Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Musical Entertains, Educates Children

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The idea of dental hygiene as a theme for a musical may not sound very appealing to adults, but it makes perfect sense when it is geared for children. Teaching children about the importance of brushing one's teeth ― and the problems that candy, chocolates and other sweet treats can cause ― through a musical filled with fun song-and-dance numbers seems to make sense. Now showing at Sangmyung Arts Hall in Daehangno through Jan. 27, Theatre Seoul's original musical ``Teeth'' hopes to entertain children and teach them the importance of brushing one's teeth. ``Teeth'' follows the story of Prince David who has to rescue a beautiful princess from a monster in the forest. Unlike fairy tales where the Prince is charming and handsome, Prince David is a somewhat bumbling fellow who loves to eat candy but does not brush his teeth. Canadian actor Bradly Curtin, who appeared in the EBS children's show ``Boom Boom Musicland,'' plays the role of the clueless Prince. When Prince David finally rescues the Princess (played by Canadian actress Aman

Jan 23, 2008

KNBC Seeks to Make Ballet More Luxurious

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter The Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) opens the year with returning artistic director Choi Tae-ji, 49. Choi introduced her motto as to make ballet more ``Popular, Luxurious and Global'' in Korea, at a press conference Monday. The returning director served in the same post from 1996 to 2001 and introduced a high-level repertoire contributing to a ``ballet boom'' here. To broaden audiences, the KNBC will hold ``Ballet with Explanation'' performances monthly and visit elementary schools and army bases. She also emphasized the importance of developing an original repertoire. ``The Beijing Ballet Company was established only three years ahead of the KNBC, but they already have their own choreographers and repertoire. We need to create a homegrown ballet repertoire as well,'' said Choi. The KNBC plans to create its own ballet and stage it this year. Another large-scale project Choi is promoting is the establishment of a ballet school that can be worked into the formal educational system. ``All world-renowned ballet companies h

Jan 22, 2008

Notre Dame de Paris Makes Splash in Korean Production

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The latest Korean production of the French musical ``Notre Dame de Paris,'' first seen in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, in October and Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, in December, has finally landed in Seoul. Over the last three months, the show has been modified for Seoul audiences. Choi Sung-hee (better known as Bada) has taken the limelight for her role as Esmeralda, a gypsy woman who lives in the front of the cathedral of Notre Dame with other gypsies. Choi received vocal training under Michel Cerroni of the original French team last year. The singer-turned-actress captivated the audience by successfully expressing frustration of her fatal destiny with her trademark high tones. It was a daunting task for Choi, a former member of all-girl group S.E.S., to change her career path to that of a musical actress. Her acting seemed to have improved compared from her previous musical performances ― ``Pepper Mint'' and ``Tell Me On a Sunday.'' Also, Yoon Hyung-ryeol, who took the role of Quasimodo ― a pure-souled hunchback bell rin

Jan 22, 2008

Multi-Media Artist Jeon Questions Hyper Reality

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter As you walk inside the dimly lit room, you'll notice the walls are covered in mismatched wood planks, which makes you wonder if you're really inside the Arario Gallery, Cheonan, Chungcheong Province. On one side, a digital animation clip showing a group of North Korean defectors' futile attempts to climb over a wall plays in a continuous loop. Another wall shows a digital animation clip of a woman sobbing after evidently being raped. On the floor, you'll find a 100 won North Korean banknote lit from behind. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary bill featuring Kim Il-sung's childhood home, and his shadowy image in the background. Crouch down to carefully look at the digital animation, showing a tiny figure entering the house over and over. In the next room, another digital animation video is projected on the wall, showing toy soldiers whirling around in circles as a waltz plays in the background. Welcome to Korean artist Jeon Joon-ho's world of ``Hyper Realism.'' In his solo exhibition at Arario Gallery, the multi-media art

Jan 20, 2008

Gwacheon Museum to Display Exciting Exhibits

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The National Museum of Contemporary Art has organized several exciting exhibitions to watch out for this year. Among the exhibits will be the dazzling jewelry of Cartier, the works of French artists Annette Messager and Marcel Duchamp, the Japanese artist Munakata Shiko and Korean artist Choi Young-lim. The National Museum of Contemporary Art, located in Gwacheon, will show off 264 newly acquired Korean works, drawings, paintings, sculptures and new media works from February to April. The works of Messager, an artist known for intriguing installation art, will run from March to June. Messager, who was born in France in 1943, creates installation art using photography, knitting, embroidery, sewing and other objects from her collections. Chang Youn-soon, who was named 2008 Artist of the Year by the museum, will show her works using Korean traditional fabrics from May to July. An exhibition tracing the history of Korean photography through the past 120 years will be held from August to September. In the later part

