Ivy attends a reception after her performance as Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago" on Broadway in New York on Monday (local time). [Yonhap]
Ivy attends a reception after her performance as Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago" on Broadway in New York on Monday (local time). [Yonhap]

More than 1,000 audience members rose to their feet in applause. From the moment she first stepped onstage, musical theater actress Ivy, 44, drew noticeably louder cheers than her fellow cast members — and long after the curtain fell, she could barely contain her emotion.

Ivy made her Broadway debut Monday (local time), taking the stage at the Ambassador Theatre in New York as Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago." She said after the performance that the experience felt so unreal it actually calmed her nerves. "It was so surreal that I think I was actually less nervous than when I perform in Korea," she said. "It didn't feel real. I kept saying to myself, 'God, please help me.'"

"I really worked so hard," she added. "I was so grateful that many Koreans came, and I was moved to tears several times during the show."

The roughly 1,100-seat theater drew more than 1,000 audience members that evening. Among the local theatergoers and tourists, a significant number of Korean audience members were also visible, having come specifically to support Ivy's Broadway debut.

When Ivy first appeared onstage, the audience erupted in cheers and applause noticeably louder than what had greeted the other cast members.

Ivy delivered her English dialogue and songs with ease. As the performance progressed, she appeared to relax, her acting growing more natural with each scene. Moments of visible emotion crossed her face throughout.

Her comedic lines drew warm laughter from the crowd, and a cleverly placed reference to Korea drew a particularly delighted response.

The show closed to a standing ovation. As at her first entrance, Ivy received by far the loudest applause of the night.

Seong Bo-seung, 45, a Korean American who said she had been a fan of Ivy since her first album, attended the show with her husband, son and daughter.

Seong said she had bought tickets the moment she heard about the Broadway run, securing front-row seats. "I even brought flowers just in case," she said. "I was amazed — her performance was absolutely perfect."

Her children held up large illuminated letters spelling out "I," "V" and "Y" in a show of support.

Valerie, 30, and her aunt Nicole, 55, who came from nearby New Jersey, said they were surprised to learn that Ivy was a Korean actress who had prepared her English specifically for this production. "Ivy sang in English too, and we couldn't tell any difference from the other performers," they said. "We loved it."

A celebratory reception held near the theater immediately after the show brought together the local production team and fellow cast members to mark Ivy's successful debut.

Sophie Carmen-Jones, who plays Velma Kelly, the other lead role, laughed as she described the evening. "What more can I say? What an incredible night," she said. "Ivy was so calm and composed — right after the show, she looked as relaxed as if she'd just been out for a stroll."

Broadway producer Barry Weissler was equally effusive. "It took me a lifetime to master English properly, and she did it in a year," he said. "Ivy is a beautiful and extraordinary actress — a treasure of our 'Chicago' production."

Musical theater actor Michael Lee also attended the reception, calling Ivy "the queen of Korean musical theater." "The dedication and energy she has shown over the past year will give hope and energy not only to Korean musical theater performers but to performers around the world," he said. "You are on Broadway now."


mokiya@heraldcorp.com