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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Celebrities Return to Theater

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Once actors move on from the humble theater to the big screen, they reminisce over the hardships of those times, but also heave a sigh of relief that they're finally over. However, they still come back to the stage returning to their roots. The stage is becoming an attractive arena for movie stars and singers. This coming spring, a star-studded line-up of musicals and plays are awaiting the audience. Veteran actress Yang Hee-kyung will return to the stage in the play ``Minja's Golden Age,'' two years since starring in the play ``Old Prostitute's Song.'' ``Minja's Golden Age'' portrays the relationship between Park Min-ja and her daughter. Min-ja, who abandoned her daughter and her home 10 years ago, suddenly decides to return home. Yang will play the role of Min-ja, a singer who works at a nightclub. The play will be staged at Yesul Madang in Daehangno, central Seoul, March 6. Ha Hee-ra, an actress who has appeared in many hit soap operas and films, will also return to theaters with ``The Goodbye Girl,'' a romantic comedy musica

Feb 27, 2008

Encore `Lady Macbeth

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter ``Lady Macbeth'' will be staged at Seoul Arts Center from March 21 to April 13 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the center. Directed by Han Tae-sook, the play based on William Shakespeare's ``Macbeth'' from its heroine's point of view, is an encore performance, selected as best play by 82 theater critics and 1,099 viewers among a total of 49 plays produced by the theater between 1993-2006. The play will be revived six years after its latest performance was put on stage. The drama received critical acclaim for its music score, unique artistic theatrical elements and creative reinterpretation from its original ``Macbeth'' in the previous performances. The play puts emphasis on Macbeth's wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. Early in the play she appears the stronger and more ruthless of the two, as she urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown. After the bloodshed begins, however, Lady Macbeth falls victim to guilt and madness to an even greater degree than her husband. The encore drama a

Feb 26, 2008

Universals Giselle to Go on Stage

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter Universal Ballet Company (UBC) presents five performances of the romantic ballet ``Giselle'' with four different dancers playing the lead role of Giselle and Albrecht at Universal Arts Center, eastern Seoul, March 20-23. First presented in 1841 in Paris, France, ``Giselle'' portrays the tragic love story of a maiden named Giselle. Based on Theophile Gautier's story, Adolphe Adam wrote the music, while Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot originally choreographed the dance. Oleg Vinogradov, the artistic director of UBC, choreographed the ballet. UBC first performed ``Giselle'' in 1985 and their 2005 performance at Seoul Arts Center was sold out. In the first act, Giselle, a young, innocent village girl, falls in love on the spot with Albrecht, a nobleman disguised as a peasant. However, when Giselle finds out his true identity and his fiancee Bathilde, she is heartbroken, goes mad and dies. In the second act, Giselle becomes a wili, a ghost of maiden who was betrayed by her lover. The wilis lure people to dance forever until they die. Giselle, wit

Feb 25, 2008

`My Fair Lady Holds Open Audition

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Renowned musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber turned to a reality TV show to find a new star for the leading role in his most recent production, ``The Sound of Music,'' through open auditions. The musical was a big success in 2006, with an unknown actress winning the role of Maria. Such open auditions are now gaining popularity in the local musical arena, in which a limited number of stars drove strong ticket sales. The OD Musical Company is holding an open audition for its new production, ``My Fair Lady,'' which will be staged in August. The audition is the first and largest open audition ever held in Korea. The auditions will be broadcast on a cable channel in March, titled, ``Singing in the SKY,'' sponsored by SKY, the nation's mobile phone manufacturer. The auditions will be part of a reality program in which 20 contenders will compete for the approval of judges and viewers on a TV show. Viewers can participate in the selection process by voting. If selected for ``My Fair Lady,'' actresses can expect to perform in other musi

Feb 25, 2008

Van Gogh Exhibition Sees 600,000 Visitors

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter A total of 600,000 visitors have seen the worksof Van Gogh, currently on display at the Seoul Museum of Arts in downtown Seoul. Opened on Nov. 24, ``Van Gogh: Voyage into the Myth,'' is the first retrospective of Dutch Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh's works in Korea. The exhibition gives an overview of his career, starting with his earlier works in the Netherlands (1881-1885), Paris (1886-1888), Arles (1889), Saint-Remy (1889-1890) and finally, Auvers-sur-Oise (1890). Among the 67 works on display are iconic masterpieces such as ``Irises," ``Country Road in Provence by Bight," ``The Yellow House," ``The Sower" and ``Self-Portrait." The 45 oil paintings and 22 drawings are on loan from the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The exhibition runs through March 16, and is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. From March 4, it will be open until 10 p.m. on weekdays. Ticket booths close 40 minutes early. Tickets are 12,000 won for adults, 10,000 for students (13-18 years o

