Ivy, Spent 9 Million Won to Pursue Broadway Debut: “Studied with Nine Native-Speaking Teachers” [You Quiz][★Night TView]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Singer and musical actress Ivy revealed that she invested a substantial amount of money in English studies to pursue her entry into Broadway in the United States.

Ivy appeared on the episode of tvN’s variety show ‘You Quiz on the Block’ broadcast on the 4th, where she had recently taken the stage on Broadway with the musical ‘Chicago.’

On that day, Ivy stated that she is the longest-running actress to have played the role of Roxie in approximately 600 performances of ‘Chicago’ in Korea. She said, “I first took on the role of Roxie in 2012. I am still performing it once every two years. I can do it even if I wake up from sleep and get right into it.”

Although Ivy received an offer to appear on Broadway, she revealed that she did not easily take on the challenge due to concerns about her English proficiency. She shared, “When I first received the proposal, I couldn’t speak English well, so I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous.’” and added, “Even when they contacted me again in 2024, I said, ‘I’m not good at English.’”

Subsequently, Ivy confirmed her Broadway debut after going through three rounds of video auditions. Notably, she revealed that she spent approximately 9 million won out of her own pocket to master the English lines, surprising many.

She explained, “I called it the ‘Euljiro 50-Day Project,’ and I practiced with a total of nine native-speaking teachers. We worked on the lines for six to seven hours every day.” She added, “I practically lived at the academy. It cost me about 9 million won just for the tuition fees out of my own pocket.”

She continued, “If I had studied this way in the past, I wonder if I would have gotten into SKY universities.” She further noted, “I am already in my mid-40s. It was a realization that accepting something new is this difficult.”

Ivy also revealed that she personally participated in open mic events held at her English academy to gain practical experience. She said, “It was the first time I performed in front of native speakers. I might make mistakes because it’s not perfect yet, but I wanted to experience that embarrassment.” She added, “Because of that experience, I think I felt less nervous in the United States.”

However, Ivy, who arrived in the United States just ten days before the performance, also experienced fear of the unfamiliar environment. She recalled, “The pressure was heavy because I, who couldn’t speak English, was trying to be the lead. I went for walks in the early morning every day and cried.” She added, “Even with my eyes closed, the lines would come to mind, and I couldn’t fall asleep.”

She then shared, “As I reached my mid-40s, I lacked confidence. I even thought that all I had to do now was prepare for the descent.” She concluded, “During that time, it felt less like I found a dream, and more like the dream came to find me and knocked on my door.”

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original