Around Town 1
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‘Do You Like Brahms?’
Olympus Hall
Until Apr. 21
Following the success of the Olympus Lecture Concert Season 1, a second season is scheduled with the music of Brahms. The Musikamia ensemble will lead all performances until the last one on April, featuring its vocalists and piano section. The ensemble aims to express the sense of purity in their performance, which Brahms always pursued within his music.
Brahms composed a number of pieces for piano, chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra and for vocal and chorus — many of his works have become staples of modern repertoires. Though his music is firmly rooted in the structures of the Baroque and classical masters, Brahms created a new approach to harmony.
The ‘Do You Like Brahms’ concert will alternate themes each week, presenting a wide variety of his works.
Admission is 33,000 won. For more information, call (02)6255-3270.
‘Rebecca’
Seoul Arts Center
Until Mar. 6
The musical “Rebecca” will be staged at Seoul Arts Center through March 6. / Courtesy of EMK Musical mpany
“Rebecca” is a musical based on the classic Daphne du Maurier novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s Oscar-winning film of love and obsession.
In this romantic thriller, the story revolves around “I.” Maxim de Winter brings his new wife “I” home to Manderley and introduces her to the manipulative housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. Thinking that the new woman is an unworthy replacement for Maxim’s first wife Rebecca, she constantly harasses “I.” It soon becomes apparent that Manderley is a house of devastating secrets, and the mystery of Rebecca may be the greatest of them all.
Casts from previous productions, Um Ki-joon, Shin Young-sook and Kim Bo-kyung, perform in the 2016 “Rebecca,” along with new faces, Song Chang-eui, Song Sang-eun and Cha Ji-yeon.
Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-6478 or visit musicalrebecca.co.kr.
‘MATA HARI’
Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall
Mar. 25-Jun. 12
The musical “Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge” will be performed at Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall from Mar. 25 to Jun. 12.
This 25 billion won production includes some of the biggest names in the musical business, including composer Frank Wildhorn and Broadway director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun. Ok Joo-hyun and Kim So-hyang will perform the title role of Mata Hari and Um Ki-joon, Song Chang-eui and Leo from VIXX will play Armand, the only man who Mata Hari loved.
The musical will give Korean audience the first chance to explore the life of Mata Hari — a femme fatale of the early 20th century, an exotic and tragic beauty, a romantic heroin and a mysterious spy.
Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-6478 or visit www.musicalmatahari.com.
Soilwork
West Bridge Live Hall
Feb. 26
Legendary Swedish rock bank Soilwork will hold a concert in Korea at West Bridge Live Hall on Feb. 26.
Following their first visit to Korea in 2003 during the Busan International Rock Festival, the band will hold their first solo concert in Korea. Led by vocalist Bjorn “Speed” Strid, Soilwork consists of six members. Their albums such as “Figure Number Five” and “Natural Born Chaos” drove the band into stardom in the early 2000s.
Ego Fall, a Mongolian based Oriental metal band who performed at the Busan International Rock Festival in 2015, will appear as a special guest.
Tickets cost 77,000 won. For more information, call (02)716-7977.
Turbo
Olympic Park SK Handball Stadium
Mar. 5-6
The reunited K-pop trio Turbo will hold two concerts in March, celebrating their 20th anniversary. Turbo was one of the pop stars of the 1990s, and recently reunited after 15 years apart.
Turbo was first introduced as a duo with Kim Jong-kook and Kim Jung-nam; however, when the latter left the group, Mickey filled the spot. For the concerts in March, all three are performing together under the name Turbo. The concerts will feature their famous dance music along with brand new songs from their sixth album “Again,” released last December.
Tickets cost 99,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.ticket.interpark.com.
Shin Hye-sung
Blue Square Samsung Card Hall
Feb. 20-Mar. 13
Despite being part of famous boy band Sinhwa, Shin successfully debuted as a solo vocalist in 2005. This year, he released his 10th anniversary album, “Delight” on Jan. 12, and will hold concerts titled “Weekly Delight” for a month on weekends, starting on Feb. 20.
Admission is 121,000 won. For more information, call (02)371-8380 or visit www.interpark.com.
‘The Orchestra Pit’
LG Arts Center*
Until Feb. 28
An orchestra pit is the area in theater in which instrumentalists perform. “The Orchestra Pit” is a musical depicting what happens there, showing an array of crazy incidents. Derived from Mitani Kouki’s “Okepi,” the Korean version stars Hwang Jung-min and Oh Man-seok in the main role of conductor, along with actors Seo bum-seok, Yoon Gong-ju, and Park Hye-na.
The performance will run until Februrary 28 at the LG Arts Center.
Tickets cost 50,000 to 140,000 won. For further information, call (02)6925-5600 or visit www.lgart.com.
‘Troops on the Tree’
Japanese play “Troops on the Tree” is having its Korean premiere at Seoul Arts Center. This theatrical work centers on the lives of soldiers, dealing with killing others during a war. Inoue Hisasi, who is often called the Japanese Shakespeare, and Hori Ryuta wrote the original play directed by Kurimaya Tamiya, which was well received in Japan. In Korea, Kang ryang-won directs the show.
