By Lee Gyu-lee
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 Godot” in September.
According to his agency, Choi will play the role of Val in a theater production. It would be the first time in his 16-year career that he will take on a stage role.
Written by American playwright Dave Hanson, this play is inspired by Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. It tells the story of two understudies waiting backstage for their chance to perform, who engage in thoughtful and witty discussions about art, life and theatre. Hanson’s play offers a more accessible and humorous take on Beckett’s original work.
In the Korean adaptation, Choi takes on the role of Val, an understudy alongside Ester, as both wait for their big moment to take on the lead roles of Vladimir and Estragon.
“I am both nervous and excited to be able to work on a project that I have wanted to do for so long, with Lee Soon-jae, whom I respect very much. I will work hard to capture those emotions and create a wonderful piece. I hope my sincerity reaches the audience,” Choi said of the agency.
Veteran actor Lee will play the role of Ester, alternating with actor Kwak Dong-yeon from TVN’s hit series “Queen of Tears.” In addition to Choi, stage actors Kai and Park Jung-bok will also play the role of Val.
Oh Kyung-taek, who previously directed the Korean adaptation of Waiting for Godot, will play the lead role in this play.
“Waiting for Godot” is scheduled to run from September 7 to December 1 at the YES24 Stage in Seoul’s Daehangno theater district.
Choi, who debuted in 2008 as a member of the K-pop group SHINee, found his way into acting after landing a lead role in an anthology series called “Pianist” in 2010. Since then, he has appeared in various series and films, including the Netflix romance series “The Fabulous” (2022) and the thriller “New Normal” (2023), which has been invited to international film festivals such as the BFI London Film Festival and the Warsaw Film Festival.
The singer and actor will also star in the upcoming series “Romance in the House,” which is scheduled to begin airing on August 10. He plays the role of a former national taekwondo player who works as a security guard at a supermarket.
