Episode 152: The Rhythm of Double Casting
Each theater troupe has its own unique system, and the works or performances they pursue are just as varied.
In the case of Actor's Yard, they operate on a three-month cycle, staging a total of four productions per year. From the first quarter to the fourth, they present a quarterly performance without a break.
One full cycle—those three months—followed this flow:
1. Selecting the work, holding internal auditions and finalizing casting (assembling the actors), assigning roles for the production team (assembling the staff), completing the set, and preparing for the performance (including final rehearsals)—preparation period.
2. Promotion and official performances—performance period.
Each phase, preparation and performance, takes about a month and a half. Of course, they occasionally did short-term project performances as well. But this was the format for the regular performances directly overseen by Actor's Yard's leader, Jeong Jae-min, and main director Oh Tae-hyeop.
The works were selected to fit these themes as much as possible:
- 1st quarter: Original play
- 2nd quarter: Established overseas work
- 3rd quarter: Original play
- 4th quarter: Established domestic work
"We always form A Team and B Team strictly through auditions. Think of it like a sports team—A Team is the first string, B Team the second."
"Even if you were on A Team last time, you could drop to B Team anytime, right?"
"Exactly. That's fair competition. It's all about what you show on audition day."
As Jeong Jae-min had put it, it evoked the image of an archery association if you thought about it in sports terms.
"With A and B Teams, it's double casting, then."
"Right. Weekdays, one show per day in the evening. A Team does three days, B Team two. Weekends, two shows—morning and afternoon—with A and B alternating once each. We slot A Team into the peak audience times."
A slight perk for those selected for A Team based on fair auditions. But they didn't skimp on opportunities for B Team either—it was a perfect balance of carrot and stick that everyone could accept.
If you didn't make A or B Team as an actor, you'd fill in as staff for that quarter's production.
"Um... hyung-nim. One thing I'm curious about."
"What?"
"Hypothetically, if someone from the cast—whether A or B Team—has to drop out unavoidably, what happens?"
Reasons abounded. An unfortunate accident, or maybe a commercial gig conflicting with the performance schedule.
"Ah, no worries there."
Jeong Jae-min spoke in a low, steady voice, assuring him it was handled.
"Say Actor A from A Team drops out for a role. B Team has someone covering that part, right? They step up to A Team. For about a week while that actor handles both teams, we quickly pull someone from the staff pool who sat out to fill the B Team spot for that role."
"Whoa, that works?"
"Of course. That's why we assign two people per staff role. And at the initial auditions, actors only apply for the roles they want. Even if you don't make the cast, you have to memorize all the lines for the role you auditioned for. That's the unwritten rule—it lets us respond fast."
A remarkably systematic setup, clean and efficient without any fat. Truly ideal.
This was proof of why Actor's Yard stood out among Daehak-ro's deep-rooted troupes for its scale. After all, such a top-tier system required a large roster.
"It's stable now, but it took a lot of trial and error at first."
"Hyung-nim, you created this system yourself?!"
"Yep. Tae-hyeop and I hammered it out overnight, fixing every flaw. It was a total mess before. Haha!"
Jeong Jae-min laughed heartily, downing his beer can.
"Hyung-nim's incredible."
Lee Kang-sik, face flushed from the grill, beckoned Woojin over while flipping meat.
"Before I joined Actor's Yard, hyung-nim was the youngest. He climbed from the bottom to leader."
"Whoa..."
"Back then, it was anything but organized. Hyung-nim spotted every shortcoming from experience and overhauled it all. That's why I can say Actor's Yard is Korea's best troupe!"
"Heh heh, you're embarrassing me in front of the junior."
"Aigoo, hyung-nim! It's true!"
Jeong Jae-min gave an awkward smile, while Lee Kang-sik shamelessly kept praising his senior. Woojin's thumb shot up instinctively toward Jeong Jae-min.
"That's why you've poured your life into it and still stay in theater. Woojin, you might not know, but hyung-nim got tons of film and drama offers."
"Oh..."
"Didn't I tell you? My debut role was originally offered to hyung-nim."
"For real?!"
"Yeah! He turned it down and recommended me. That's how I got the audition. Didn't find out till after shooting wrapped."
As Lee Kang-sik spoke, Jeong Jae-min, chuckling sheepishly, dove into the backstory.
He'd turned down a film offer clashing with an Actor's Yard performance. Spotlights paled next to the bond with colleagues he'd shared the stage with.