Tickets cost 35,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02)766-6007.
‘Let the Right One In’
A theatrical production of “Let the Right One In” will be staged until Feb. 28 at CJ Towol Theater. / Courtesy of Seensee Company
The National Theatre of Scotland’s “Let the Right One In” will be staged until Feb. 28 at CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center.
This theatrical production follows the plot from the original novel of the same title, featuring Oskar, a bullied boy and Eli, a peculiar girl. For its Korean version, Park So-dam and Lee Eun-ji star as Eli and Ahn Seung-gyun and Oh Seung-hoon play Oskar.
Tickets cost 33,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call (02)577-1987 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
‘Next to Normal’
Doosan Art Center
Until Mar. 13
The musical “Next to Normal” is being staged at Doosan Art Center’s Yonkang Hall until Mar. 13. Kolleen Park and Jung Young-ju play the main role of the struggling mother Diana, revealing the story of her mental illness and its effects on her family.
Tickets are priced at 66,000 won and 88,000 won. For more information, call (02)744-4033 or visit www.ticket.interpark.com.
‘Frankenstein’
Chungmu Art Hall
Until Mar. 20
The 2016 version of “Frankenstein” will be held at Chungmu Art Hall until March. It is one of the world’s most recognized horror musical productions, following the tale of Victor Frankenstein. The show is designed dark and grim as it depicts Victor’s tragedy.
Yu Jun-sang who played Victor Frankenstein in the original Korean premiere is back in the role this year. Park Gun-hyung, Han Ji-sang and Park Eun-tae also star.
“Frankenstein” is to be performed daily except on Mondays. Tickets cost 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1666-8662 or visit www.cmah.or.kr.
MAMMA MIA
Charlotte Theater
Feb. 20 — Jun. 4
MAMMA MIA is one of only five current musicals to have run for more than ten years on Broadway, and the eighth-longest-running show in Broadway history. Since its Korean premiere in 2004, it has been one of the most successful musicals here.
Shin Young-sook and Choi Jung-won will play Donna, and Kim Geum-nah and Seohyun will play Sophie. Jeon Su-kyung, Hong Ji-min and Nam Kyung-ju also star.
Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call (02)577-1977 or visit www.ticket.interpark.com.
‘Already Not Yet’
Apr. 1-2
The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will perform “Already Not Yet” on April 1 and 2 at Seoul Arts Center. / Courtesy of KNCDC
The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC) will perform “Already Not Yet” on April 1 and 2 at CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center.
The performance focuses on the flashing moment of time where ‘already’ and ‘yet’ collapse —illustrating the process of two different dimensions of time coming across each other.
Tickets cost 10,000 to 15,000 won. For more information, call (02)6196-1616 or visit www.kncdc.kr.
‘Once Upon a Time in Ballet’
Mapo Art Center
Feb. 27-28
Derived from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Wise Ballet created a modern ballet program about love.
Their performances will be dressed with popular music from films, refashioning some scenes from them. “Once Upon a Time in Ballet” will not only present creative dance moves but also a mixture of jazz and street dance.
Tickets cost 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02)3274-8600 or visit www.mapoartcenter.co.kr.
Club Octagon
Nonhyeon
Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The club offers a stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. It is near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02)516-8847.
Club Globe Lounge
Itaewon
Club Globe Lounge is famous among women looking for a place to throw birthday parties or enjoy a light dinner. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., it serves as a bar, changing into a club after 10 p.m. Every Thursday, Club Globe Lounge has a Happy Hour buffet for guests. Club Globe Lounge is located near the Hamilton Hotel by exit 2 of Itaewon Station, subway line 6. For more information, call (02)792-1127 or visit globeloungekr.com.
Club Evans
Hongik University
Club Evans is a live jazz club that has served as a platform for emerging jazz artists for a decade. It operates jazz recording studios and a jazz academy as well, producing albums for many local jazz artists. Club Evans provides jazz concerts and leads music sessions every Monday and Tuesday. It is located near exit 1 of Sangsu Station on Line 6. It opens at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (02)337-8361 or visit www.clubevans.com.
Once in a Blue Moon
Apgujeong
Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best-known and well-established jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong Intersection and Galleria Department Store in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, call (02)549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr.
Club Answer
Cheongdam
Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hottest clubs in Seoul by CNN, provides a spacious interior and brilliant lighting system with entertaining DJs on stage nightly. Club Answer is in the classy area of Cheongdam, a district known to lead the party culture of Seoul. It is located near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02)514-4311 or visit www.clubanswer.co.kr.
Club Double Eight
Sinsa
Opened in 2010, Club Double Eight takes clubbing to its heights. Located in Gangnam, it provides diverse hotel promotions and features weekend lineups with exuberant DJs. It is located near exit 1 of Sinsa Station on subway line 3. For more information, call (02)543-8803 or visit cafe.naver.com/doubleeight.