Season for Kids
Diverse Shows for Kids Dominate Theaters
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Do you think flying actors and Disney characters are unrealistic and only present in film or on television? These fantastic wire actions and favorite characters are close at hand live in theaters.
Children's performances are growing diverse and bigger than ever with eye-popping effects this summer vacation. From a famous cartoon and wire action to a Disney character, the summer performances are employing various methods to attract children and parents alike.
Here are some children's shows that offer both educational and emotional motivations.
Disney Live-Happy Classic Fairytale with Mickey
The musical is one of the much-anticipated shows this summer that features three all-time classic fairytales ― ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,'' ``Cinderella'' and ``Beauty and the Beast.''
It stars children's favorite characters ― Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy ― as narrators to tell these stories.
Quality sound systems, stage sets and costumes, along with special effects, will greet children who have only seen the characters on the screens.
The musical offers two English-speaking performances and six Korean-dubbed performances.
It will be held at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park Aug. 22-31. Tickets cost from 22,000 won to 55,000 won. For more information, call (02) 563-0595.
Peter Pan
Children can feel the fantastic atmosphere in the musical ``Peter Pan,'' which will feature a performer flying freely from the stage across the audience.
The flying effects have been orchestrated by the Las Vegas-based ZFX company, in which actors wear a harness with a metal plate on their back that connects to cables hung high above the stage. Also, the stage ceiling is decorated to resemble a starry night.
Since the premiere last year, the musical has topped the children's musical charts.
Actress Moon Hye-young plays the role of Peter Pan. The musical is now on stage until Aug. 17 at KEPCO Arts Center.
Tickets cost from 35,000 won to 55,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-1345.
Cymbeline
Japanese Shakespeare Company for Children will stage ``Cymbeline.''
As one of the most romantic dramas by Shakespeare, the play has been adapted into an easy and unique piece for children.
Director Seisuke Yamasaki will bring a Shakespeare doll to talk with the audience while explaining the story of the play.
Actors will also narrate the story of the drama to portray the feelings of the characters, while wearing black costumes.
The Japanese theater troupe was established in 1995 and has only put on Shakespeare's works for the last 14 years.
All the lyrics are spoken in Japanese with Korean subtitles.
The drama will take to the stage at Wonder Space Nemo Theater Aug. 21-24. For more information, call (02) 318-6004.
Rabbit, Going to The Undersea Palace
The National Changgeuk Company will put ``Rabbit, Going to The Undersea Palace'' on stage Aug. 2-10.
The traditional Korean opera, performed as a play but in the Korean folk song-style known as pansori, is based on ``Sugungga,'' one of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori storytelling tradition.
The performance will feature special stage sets in which the audience can have a seat on stage, which was designed to revive ``the undersea palace'' effects.
The modern solo operatic numbers and a hilarious ensemble based on the traditional pansori tunes will showcase the beautiful melodies of traditional Korean songs.
The show will be held at the National Theater of Korea Aug.2-10.
Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4115/6.
You Are Special
``You Are Special'' now on stage is about a heartwarming children's tale from the best-selling book of renowned American author Max Lucado.
The musical helps Punchinello understand how special he is and find self-worth. The ``grown-up'' musical targets not only teens but also adults who still strive to realize their identity.
The musical features 18 numbers ranging from jazz and swing to samba. Renowned actress Moon Hye-young will play the role of Punchinello.
The musical will run at Broad Hall in Mokdong, Seoul until Aug. 10. Tickets cost from 25,000 to 45,000 won.
For more information, call (02) 336-3767 or visit www.uaspecial.co.kr.
Ttareungi in a Rural Village
The musical is designed to deliver the importance of the oldies through a story of an old-fashioned telephone, called ``ttareungi'' that was pushed to the back of a shelf in a storeroom following the emergence of cutting-edge telephones in a rural village.
The musical will also shed light on the meaning of now-defunct items through a type writer, a chamber pot and a hand mill through various characters.
Six actors and three musicians will perform on acoustic musical instruments such as piano, clarinet, along with an a cappella ensemble.
The show is now on stage and will continue at Wonder Space Semo Theater until Aug. 31. Tickets cost 25,000 won.
For more information, call (02) 382-5477.
Mabeop Cheonjamun (Magic Characters)
``Mabeop Cheonjamun'' is one of the representative educational musicals, which teaches Chinese characters to the children audience.
The encore performance is based on the best-selling cartoon book of the same name, which has brought a study boom to the Thousand-Character Text.
Although the contents are based on education, the musical is packed with special effects, videos, acrobatics and wire actions to portray the cartoon characters from the original book.
The story is about an adventure of Songoku revolving around magic plates inscribed with five Chinese characters.
The performance has been upgraded from a previous version by shortening the running time and changing some of the scenes after receiving the audience's responses.
The performance is at Seoul Education Culture Center throughout Aug. 24. Tickets cost from 25,000 to 45,000 won. For more information, call (02) 501-7888.
The Barber of Seville
The all-time classic opera ``The Barber of Seville'' by Gioachino Rossini targets children with an easy and interesting performance.
The running time of the opera is one hour and twenty minutes, to help children enjoy the show without getting bored. The opera features the beautiful Rosina, barber Figaro and doctor Bartolo.
The musical is directed by actor-turned-director Lim Han who starred in ``Don Carlos,'' ``Carmen,'' ``La Boheme'' and ``Cats.''
Also, at the beginning of the show, an actor gives a brief introduction of the opera for about 10 minutes.
The opera will run at KS Cheongdam Art Hall in southern Seoul throughout Aug. 31. Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 742-9005.