WEEKENDER AROUND TOWN 1

Classical Concerts

‘SAC 11am Concert’

Seoul Arts Center*

Until Dec. 8

On every second Thursday of each month, an 11am Concert is performed at Seoul Arts Center. / Courtesy of Seoul Arts Center

On every second Thursday of each month, an “11am Concert” will be performed at 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

‘Notre Dame de Paris’

Gyeonggi Arts Center

Oct. 14 to 16

French musical “Notre-Dame de Paris” based on the well-known novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” will be performed at Gyeonggi Arts Center Oct. 14 to 16, following its Seoul performance.

With its beautiful numbers including “Le Temps des Cathedrals,” “Belle” and “Vivre,” the musical Notre Dame de Paris has drawn a vast number of audiences all over the world. Following the premiere in 2008, this year’s Korean licensed performance will have Hong Kwang-ho, K-Will and Moon Jong-won playing Quasimodo and Yoon Gong-ju, Lina and Jeon Na-young playing Esmeralda.

Tickets cost 70,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 541-6236.

‘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

“Phantom” starring Park Hyo-shin will be performed at Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall. / Courtesy of EMK Musical Company

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 & 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.

‘Hamlet’

Chungmu Art Center

Until Oct. 16

One of the most famous dramas of all time, William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” will be staged at Chungmu Art Center from Aug. 2 to Oct. 16.

It will follow the plot of the original work: Prince Hamlet learns that his father has died and his mother has remarried his uncle Claudius who is now the king. The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and tells his son that he was murdered by Claudius, so Hamlet vows vengeance. Hamlet the Play is planned to include a few additional characters, in order to make the tragic story of Hamlet more dreadful. Kim Kang-woo, Kim Dong-won will play the title role of Hamlet, and Lee Kahp-sun and Kim Dae-ryung will play Claudius.

Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 766-6007.

LG Arts Center

Oct. 12 to 14

Danish theatrical group Theatre Republique and British band The Tiger Lillies are turning Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” into an explosion of music and images. The magical combination of the exceptional and eerie music of The Tiger Lillies and the creative imagination of Theatre Republique compliments Shakespeare’s potent drama of contempt, love and revenge. Presented on stage is a two-hour blast of theatrical seduction, deception, death, dark humor and the utter futility of existence. This performance will display an innovative and unconventional take on the original play.

Tickets cost 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, visit lgart.com or call (02) 2005-0114.

‘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-taek and Jang Ye-won also star.

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

‘Ham-ik’

Seoul Metropolitan Theater will perform “Ham-ik” at Sejong M Theater Sept. 30 to Oct. 16. / Courtesy of Sejong Center for Performing Arts

The Seoul Metropolitan Theater will perform “Ham-ik” at the Sejong M Theater from Sept. 30 to Oct. 16.

“Ham-ik” is a newly created adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” applying the drama of the original play into the world of two female characters. The play features Choi Nara, Lee Ji-yeon, Kang Shin-gu, Yoon na-moo and Hwang Sung-dae.

Tickets cost 20,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 399-1000 or 1544-1555.

Dance

‘Sleeping Beauty’

Seoul Arts Center

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.

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.