Jon Viktor Corpuz must be one of the busiest (and most entertaining) teenagers in New York City; he stars as the crown prince Chulalongkorn in LCT's Tony-winning revival of The King and I, he's about to attend NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and on June 15 he's making his 54 Below debut with his exciting new show Confessions of a Teenage Drama King. He'll be joined by pals Telly Leung, Brynn Williams and more as he sings pop hits and unique spins on some Broadway tunes. Below, we get to know Corpuz a little bit better as he talks TV, music and backstage life at The King and I.
1. Most surprising thing about life backstage at The King and I :
THE TOILETS! There are awesome Japanese toilets (appropriately) in each of the dressing rooms that have heated seats. They also, um… cleanse you. Haha. Lincoln Center is pretty bouzghy.
2. If I were crowned king today, my first decree would be:
Harsher punishment for parole violators, Stan. And world peace.
And maps for people that don't have maps, like in Africa, everywhere like such as.
3. My favorite memory of Godspell 2032 experience:
Probably getting it or signing autographs after the show. The whole thing was such a blur. I had strep the entire week so I actually performed with strep. (Not healthy!) But getting to perform on a Broadway stage and signing autographs after were two things I never thought would happen so early in my life at 15, especially living in Florida and having just auditioned on a whim. Felt pretty cool.
4. Movie that was most important to my teenage years:
I'm all for a good animated movie, especially when I'm in a sucky mood. Some favorites are Wreck It Ralph, How to Train Your Dragon (both of them!), and Meet the Robinsons.
5. Favorite movie set in a high school:
Mean Girls, hands down.
6. My guilty pleasure TV show is:
RuPaul's Drag Race. SO GOOD.
7. I chose to attend Tisch’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music because:
I wanted to expand my horizons a little bit. Music has always been my first love, and I've never really had the opportunity to pursue it seriously. I also just want to have a little bit more control over the work I put out. Clive Davis essentially allows me to be well-versed in many different aspects of the music industry. It's such a perfect program for me, I'm obsessed.
8. Biggest goal for my 20s:
WHY IS THIS SUCH A BIG QUESTION?! Hahaha. Hopefully I'll be in a happy relationship at some point in my 20s. And hopefully I'll still be working in the business in some aspect, and happy. #longevitybetches
9. My desert island album would have to be:
Guilty as charged: Yours Truly, Ariana Grande. So feel-good.
10. If The King and I has senior superlatives like a high school, I would be voted Most ____:
Most Likely to be Called Out by a Castmate for Leaving ‘The Last Five Years’ Blasting Through my Earbuds in my Pocket During a Near-Silent Notes Session and Being Laughed at by the Entire Company and Creative Team. (It happened).
Check out Jon Viktor Corpuz and friends in Confessions of a Teenage Drama King at 54 Below on June 15, and see him in The King and I at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
