything else.
“And I’ve chosen my next project, too. It’s also a play.”
“What?”
The look in his eyes was one of disbelief. He never imagined Yeon Su would choose a play for her next project. After all, plays and dramas, while seemingly similar, were entirely different domains. Someone like Yeongguk, who knew this gap well, couldn’t help but be puzzled.
“What play is it?”
Yeongguk asked, thinking he might offer some advice. After all, he had spent years honing his skills in the theater world and had seen many plays. But Yeon Su’s next words made Yeongguk’s spoon drop to the floor.
“Spring of Joseon.”
* * *
Daehan Theater Association.
The Daehan Theater Association, which organizes the Daehan Theater Festival, was in a bind. Every year, numerous plays from all over the country were submitted to the festival. However, only a few made it to the final stage. Only those selected through a rigorous screening process received funding for stage production.
“Will we be in the red again this year?”
Kim Seongdo, the president of the Daehan Theater Association, swallowed a deep sigh. He was one of the people who most fervently wished for the revival of Korea’s theater industry. Unfortunately, the public’s interest in theater was not very high.
As evidence, tickets for the Daehan Theater Festival rarely sold out. As a result, the costs of stage production and prizes often exceeded the revenue.
“We need a star to emerge.”
To revive theater in Korea, a star needed to emerge. Of course, this required there being an outstanding play as the foundation. However, most actors participating in the Daehan Theater Festival were those who had been performing in the theater for a long time. Thus, the appearance of new actors in the festival, except for minor roles, was almost nonexistent.
“We can’t go on like this.”
A turning point was needed. While the film and drama industries were advancing daily, the theater industry seemed to be regressing.
Now, most people who came to the theater were those with a niche interest. Some other reasons include the difficulty of accessing theaters compared to TV and the perception that theater was somehow outdated. It was then…
Knock, knock!
An employee of the Daehan Theater Association entered with a loud knock. Kim Seongdo looked at the employee, who was sweating profusely, and asked curiously,
“What’s so urgent? Did something happen during the preliminary screening?”
“Chairman, I think you should take a look at this. Among today’s preliminary entries, there’s a standout piece.”
“A standout?”
Preliminary screenings were based solely on the script, the stage crew, and the cast. If something stood out, it was either one of two things: an utterly nonsensical entry or an exceptionally brilliant one.
“Spring of Joseon?”
Kim Seongdo’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the title of the play. Then he read the names of the playwright and stage director.
“Jeong Yongdae, Seong Jihun!”
Jeong Yongdae, a playwright once thought to have retired, and Seong Jihun, a stage director said to have left the theater world, had returned. And they were working together. This alone was enough to make waves in the theater world. But the employee’s urging gaze suggested that wasn’t all.
“And the cast…”
Kim Seongdo couldn’t continue.
“Lee Changhun, Ji Dongyeon, Kim Minhwa, Park Sangah, Son Jimin…”
These were all people who had left the theater world. They were now actively working on films and TV. It was rare for those who had left the theater to return.
Most had left because they couldn’t endure the hunger. Yet, they were gathering again. And finally, his eyes landed on the names of the male and female leads.
“…Yeon Su, and Jang Yeongguk!”
Even for the chairman, who wasn’t particularly interested in TV dramas, these were names he had heard at least once. The chairman instinctively sensed that something significant was going to happen at this year’s Daehan Theater Festival and swallowed nervously
