[Herald Interview] From teacher’s podium to center stage

After one live performance and just one email, the life of English teacher Micah Hein took a dramatic turn.

A little over a year ago, the 24-year-old American theater major arrived in Korea ― traveling abroad for the first time ― to teach English through performing arts. Little did he know that in this alien country, he would realize his dream of becoming a professional actor and debut with a title role.

It all started when the theater lover found himself crossing off what is on the to-do list of many tourists visiting Korea ― seeing “Nanta.”

“When I saw ‘Nanta,’ I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s cool,’” said Hein during an interview with The Korea Herald.

The nonverbal variety show by famed Korean director Song Seung-hwan is a wildly interactive performance based on the premise of cooks preparing food for a large wedding, where performers wield chopping knifes and clang pots and pans to percussive beats.

“What I loved about ‘Nanta’ was the fact that no matter what age you are, no matter what country you come from, you can enjoy it and you can understand it. The storyline is very simple, it’s easy to follow,” Hein said.

After being thoroughly impressed by the performance, he saw an ad for Nanta’s sister musical ― “Music Show Wedding” ― in the show’s playbook and headed to Hongdae to watch it.

“Wedding,” also produced by Song, is a nonverbal musical tale of the pending nuptials of a young couple seeking the approval of the bride’s father.

“I attended the show for the first time last October,” he said, adding that he even remembers the exact seat he was sitting in that night.

“After the show I remember saying, ‘That was so much fun.’ Just like ‘Nanta,’ it was a feel-good show ― kids were laughing, grandparents were laughing. I said to myself, I would really love to be a part of it,” he said.

“I know I’m a foreigner, but I decided what the heck.”

He shot off his resume to an email address he found on the musical’s homepage, despite having little faith that he would receive a response.

“I thought for sure no one would read this email. Like auditions@disney.com ― good luck. But I got a response two days later,” he said.

This was merely the beginning. After being put through a series of audition screenings, the show’s producers were not only keen on casting the young American actor, but they wanted him in the lead role of the groom, to which Hein said, “Hell yeah.”

However, he quickly realized he needed to overcome one daunting hurdle first ― learn to play the guitar. And that he did.

After months of nonstop practice to not only learn the guitar, but also learn the musical’s energetically fast-paced choreography, Hein made his debut onstage on April 3. Unbeknownst to him, producer Song came to watch his first performance.

Despite the expected nerves that come with the territory of making a debut, Hein said he didn’t let it get the best of him and the night turned out to be one of the most memorable of his life so far.

But, of course, no premiere night would be complete without a little stage drama, and Hein’s first show turned out to be memorable in more ways than one, with a timely wardrobe malfunction.

“I literally ripped the back of my pants,” the actor said blushing with laughter.

To add even more drama to the already embarrassed Hein, the continuing section of the show was a K-pop dance routine, where all the men on the stage had to pose with their backside to the audience.

“So I had to turn around and everyone could see ... my underwear had cute blue and white stripes too,” he said. “And to that Mr. Song said (after the show), ‘Micah, you did a great job, but I have one note for you ― black underwear.’”

“Music Show Wedding” is on an open run and can be seen at the Music Show Wedding Theater in Seoul’s Hongdae area in Mapo-gu. Ticket prices range from 40,000 won to 60,000 won and can be purchased online at interpark.com.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)