South Korean singer Kim Hyung-soo, better known as K.Will, has just successfully completed his first performance for the musical "The Great Comet."
K.Will portrays the lead role "Pierre" in "The Great Comet," which opened last March 21 at the Universal Art Center in Seoul, South Korea, and gave justice to the character and earning praise for his performance.
"It's been a year and two months since I sang on stage," K.Will said in a statement issued by Starship Entertainment. "I think I've been away from the stage this long since my debut, but I was so nervous and thrilled as I had a long time."
He adds feeling emotional about the first show of "The Great Comet," a performance he prepared for since last year, as well as toward the staff, officers, and actors who worked hard to make the musical happen.
"The Great Comet," otherwise known as "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812," is a sung-through musical created by American composer and lyricist Dave Malloy and directed by Rachel Chavkin. It draws from a 70-page segment of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel "War and Peace."
The South Korean Production for "The Great comet" was originally planned to start last September, having been postponed due to restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic.
In the Korean production of the Malloy-Chavkoy musical stage play, K.Will plays Pierre, a lonely and wealthy aristocrat facing an existential crisis and has fallen into a lazy life of wine, philosophical ponderings, and inactivity. He is the first and the last character - opening and closing the curtains - that appears in the play. Additionally, audiences get to see the Korean singer play the accordion and piano as a part of his role in the play.
Starship Entertainment also shares that it is a great honor for K.Will to lead the premiere show of "The Great Comet," which has been largely lauded for being innovative. "It was my first performance and because of the nature of the work, I was very burdened and scared because there were many things to prepare as Pierre, but I came here with the help of many people. Thank you so much," K.Will said, through Starship Entertainment.
K.Will also recalls the response on the original Broadway production of the play, saying "It's a fresh performance in a form I've never seen before." As he wonders how the audience would respond to the play being adapted for the first time in Korea.
"As an actor who introduces good works for the first time in Korea, I will work hard and enjoy the performance," K.Will said.
K.Will has also portrayed the lead role in the musical "Notre-Dame de Paris," as the hunchback Quasimodo for the 2016 and 2018 South Korean production. He also earned praise for his powerful vocals and passionate acting. Furthermore, his career in the theater arts has been recognized as he won the Rookie of the Year award at the 11th Daegu International Musical Festival.
Meanwhile, "The Great Comet" starring K.Will will continue its performances at the Universal Art Center in Seoul until May 30.
