Around Town 1

Classical Concerts

‘SAC 11am Concert’

Seoul Arts Center*

Until Dec. 8

On every second Thursday of each month, an “11am Concert” will be performed at the Seoul Arts Center. Chong Park will host the shows with commentary, and coffee will be provided for free. With distinct soloists for each concert, the Korean Symphony Orchestra will perform at all of the concerts.

Tickets cost 20,000 to 25,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300.

‘La Traviata’

Sejong Center for Performing Arts

Nov. 8 to 13

“La Traviata” directed by Henning Brockhaus and conducted by Sebastiano De Filippi will be performed at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Nov. 8 to 13.

“La Traviata” is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, and is known as one of opera’s greatest romances. The November performances will feature baritone Carlo Guelfi as Giorgio Germont, tenor Luciano Ganci as Alfredo Germont and soprano Gladys Rossi as Violetta Valery.

Tickets cost 30,000 to 280,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 587-1950.

‘Yang Sung-won's Chamber Story'

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

Nov. 16

On Nov. 16, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will hold a chamber music concert. The center’s chamber music series featuring Yang Sung-won is offered six times with four themes on a yearly basis along with top artists from Korea and abroad, such as Trio Owon, Enrico Pace and the Modigliani Quartet. The program includes Liszt’s “Romance Oublie” and “La Lugubre Gondola,” Chopin’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor and Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor.

Tickets cost 40,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 399-1000.

Big Tickets

Dorian Gray

Until Oct. 29

Seongnam Arts Center

The musical “Dorian Gray” is performed at the Opera House of Seongnam Arts Center until Oct. 29.

“Dorian Gray” is a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 19th century novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” featuring K-pop star Kim Jun-su in the title role of Gray, a young British aristocrat who achieves everlasting youth through an enchanted painting. The musical is scripted by Cho Yong-shin and directed by Lee Gi-na, with music composed by Kim Moon-jeong. Park Eun-tae, Choi Jae-woong and Hong Seo-yong also star.

Tickets cost 50,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-3363.

Pop & Jazz

Grand Mint Festival 2016

Olympic Park

Oct. 22 to 23

This year's Grand Mint Festival (GMF) will be held at Olympic Park Oct. 22 to 23.

GMF is one of Korea's music festivals introducing a wide range of popular domestic music. Marking its 10th anniversary, the festival will present its widest and biggest lineup yet, with acts like Sweet Sorrow, Kwak Jin-eon, Kim Sa-wol, No Reply, 10cm, Urban Zakapa, Jung Jae-hyung, Toy, Lucid Paul, Peppertones, Lee Jin-ah, Daybreak, ZionT, Nell, Broccoli You Too, Kingston Rudieska, Kiha & the Faces and Clazziquai Project.

A one-day pass costs 99,000 won, and a two-day pass costs 158,000 won. For more information, visit mintpaper.co.kr or call 1544-1555.

Plays & Musicals

‘Phantom’

Blue Square

Nov. 26 to Feb. 26, 2017

"Phantom," a musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel "Phantom of the Opera," will be performed at Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall from Nov. 26 to Feb. 26.

"Phantom" is about Erik, a mysterious man living in the dark cellar of a Paris opera house. One day he hears someone singing and is enchanted by her heavenly voice. Discovering that the voice was of Christine Daee, he decides to make her the new diva of the Opera Theatre and begins to give her secret lessons every night. With the help of Erik, Christine has her debut, but it is ruined by Carlotta. Erik seeks revenge on her.

Park Hyo-shin, Park Eun-tae and Jeon Dong-suk star as Erik, the Phantom. Kim So-hyun, Kim Soon-young and Lee Ji-hye share the role of Christine Daee, and Jeong Young-ju and Shin Young-sook will alternate for Carlotta.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-6478.

Kinky Boots

Until Nov. 13

The Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” returns to Seoul after its Korean premiere in 2014. It will be held at Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall Sept. 2 to Nov. 13.

Based on the book by Harvey Fierstein and with music and lyrics by Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winner Cyndi Lauper, the musical tells the true story of Charlie Price who goes to oddly extreme ends to save his father’s shoe factory. This year’s local rendition of “Kinky Boots” features Lee Ji-hoon and Kim Ho-young as Charlie, Jung Sung-hwa and Kang Hong-suk as Lola, Kim Ji-woo as Lauren, Ko Chang-suk and Shim Jae-hyun as Don. Shin Ui-jung, Lee Woo-seung, Kwon Yong-kook, Song Yoo-taekand Jang Ye-won also star.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

‘Two Rooms’

Seoul Arts Center

Lee Blessing’s play “Two Rooms” will be performed at Seoul Arts Center’s Jayu Theater until Nov. 13.

The play is a love story of a separated couple. The two rooms of the title are a windowless cubicle in Beirut where an American hostage is being held by Arab terrorists and a room in his home in the United States, which his wife has stripped of furniture.

Tickets cost 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (070) 4141-7708.

‘Pericles’

Nov. 10 to Dec. 4

Shakespeare’s “Pericles” will be staged at Seoul Arts Center from Nov. 10 to Dec. 4.

Set in the ancient kingdom of Antioch, the Jacobean play tells the riveting tale of King Antiochus and his daughter secretly engaging in an incestuous relationship following her mother’s death. Antiochus has kept suitors from marrying his daughter by requiring that they answer a riddle correctly or face death. Pericles, Prince of Tyre, solves the riddle but discovers that its answer reveals the incestuous relationship between father and daughter. While Pericles decides not to reveal the truth, Antiochus gives him 50 days before his death sentence.

The play features a veteran stage actor and former culture minister Yoo In-chon as the play’s narrator John Gower and the elder Pericles. The role of young Pericles is filled by Nam Yoon-ho and daughter Marina by Chun Sung-min.

Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300.

Dance

Sleeping Beauty

Nov. 3 to 6

“Sleeping Beauty” will be performed by Korean National Ballet at Seoul Arts Center’s Opera House Nov. 3 to 6.

The Korean National Ballet performed Rudolf Nureyev’s rendition of “Sleeping Beauty” in 2004, and it is back with a different take on the classic fairy tale. This year’s performance is choreographed by Marcia Haydee who is a former prima ballerina of Stuttgart Ballet.

Tickets cost 5,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 587-6181.

Romeo and Juliet

Universal Ballet performs Kenneth MacMillan’s “Romeo and Juliet” at Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater.

One of the most celebrated ballerinas of recent decades, Alessandra Ferri, will dance the role of Juliet with Universal Ballet. Ferri has been a legendary dancer with both American Ballet Theater and the Royal Ballet. She was with the Royal Ballet when Kenneth MacMillan was still alive, and was his muse for many years. Ferri and her partner, Herman Cornejo, will give two performances in Korea with Universal Ballet.

MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet is a signature work of the Royal Ballet’s repertoire, and the best-known version of the Prokofiev ballet in Britain and the United States. During his lifetime, MacMillan mounted it for the Royal Swedish Ballet in 1971, American Ballet Theatre in 1985 and Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1992.

Tickets cost 10,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (070) 7124-1734.

Clubs

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.

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. Club Evans is located near exit 1 of Sangsu Station, subway line 6. It opens at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit clubevans.com or call (02) 337-8361.

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, visit onceinabluemoon.co.kr or call (02) 549-5490.

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.

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 Line 3. For more information, call (02) 543-8803.