![Singer and actor Choi Min-ho / Courtesy of SM Entertainment](https://newsimg.koreatimes.co.kr/2024/07/15/732dcb32-19c5-4feb-9dc2-c76387555e62.jpg)
Singer and actor Choi Min-ho / Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Singer and actor Choi Min-ho, also known as Minho of SHINee, will make his stage debut in "Waiting for Waiting for Godot" in September.
According to his agency, Choi will star as Val in a theater production, marking the first time in his 16-year career that he will take on a stage role.
Written by American playwright Dave Hanson, this play takes inspiration from Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. It tells the story of two understudies waiting backstage for their chance to perform, engaging in thoughtful and witty discussions about art, life and theater. Hanson's play offers a more approachable and humorous take on Beckett's original work.
In the Korean adaptation, Choi takes on the role of Val, an understudy alongside Ester, as they both await their moment to step into the principal roles of Vladimir and Estragon.
"I am both nervous and excited to be able to work on a project I've been wanting to do for so long, with Lee Soon-jae, who I dearly respect. I will work hard to capture these emotions and create a wonderful play. I hope my sincerity reaches the audience," Choi said through the agency.
Oh Kyung-taek, who directed the Korean adaptation of "Waiting for Godot," will also take the lead in this production.
This version stands out by presenting two distinct pairings of Ester and Val. Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae will portray a seasoned Ester, with Choi and stage actor Kai alternating as the inexperienced Val. Meanwhile, Kwak Dong-yeon, known for his role in tvN's hit series "Queen of Tears," will take turns playing Ester as a young "kkondae" — an authoritative and stubborn figure — paired with Park Jung-bok's Val, who is characterized as a late-blooming rookie.
"Waiting for Waiting for Godot" is scheduled to run from Sept. 7 through Dec. 1 at YES24 Stage in Seoul's Daehangno theater district.
Choi, who debuted in 2008 as a member of the K-pop group SHINee, made his way into acting after landing a lead role in an anthology series called "Pianist" in 2010. Since then, he has been appearing in various series and films, including the Netflix romance series "The Fabulous" (2022) and the thriller film "New Normal" (2023), which was invited to international film festivals like the BFI London Film Festival and the Warsaw Film Festival.
The singer-actor is also set to star in the upcoming series "Romance in the House," which is scheduled to start airing on Aug. 10. He will play the role of a former national taekwondo player who works as a security guard at a supermarket.