"...Looking back, yeah. If the schedule had lined up, I might still be in film now. Anyway! Kang-sik was away for family reasons right then. His face kept popping into my head."
"So you recommended him?"
"Yeah, politely declined and suggested Kang-sik. Lucky for us, he nailed it. Haha!"
Jeong Jae-min ruffled Lee Kang-sik's hair, gesturing like 'Aigoo, my proud little brother.' One old tale warmed the drinking vibe further. Good meat, booze, and a shot of nostalgia—couldn't get better.
Woojin felt it listening: these were cool seniors.
"Kang-sik always says I handed him the spot, but nah. He earned it fair and square."
"Aish... Getting old makes me sappy. Choking up here."
The bond shone through words alone; for them, it ran deeper. Lee Kang-sik wiped his reddening eyes, hanging on Jeong Jae-min's every word.
Gratitude dominated, but guilt over 'stealing senior's spot' lingered too.
"Cut it out. Another actor might've stung, but you? Made me happier!"
"......"
"Eh, cheers and back to theater talk. Conversation's veering off. Haha!"
Clink! Glasses met.
Confirming the seniors' tight bond once more, the chat shifted back to Actor's Yard's regular shows.
"Perfect timing. We're just entering the third quarter."
"By the structure you described, that means an original play this time..."
"Right, original play."
Most troupe members were actors who doubled as staff, but Actor's Yard was special—even more so than its system. They had in-house professional playwrights.
Playwrights rotated more than actors, and thanks to Jeong Jae-min's system, dozens had passed through Actor's Yard.
Basic requirement: debut via the New Year's Literary Contest playwriting section, announced by newspapers each early December. The orthodox path to pro playwright—and practically the only one.
Playwriting slots were rarer than other genres; in 2013, just seven newspapers included it. Plus the Korean Playwrights Association's contest—eight total. By 2019, one more paper joined: eight contests, nine outlets total now.
"Lemme check... whose turn is it this time?"
Jeong Jae-min muttered at his phone.
Acting and scripts were intertwined. Weak in one, and the whole show flops. Both strong? Perfection nears.
Thus, Actor's Yard—half original plays yearly—recruited proven playwrights aggressively. Even main director Oh Tae-hyeop was a contest debut playwright.
Currently, three full-time: him included.
"Third quarter original's by Seol-ah."
Woojin and Lee Kang-sik perked up.
"Seol-ah?"
"Yeah, Ma Seol-ah, our youngest playwright. Debuted last year. Tae-hyeop's in his forties, the other's late thirties—we needed youth. Caught her debut at just the right time. Woojin, heard of the New Year's One-Act Play Festival?"
"First time."
Woojin shook his head; Jeong Jae-min explained.
Contests close early December, results New Year's Day. That year's playwriting winners premiere in March at Daehak-ro's New Year's One-Act Play Festival, hosted by the Korean Directors Association.
Ma Seol-ah's Please Give Me One More Chance drew the best audience response last year. A black comedy likening illegal hiring to an amusement park—symbolic yet punchy dialogue pierced the issue with force.
At the post-show audience talk, her answers hooked Jeong Jae-min; he sent an instant offer. She accepted gladly, completing Actor's Yard's current playwright team.
Her original for third quarter:
"And her new script's roles match you two perfectly!"
Her two-hour mid-length play, nearing completion, needed an ensemble of young and veteran actors.
In short:
"Woojin, Kang-sik—you're joining Actor's Yard at the best possible time! Haha!"
When good folks team up, coincidences like this follow.
Lee Kang-sik nodded warmly at Woojin; Woojin nodded back silently.
"Kang-sik's a returning veteran, and for you, Woojin, it's your theater debut."
"Haha, yeah."
"Ma Seol-ah'll be thrilled—Lee Kang-sik and Baek Woojin in her show!"
Jeong Jae-min cheered, raising his glass. Lee Kang-sik joined.
As glasses neared:
"Um, hyung-nim."
Woojin spoke softly. Seniors turned: 'Hm?'
"Kang-sik hyung-nim was an original member, so he might not get it, but at least..."
Woojin, pondering, continued.
"If I join a Actor's Yard production, treat me exactly like the other actors here."
He pressed on.
"I'm grateful, but it feels like my spot's guaranteed. I just want the same chance as everyone else."
Jeong Jae-min and Lee Kang-sik's eyes widened.
Woojin smiled.
"An audition chance. Let me try the internal audition. That's enough."
A line blending thrill and confidence.