[On Stage] Curious About the Red Flavor Dracula?

Kim Junsu Returns with the Musical 'Dracula'

Over 120 Performances Since the Premiere... Now in Its 4th Consecutive Year
Unique Variations in Every Show Despite the Same Script

Red Hair Dyed Weekly
Effort Worthwhile for the Audience's Enthusiastic Response

Portraying a More Human Dracula Than Humans
Attention to the Details of His Pure Love

Singer and musical actor Kim Junsu is delivering a passionate performance in the musical 'Dracula.' (Photo by C-JeS)

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Musical actor Kim Junsu (34) of ‘Dracula’ is called ‘Shacula.’ This nickname combines ‘XIA’ from his stage name Xia Junsu during his time in the boy group TVXQ and ‘cula’ from Dracula. Kim Junsu has appeared on stage without fail from the premiere of ‘Dracula’ in 2014 through this year’s fourth run. He has performed as Shacula over 120 times. Fans now call him the ‘Shacula Master’ and ‘World-Class Shacula.’

Regarding the various titles attached to him, Kim Junsu smiled and said, "I am so grateful that I don’t know how to express it." He added, "Everyone may have their own interpretation, but my Dracula is portrayed to feel a bit more psychotic, cynical, and chilling," and said, "Being called a master makes me want to do my best every time I perform."

The musical ‘Dracula’ is based on the novel of the same name written in 1897 by Irish author Bram Stoker (1847?1912). The story of Count Dracula has undergone many experiments across various genres such as films, plays, and dramas. The musical has been performed in Switzerland, Austria, the UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, and other countries since its Broadway premiere in 2004.

Although the role of Dracula might seem overdone, Kim Junsu finds a new feeling every year and every performance. He said, "As I perform more, I gain confidence and tend to slightly modify lines or add ad-libs," and explained, "Each actor has a different tone and expression style for their lines, and responding to that makes me feel like I’m constantly evolving." He added, "Even with the same script, when you repeat it, questions arise from details you hadn’t noticed before," and said, "Finding answers to those questions through changed acting seems to bring freshness to the audience."

Singer and musical actor Kim Junsu, who played the role of Dracula in the musical 'Dracula'. (Photo by C-JeS)

Kim Junsu’s Dracula is also visually distinctive. Unlike the other two actors cast as Dracula, only Kim Junsu’s hair is dyed red. He suggested this himself to better express the process of drinking blood and becoming younger. He has never changed his hair color since the premiere. Kim Junsu joked, "It’s not easy to perform for months with red hair, having to dye it once a week and put a towel on the pillow every day," but added, "Since the audience really likes it and changing the hair color might feel like losing the original spirit, I can’t change it."

In the play, Dracula falls in love with a woman named Mina. Kim Junsu praised the actresses Jo Jung-eun, Lim Hye-young, and Park Ji-yeon, who each bring different charms to the role of Mina. "Jo Jung-eun expresses Mina’s delicate indecision about whether to go to Dracula very well. Lim Hye-young’s Mina is the most lively and lovable. She best portrays the feeling of leaving her lover Jonathan and approaching Dracula. Park Ji-yeon, who newly joined this year, plays the most spirited Mina. I think my tone changes stronger to match hers."

Kim Junsu strives to highlight the human side of Dracula’s emotional expression. Before gaining the transcendent power of immortality, Dracula was human too. In the original novel, Dracula is portrayed strictly as a villain. However, the musical emphasizes his pure love more. Kim Junsu said, "When Dracula approaches Mina, there is a side that is more human than human."

Singer and musical actor Kim Junsu is delivering a passionate performance in the musical 'Dracula.' (Photo by C-JeS)

Kim Junsu has no performance jinxes. However, there are two things he always does before going on stage: sleeping 8 hours and eating before the show. He said, "Even if I wake up early and feel refreshed, if I haven’t completed 8 hours, I sleep more," and added, "Right before the show, I have to eat a hearty meal like gimbap or a hamburger for my singing to go well."

Kim Junsu faced many difficulties performing ‘Dracula’ last year and this year due to COVID-19. Last year, the April performances were suspended for three weeks due to a COVID-19 positive case among other musical ensemble actors and the government’s extension of social distancing measures. This year, the opening was delayed by two days after four musical-related personnel, including actors Son Junho, Shin Sung-rok, and Jeon Dong-seok, tested positive for COVID-19 during rehearsals in April. Although Kim Junsu tested negative, he underwent two weeks of self-quarantine.

Therefore, this year’s stage feels more urgent to Kim Junsu. "When we ended last year’s performance with regret, the actors and staff promised to make up for it with this year’s show. But conditions this year are similar to last year’s, which is unfortunate. However, on the other hand, I’m grateful just to be able to perform. I’ve come to realize how thankful it is to meet the audience on stage. Every time I go on stage, I perform with the determination that it could be the last time."

Singer and musical actor Kim Junsu, who played the role of Dracula in the musical 'Dracula'. (Photo by C-JeS)