Plenty of Broadway shows end with a standing ovation, but not many begin with one.
The show really had to go on.
More than once, an usher reprimanded a show-goer for filming the stage with their iPhone.
Photo: Jenny Anderson
(It was a losing battle; within days, TikTok was flooded with videos of Tungs performance.
Clips of her solo in Wait for Me, in particular, have been viewed by millions.)
I cant even believe it, the 21-year-old Tung says of her rousing first show a few days later.
Photo: Jenny Anderson
Drinking orange juice, tea, and waterlotsof waterhas helped.
One thing she quickly noticed about herHadestowncastmates was that they hydrated constantly.
That was a very, very important show to me for a while, she says, laughing.
Photo: Jenny Anderson
Compounding all that was her enrollment at LaGuardia, the performing arts high school made famous byFame.
Everyone was always talking about Broadway because they all wanted to be on it.
I ask, before backtracking: Eh, there actually may be no overlap.
I mean, theyre existing in completely different worlds and circumstances, Tung says.
Still, she gives the question her best shot.
I do think theyre both people who will say it like it is.
They will confront you if youre playing games.
We both know its a stretch; the wholepointof doing a show likeHadestownis to show off your range.
Will Tung forever be the young, sweet girl in a teen drama?
Or will Belly eventually lead her to edgier territory?
I want to dip my toe into everything, Tung says.
Id love keep exploring different worlds.
I dont know exactly what that looks like next, but Im excited to seewhateverit is.
