New York actor's dreams come true in Korean musical 'Il Tenore'

Actor Adriana Tomeu, 29, flew some 7,000 miles to star in Korea’s new original musical “Il Tenore.” She is playing an American missionary in a show inspired by Korea's first-ever Italian opera during the Japanese colonization of Korea.

Adriana Tomeu plays Madame Becker in the ongoing musical "Il Tenore" at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho District, southern Seoul. [PARK SANG-MOON]

New York actor Adriana Tomeu, 29, flew some 7,000 miles to star in Korea’s new original musical “Il Tenore.”

She is currently alternating the supporting role of an American missionary and a former opera singer, Madame Becker, in the show inspired by Korea's first-ever Italian opera during the Japanese colonial period (1910-45).

“I think this show is a blessing in the world, and I’m so honored to be part of something that is this good,” Tomeu said.

Adriana Tomeu as Madame Becker in "Il Tenore" [OD COMPANY]

Her character teaches classical music at a women’s university and spots musical talent in a shy, dorky medical student from a nearby men’s university named I-seon. She takes him under her wing and trains him as Korea’s first-ever tenor, who will go on to perform in an opera that attempts to spread the message of Korean independence to audiences.

“Il Tenore” is many things, including love, loss and grief, but chiefly, it is about the dual nature of dreams: the pure joy and bliss that they can bring and the pain and burden that follows. As part of this narrative, Madame Becker realizes her ephemeral opera career through I-seon.

“I honestly don’t feel like I have to act at all because Madame Becker’s story is my story,” Tomeu said.

A scene in the musical "Il Tenore" [OD COMPANY]

From a child actor playing the nerdy Brigitta von Trapp in the “The Sound of Music” to a biology major, a middle school teacher and now, an actor back on stage, Tomeu is no stranger to the struggle with dreams.

After nearly a decade of taking a break from acting, she is now ready to pursue her original dream of being a theater actor and sees her current part as “a life-changing role.”

“Becker was coming to Korea to follow her dreams, and here I am, following my own dreams in Korea,” she said. “This show made my dreams come true, and I’ve gained a whole new perspective on my life.”

Adriana Tomeu plays Madame Becker in "Il Tenore" [PARK SANG-MOON]

But the show goes beyond significance to her personally as “Il Tenore” is a “rare piece of theater with honest storytelling,” according to the actor.

“To me, the most important thing [in a musical] is the story and the realness, and from the day one of the rehearsals, I’ve witnessed the most honest storytelling that I’ve seen in a long time. The story itself is beautiful and heart-wrenching but also, the way that it is written and being performed on stage by the actors is breathtakingly honest.”

Adriana Tomeu as Madame Becker in "Il Tenore" [OD COMPANY]

She hoped that more people beyond Korea could have a chance to see “Il Tenore.”

“I connect with the show every day even though the overlying story is not part of my culture, and I am deeply moved by every performance,” she said. “If it is the kind of theater that if I’m craving it, then I can’t be the only one!

The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Tomeu at the Seoul Arts Center on Friday to discuss “Il Tenore” and her journey through the show.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Adriana Tomeu talks to the Korea JoongAng Daily about her role in the ongoing musical “Il Tenore” at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Friday [PARK SANG-MOON]

What is your favorite part about playing Madame Becker?

I love playing her because I honestly don’t feel like I have to act as a different character. Her story is so similar to my story.

Until last year, I had been taking a break from theater, teaching biology at a middle school full-time for three years during the pandemic. So I, like Becker, had quite a few years of not pursuing my dreams. When I saw the Becker role, I was looking to reemerge into the theater scene and spotted many similarities between me and the character because she was coming to Korea to follow her dreams, and I was also about to follow my dreams, possibly in Korea as well. So, I’m really acting as myself. When we are singing “The Small Perfect World” and I’m crying on stage, it is because I truly relate to the song — as both my character and Adriana. The moment singing on stage is my own “small perfect world.”

Adriana Tomeu, center, as Madame Becker with the rest of the "Il Tenore" cast during a scene of the musical [OD COMPANY]

How was the casting process? It’s not every day that a Korean musical casts foreigners.

The listing said that they were looking for someone to play an American missionary in their 50s or 60s, with classical training and willing to learn Korean. I didn’t even know if it was a play, a musical, how many lines there were, or if this was a lead or an ensemble, but I said to myself, “Alright, let’s go.”

I was here when I was 10, for my first professional job as an actor, in the Asia tour of “The Sound of Music.” My mom and I fell in love with Asia then and I had been wanting to come back and did when I was 15, and I spent my freshman year here. So when I saw the Becker listing, besides the age, everything else seemed like a perfect fit, and I immediately felt connected to it.

What was your first impression after reading the script?

I have a mixed relationship with musical theater in general because sometimes, especially now and especially in America, shows go for spectacle and pizazz instead of truth, honesty and storytelling. This got me a little disenchanted and was partly the reason why I had to take a break from theater in the first place. And to me, the most important thing is the story and the realness.

I get goosebumps thinking back to that first day of rehearsals and witnessing this story and the actors themselves telling the most honest storytelling that I’ve seen in such a long time. The story itself is beautiful and heart-wrenching but also the way that it is written and being done is breathtakingly honest. That was my first impression.

How would you describe your experience as part of the “Il Tenore” team, including working with writers Will Aronson and Hue Park?

It had its challenges because everybody had been in rehearsals for five weeks already, but I received a lot of help and felt that the team here was very community-oriented.

Also, working in the same room as Will and Hue was a dream. To be in the middle of the creative process as the show is in flux — nobody knew what the final show was going to be so to be a part of that process was amazing on its own. Also, the two are just so gracious and kind, and it's fun to work with them. They were very encouraging the whole time, and I am grateful to have worked with them.

How did you study your Korean lines?

Every second I had, and every night up until 3 a.m., I just tried to get the pronunciation of lines right and get it in my body. It was just a lot of time alone and drilling it, and then later, I sat down with the assistant director to work on the timing of the lines.

I am studying literally every second I am not here or at the gym, and I can make small talk now! I want to be ready if I ever get a chance to come to Korea again, and I want to connect with people on a deeper level.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]