Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Distinctive Reinterpretation Shines in Musical 200-Pound

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The buzz word in this year's musical trend was``movical,'' referring to the combination of movies and musicals. The boom in re-creating the cinematic arts on the musical stage cashes in on the success of hit films such as ``Radio Star'' and ``The Harmonium in My Memory.'' Yet such musicals could be boring if they simply follow the same storyline of the film. However, a new musical, ``200-Pound Beauty,'' based on the 2006 film of the same title, simply took the worries away by distinctively reinterpreting the original work. The musical, starring singer-turned-actress Bada, better known as Choi Sung-hee, and actress Yoon Gong-ju, who both portray Kang Han-byeol, and actor Song Chang-ui, who takes the role of Han Sang-jun, opened Thursday at Chung Art Hall in Seoul. The musical effectively condensed the story of the film version into an intensive comical show, with diverse musical elements and reinterpreted characters. Using many musical numbers in addition to familiar songs already in the film, the musical invented more sophisticated

Dec 2, 2008

B-Boys Bring Back World Champion Glory

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter One of Korea's best B-boy groups, Last for One, is returning to the stage with a gala show, ``One Dream,'' this month at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex. Korea already boasts a number of b-boy groups that have received high acclaim from both local and overseas fans, but Last for One is considered one of the top groups. Having performed at President Lee Myung-bak's inauguration ceremony earlier this year, winning the so-called b-boy's World Cup ``Battle of the Year,'' held in Germany in 2005, and also dancing in the United States' documentary movie ``Planet B-Boy'' with fellow dancers from all over the world, Last For One is now determined to bring its charisma and stage presence to local fans. Unlike other performances, in which there is a simple storyline and dance is only presented as a tool to carry out the drama, ``One Dream'' will be a show of dance itself, clean and simple. ``One Dream'' takes visitors back to the start of the group's dance journey. Living in a small town, young, passionate dancers get together, practice thei

Dec 1, 2008

Heaven Through Artists Eyes at Seoul MoA

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Everyone has his or her own concept of what heaven is. It may mean the sky, but for some, it is where angels and gods live, while others believe heaven is a place of eternal happiness. Some even say heaven is on Earth. Throughout the centuries, artists have tried to convey their concept of heaven through art. Now, art lovers will have a rare chance to see it as depicted by famous artists like Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Fernand Leger, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque and Paul Klee. ``Heaven for Artists,'' currently on-going at the Seoul Museum of Art, downtown Seoul, features works from the renowned Pompidou Center in Paris, France. With the theme ``Arcadia,'' the art works revolve around the images of heaven as interpreted by European artists in Paris after the 20th century. Relationships with European mythology, history and literature are explored through the works. ``The word 'Arcadia' refers to an actual region in central Greece but was depicted as a blessed, affluent land by the Latin culture as well as Virgil, a

Nov 30, 2008

Art Exhibitions, Kids and Sports

Arts Exhibition Winter Waltz N Gallery Through Dec. 28 N Gallery, located in Bundang, is hosting its winter exhibition, featuring works by Kim Joong-sik, Kim Mi-kyoung, Byun Jae-hee and Suh Kyoun-ja, among others. Visit www.ngallery.net or call (070) 7430-3323. 2 Handbags in a Pickle Arko Art Center, Insa Art Space Through Feb. 8 German artist John Bock is presenting his new 40-minute video, ``PARA_SCHIZO, ensnarled," which was filmed entirely in Korea. This is his first solo exhibition in Asia. His other videos and films will be shown at Insa Art Space every Friday at 5 p.m. through Feb. 3. Visit www.arkoartcenter.or.kr or call (02) 760-4563. Paris 3 Insa Gallery Through Dec. 9 Paris-based artists Xavier Lucchesi, Chong Jae-kyoo and Anne-Catherine Becker-Echivard are presenting their distinctive art works at Insa Gallery. Visit www.insagallery.net or call (02) 735-2655. Cosmetic Girls Kukje Gallery Through Dec. 31 Oh Hein-kuhn is showing revealing but sensitive portraits of young Korean women. Visit www.kukjegallery.com or call (02) 735-8449.

Nov 27, 2008

Claissical Concerts, Big Tickets, Museums, Dance, Pop and Jazz

Classical Concerts Classics in Cinema Hoam Art Hall Dec. 12 The CIELOS Ensemble has strived to bring classical music to all since its launch last August. This time, the group will play classical tunes from famous movies. Music critic Jang Il-beom, who hosts his own classical music program on KBS1 radio, will join as a commentator. Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, visit www.credia.co.kr or call (02) 751-9606-10. Located near exits 9 and 10 of City Hall Station on subway line 2. Les Petits Chanteurs a la Croix de Bois Concert Sejong Center for Performing Arts Dec. 12 ``Les Petits Chanteurs a la Croix de Bois Concert,'' a boys' choir from France, visits Korea. With 24 boys selected from strict auditions, this choir is considered one of the world's top choirs, along with Vienna and Toelzer. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 548-4480. Located near exit 3 of City Hall Station on subway line 1 and 2, or exit 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Boon the Bassoon First Concer

