Known for his soaring vocals in NCT, Doyoung is now commanding a different kind of stage — musical theater. Playing the disfigured yet resilient Gwynplaine in "The Man Who Laughs," he delivers a performance that blends raw emotions with vocal finesse, turning the Seoul Arts Center's Opera Theater into a gathering place for NCT fans and musical theater lovers alike.

Opened on Jan. 9, the musical "The Man Who Laughs" is produced by EMK Musical Company, one of Korea's leading theater companies, and is based on the novel of the same name by the 19th-century French author Victor Hugo.

Set in 17th-century England, a time of extreme class division, "The Man Who Laughs" follows Gwynplaine, who had been disfigured at a young age by the notorious Comprachicos — child traffickers who mutilate kidnapped children for the entertainment of the aristocracy. Left with a permanent, grotesque smile, Gwynplaine becomes a clown in a traveling troupe. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when the secret of his noble lineage is uncovered, catapulting him into the ranks of the aristocracy overnight.

The stage adaptation was written and directed by Robert Johanson, with music composed by Frank Wildhorn, known for his works "Jekyll & Hyde," "Cyrano" and "Mata Hari."

Currently in its fourth run, the production has drawn audiences since its 2018 premiere, with powerhouse vocalists such as Park Hyo-shin, Lee Seok-hoon and Suho of K-pop act EXO and stage stars Park Eun-tae and Park Kang-hyun having taken on the iconic lead role of Gwynplaine.

Playing the demanding role of a man with his face forcefully disfigured into a permanent smile, Doyoung is an addition to the Gwynplaine roster for this run. This marks the NCT singer's return to the musical stage after four years since his musical debut in "Marie Antoinette."

While Doyoung's casting immediately led some musical diehards to question whether his limited experience would measure up, his performance proved the NCT vocalist was more than capable of holding his own among his Gwynplaine predecessors.

The Opera Theater on Jan. 21 saw NCT fans packing the venue well before the show, many eager to witness their beloved singer thrive on the musical stage. When the lights finally dimmed, and Doyoung stepped onstage — his face painted with an eerie red grin — the audience fell into hushed anticipation.

Doyoung reciprocated the energy with a dynamic performance, balancing Gwynplaine's comedic moments with deep-seated sorrow. While Doyoung's acting still had room for improvement — with traces of his idol persona lingering — his lively charms shone through the entire three-hour performance.

His vocal prowess was the highlight of the night, especially apparent in the show's climactic number, "Open Your Eyes," where he confronts the queen and aristocrats in the Parliament, revealing his disfigured mouth. Delivering piercing high notes with crystalline clarity, Doyoung's anguished plea to the ruling elite reverberated through the hall, drawing a roar of passionate applause from the audience as if they were in a K-pop concert.

Then shifting to defiance, Doyoung used fluid dance moves honed through his idol career in another number, "The Man Who Laughs," seamlessly expressing the character's rage against the harshness of reality — a performance that merged his K-pop instincts with theatrical intensity.

With actors Park Eun-tae, Lee Seok-hoon, and Super Junior vocalist Kyuhyun alternating in the lead role alongside Doyoung, "The Man Who Laughs" runs through March 9. (Pyo Kyung-min/The Korea Times)