‘KPOP’ Broadway star reunites with mystery guests
When the Broadway show, 'KPOP' was ended abruptly after only 18 performances, John Yi's dream was shattered.
"Eight years later, after workshopping it many, many times, and after having many iterations of the show, we made it to Broadway, and it was a dream come true," said John.
John played a character called Danny in the show, which was the first Broadway musical to focus on Korean culture. When he found out it was closing, he was devastated for himself, the cast and crew, and everyone who'd helped bring Korean magic to the world's biggest stage.
"I didn't know much about K-Pop when I first auditioned for the show back in 2014. So, certainly being a part of the project ignited a curiosity and sort of like a fervent love for the art form. And it's now one of my favorite musical genres," John explained. "And I will always be grateful to the show for not only igniting an interest in the art form, but for helping me sort of like reclaim my identity as a Korean American actor in New York City."
Watch this family pull off the surprise of a lifetime for 'KPOP' Broadway star.
Knowing how important the show was to him, John's partner, Stephen DiGregoria, and three of his siblings wanted to make the closing weekend extra special by creating the surprise of a lifetime for him.
John's parents were supposed to see the show on Broadway for the first time in the spring. But when they heard it was closing early, they quickly planned a weekend trip to see him perform.
"I think they're so proud as immigrant parents and just as parents in general. They're so proud to see their son display his talent on stage and be so good at it. They're very, very proud of him," says Yun Mi Park, John's sister.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to John and his parents, all his siblings had also bought tickets to the show and were traveling to Broadway from far and wide.
"We hadn't been together for five years. It was going to be a special moment, and we know how hard John worked for it and how emotional it had been for him that week," said David Lee, John's brother.
Complete with custom-made shirts with John's face on them, the siblings showed up one by one at John's New York apartment, where he and his parents were stunned by the best surprise they could ever have wished for.
"I think family is the most important. So to have every single one of my family members, there was a really special sort of core memory that I'll remember for a long time," expressed John.
Later, John's family danced, sang, and cried their hearts out at the show that had an impact on them all.
"I love the fact that my parents got to see not only this 'KPOP' Broadway show, but John in the show because a lot of the show is in Korean. It's a story that they would be able to understand and relate to," said Yun Mi.
“I have never seen such a diverse audience,” said Yuni Min, John’s sister. “Just to see the wide range of people that love K-Pop, I think that's kind of the beauty of it.”
Despite the disappointing circumstances that brought them together for the first time in years, John and his family couldn't have had a better weekend. And he hopes the end of the Broadway run is the start of something even bigger for BIPOC representation on the big stage.
"I hope that the legacy for our show is that Broadway audiences go and see shows that are maybe unfamiliar to them. That they open up their minds and their hearts to stories that they may not always be drawn to or understand," said John. "I really hope that we inspired every single person who saw the show."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘KPOP’ Broadway star reunites with mystery guests