Nov 27, 2008

First Electric Geomungo Inventor, Player Holds Solo Concert

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter ``Geomungo'' (Komungo), a traditional six-stringed Korean instrument, has long been regarded as the instrument of men, while gayageum, or 12-stringed instrument, has been thought of as a women's instrument. It's because the former was an integral part of Joseon's literati culture, played by ``seonbi,'' or noblemen, with its masculine, coarse and raw sounds for meditation. The latter was usually performed by ``gisaeng,'' or female entertainers, with its feminine and melodic sounds, during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). It's always been quite rare for a female to play geomungo for the public. But Korean-American musician Jin Hi Kim ventured to choose the geomungo to show her capacity in playing the men's instrument when she was a student at Gukak National High School. ``In the past when I was a university student, Korean people rejected Korean traditional music as inferior to Western music. I was deeply hurt by that. So I thought how I could change the attitude by making Korean music equally important to Western music,'' Kim said in an int

Nov 26, 2008

KoreaToday Bringing Back History to Stage Through Dance

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Walking along the mural-covered walls of ancient tombs, one may wonder what it would have been like to breathe, mingle and live during those times. Among those who did was Kook Soo-ho, one of Korea's celebrated dancers and choreographers, who not only dreamed about it, but brought ancient history back to life through dance. Kook, the head of the Didim Dance Company, is celebrating the 45th year in his career. It's been a long time, but he is a man looking ahead. ``I'm still working on resurfacing our traditional dances based on the murals in ancient tombs. I've done Goguryeo, so next year we will make Silla, Baekje, Gaya and then the Goryeo Kingdom. My wish is to put these performances on stage every day and present them to not only the Korean public, but also to the world. Introducing our dances, songs, music and art and help them feel our history: that is my dream,'' he told The Korea Times during an interview at his office in Jamsil, southern Seoul. He was born in 1948, in a small village called Bibongmyeon in North Jeolla Provi

Nov 26, 2008

Line 1 Stops for New Version

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The musical "Line 1" by the local drama company Hakchon will end its run for the time being after reaching a milestone 4,000th performance by the end of the year, capping a 15-year run as one of the most successful theatrical productions of the 20th century. To mark the 4,000th performance on Dec. 31, the show will feature veteran actors who have participated in the show over the last 15 years. The cast includes 11 actors who are now performing and 70-80 other actors who played roles in the previous years. The musical was first staged in 1994 at the Theater Hakchon in Daehangno, Seoul. The steady-seller musical has attracted 706,000 people as of Nov. 2, and a total of 216 actors have taken part in the 15-year run. Based on the original German work of Volker Ludwig of the Grips Theater, the rock musical was adapted by singer Kim Min-gi to reflect unique Korean context and sentiment. The musical portrays life in the city of Seoul through the eyes of an ethnic Korean Chinese woman named Seonnyeo who moves to Seoul from the Korean autonomo

Nov 25, 2008

German Artist Presents 2 Handbags in a Pickle

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When German artist John Bock starts talking about having his next exhibition on Mars, you wonder if you’re even living on the same planet. Then you watch his new video, ``PARA―SCHIZO, ensnarled,'' and you may wonder how he managed to create such bizarre but compelling images in Korea. Bock was recently in Seoul to unveil ``PARA―SCHIZO, ensnarled,'' which was commissioned by the Arko Art Center and Insa Art Space. Set in Seoul, many of the scenes in the video will seem familiar but the situations and characters are straight out of Bock’s imagination. Bock was inspired by Korea’s energy, from its food, streets, people, smell and sounds, and found a way to create new images and situations. Korean organizers first contacted Bock in September 2007 about a possible collaborative project. They also sent him research materials, such as photos and documents, that would help him understand Korea. He selected Nakwon-dong, Changsin-dong, Jegi-dong, Sinsa-dong and Dongducheon top-dong as the film locations. Bock started shooting the film in J

Nov 24, 2008

Fiddler Touches Hearts of Audience

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The Korean rendition of Broadway musical ``Fiddler on the Roof'' has proven the power of a good story, which is rarely found in recent extravagant musicals. The musical raised its curtain at the National Theater of Korea last Friday, with much anticipation for the star-studded cast, including veteran actors Noh Joo-hyeon and Kim Jin-tae and rising star Shin Sung-rok. The show takes place in a Jewish Russian village, Anatevka, in 1905, and focuses on Tevye, a milkman who lives by strong Jewish traditions, along with his five daughters and wife. It deals with a heavy theme of Russia's crackdown on the Jewish community in a turbulent era but it unfolds with a light and cheerful touch with a more universal theme based on family relationships. The show gave a clear message of the shifting family values, which is still valid in current society. The musical depicted the traditional role of the father, who on the outside seems strong but is vulnerable inside, which is a typical description of Korean fathers. The musical began with a fiddler