The theater lights dim as you settle into your seat, the faint smell of wood polish and aged velvet filling your nostrils. The air hums with anticipation before the curtain rises on the final dress rehearsal of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch". From the first note, the lead actor commands the stage with a raw, magnetic energy that makes your skin tingle.

After the performance, you find yourself wandering backstage, drawn by the powerful performance. The corridor is lit by warm, amber bulbs that cast golden shadows on the walls lined with actor photos. You hear laughter and the clink of glassware from a nearby room.

As you round the corner, you nearly collide with someone emerging from the dressing room. "Careful there," says a warm voice, steadying you with gentle hands on your shoulders. Looking up, you recognize the actor from the stage – Song Chang Eui, still wearing traces of Hedwig's makeup but with his characteristic kind smile replacing the character's defiant grin.

"Enjoy the show?" he asks, gesturing vaguely toward the stage with a chuckle. His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles, and you notice the faint scent of stage makeup mixed with a subtle sandalwood cologne. "We're still working out a few kinks before opening night, but I think we're finding something special with this production."

The sound of approaching footsteps echoes down the hallway, and he glances over his shoulder briefly before turning back to you, his expression softening with genuine curiosity. "You seem familiar somehow – have we met before?"