Feb 24, 2008

Samulnori Celebrates 30th Anniversary

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter There was a time when traditional Korean music performed by ``namsadang,'' or a traveling male entertainment troupe was regarded as something on the fringes of the art world. But their street performance was reborn as ``samulori,'' which is now a genre of performance representative of the nation. It has been staged in high profile events from the presidential inauguration ceremony to international gatherings such as the Olympic Games. The Korean word ``samul'' refers to four instruments ― the ``jing,'' a large gong; ``kkwaenggwari,'' a small gong; ``janggo,'' an hourglass-shaped drum; and ``buk,'' a barrel drum ― ``nori'' means to play. Thus, the meaning of the term is the playing of four instruments. ``Samulnori'' was re-created by four traditional percussionists ― Kim Duk-soo, late Kim Yong-bae (now replaced by Nam Ki-moon), Lee Kwang-soo and Choi Jong-sil ― in a small theater in Daehangno, Seoul 30 years ago. ``Samulnori'' celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The four artists will come together for the first time in 14 years

Feb 22, 2008

Artists Interpret Directions, Colors

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter How does one interpret directions in art? This was the challenge posed to five artists, who participated in the on going ``5 Spaces, 5 Colors'' exhibit at the Moran Museum of Art, Namyangju, Gyeongju Province. Sculptor Jeong Hyun, photographer Hong Seong-do, metal print artist Kim Hong-sik, sculptor Lee Jae-hyo and media artist Baruch Gottlieb were invited to ``interpret the five directions, the traditional concept of space in the Orient'' with their works. Well-known art critics Yoon Bum-mo, Jeong Jun-mo, Choi Yeol, Choi Tae-man and Cho Eun-jung, personally chose each of the artists in the exhibit. In the exhibition catalogue essay, Cho said the concept of direction is grounded in the colors representing them. ``East, west, south and north as blue, white, yellow, red and black colors respectively attempt to hunt up the works that are mainly painted with those colors, and then derive the image world and materials of the specific work from the concepts of direction in order to apply them in their understanding,'' Cho said.

Feb 22, 2008

Classical Concerts, Musuems, Pop and Jazz

Classical Concerts Andras Schiff's First Piano Recital in Korea Seoul Arts Center Feb. 22 & 24 Praised by the New York Times as being ``the best pianist to play Bach in the whole classical world,'' Andras Schiff will visit Korea for the first time. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 120,000 won. Visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or call (02) 541-6234. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3. Lim Dong-hyek Piano Recital Seoul Arts Center Feb. 26 Pianist Lim Dong-hyek plays Bach's ``Chaconne'' (Busoni transcription) and the Goldberg variations. Lim is known for his Chopin recitals, but he is trying something new at this concert. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 80,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3. Gewandhaus Orchester zu Leipzig and Thomanerchor Seoul Arts Center Feb. 27 World-renowned Gewandhaus Orchester zu Leipzig, conducted by Georg Christoph Biller, will play Bach's ``BWV 232'' and more. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 150,000 won. Visi

Feb 21, 2008

Clubs, Exhibitions, Kids

Clubs Club Garden Apgujeong-dong The Garden is an electronica hotspot, with the big draw being its line-up of guest DJs such as Laurent Garnier, Mondo Grosso, Afrika Bambatta and Goldie. Near Galleria Department Store on the so-called Rodeo Street in southern Seoul. Call (02) 518-5115 or clubgarden.co.kr. Club Evans Hongdae or Hongik University Area This place, located near Hongik University, is great for intimate live performances. The line-up of performers is generally top-notch and the acoustics are good. Located near exit 1 on Sangsu Station on subway line 6 or exit 6 on Hongdae Station on subway line 2. Call (02) 337-8361 or www.clubevans.com. Club Caliente Itaewon The patrons are so diverse, DJ Josh sometimes has a hard job appealing to everyone. But he keeps the dance floor going, playing a variety of standbys and new Latin music. The song selection is what keeps people coming back. Located near exit 4 of Itaewon Station subway line 6. Call (011) 9094 8484 Club M2 Hongdae M2 features top DJs from home and abroad. The dance floo

Feb 21, 2008

Time to Celebrate First Full Moon

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter ``Jeongwol Daeboreum,'' or Great Full Moon, is a Korean traditional holiday that celebrates the first full moon of the new year according to the lunar calendar. ``Jeongwol'' means first month and ``Daeboreum'' means big full moon. It comes around every fifteenth of the first lunar calendar month. This year, the day falls on Thursday. Koreans traditionally crack nuts with their teeth, hoping this practice will help keep one's teeth healthy for the year. Also, people climb mountains to see the first rise of the moon in belief that the first person to see the moon rise will have a good luck throughout the year. Traditionally, Korean people played a game called ``jwibulnori'' the night before Jeongwol Daeboreum, during which they burned the dry grass on the ridges between rice fields and children whirled around cans full of holes, through which charcoal fire blazed. Many people believe that these cans fertilize the fields and eradicate harmful worms to protect the new crops. Also, Koreans have ``ogokbap,'' rice mixed with five dif

Feb 20, 2008
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