Jan 18, 2008

Concerts, Museums & Performances

Classical Concerts 2008 New Year's Concert with Suh Hai-kyung Seoul Arts Center Jan. 22 Pianist Suh Hai-kyung presents a New Year's concert with KBS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Constantin Orbelian. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. Visit www.credia.co.kr or (02) 751-9606. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3. Aram Nuri New Year's Concert with Sejong Soloists Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex Jan. 22 Classical music lovers in Korea will be able to see violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill and the Sejong Soloists. Tickets range from 20,000 won to 27,000 won. Visit www.artgy.or.kr or call 1588-7890. Located near exit 3 of Jeongbalsan Station on subway line 3. Gum Nanse and the Euro-Asian Philharmonic Orchestra's New Year Concert Seoul Arts Center Jan. 23 Renowned conductor Gum Nanse will start the New Year with a classic performance at the Seoul Arts Center. It will be a great opportunity to enjoy and welcome the busy New Year with grand yet soothing classical melodies. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 80,0

Jan 17, 2008

Clubs, Art Exhibitions& For 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 floor

Jan 17, 2008

Chongdong Theater Features Masters of Traditional Art

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter Chongdong Theater presents the ``Masters' Special Performance'' to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Wongaksa. Wongaksa, built in 1908, is the first theater exclusively dedicated to stage plays and pansori or traditional opera, which is a genre of Korean music featuring vocals and percussion, in Korea. Lee Dong-baek (1866-1950), one of the five Pansori masters of the 20th century, performed at Wongaksa as well. Chongdong Theater was built in 1995 as a reproduction of Wongaksa. To celebrate the anniversary the theater will hold a series of performances including the ``Korean Traditional Dance'' performances, 7:30 p.m., Jan 18-19. Some dances are slow-tempo and sorrowful, though holding back on lamentation; others are more loosely structured and comic. Chae Sang-muk, the vice president of the Dance Association of Korea, will perform a Buddhist dance while the ``Deotbaegi'' dance, in which a man dances around a yard without a fixed pattern, will be performed by Lee Yun-seok ― who is designated as an Intangible Cultur

Jan 16, 2008

Marriage of Movies, Musicals in 2008

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Koreans are using the word ``movical'' more and more these days. It is an apparent keyword to define a trend in the local musical industry. ``Movical,'' a combination of ``movie'' and ''musical,'' refers to interaction between the two industries. It started with a local film, ``Waikiki Brothers,'' (2001) directed by Im Soon-rye, which was adapted for the musical stage in 2004. For this year alone, about seven or eight musicals based on films are expected to be put on stage. ``Singles,'' the musical based on the namesake local film, which premiered last year, will launch its second season, starring singer-turned-actor Son Ho-young, former member of all-men pop group G.O.D. starting from Jan. 15 to Feb. 24 at Hoam Art Hall. ``Radio Star,'' based on the film featuring Park Joong-hoon and Ahn Sung-ki, will now be made into the musical, starring comedian-turned-actor Jung Sung-hwa who stole the limelight in last year's excellent performance of ``Man of La Mancha.'' Seo Beom-seok will alternate performing the role with Jung. ``Radio Star''

Jan 14, 2008

Blurred Images Stir Deep Emotions

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When a photograph comes out blurred and out of focus, it is often considered a bad photograph. Even digital cameras have anti-shake features to make sure photo images are sharp and clear. But artists have turned blurred images into an art form. Mysterious and intriguing images are seen in the exhibitions of Kwon Doo-hyoun at Gallery Hyundai and Kyung Sung-hyun at Arario Seoul. When you look at Kwon's pictures, you may need to take a second and even third look to decide what it is. The image itself may not be important, but the artist says the unfocused images provoke deep emotions and memories from the viewer. ``The misty images give us the room to reflect on bygone times and past experiences, thus we can undergo emotional changes. I wanted to make this room for the audience to recall pleasant memories and sink deep in thought,'' Kwon said. The exhibit ``Practical Illusion'' features ``#02530,'' which shows a man hurrying off somewhere surrounded by a bright yellow background, while ``#02980'' shows what seems like a dancin