Around Town 1
The 12th Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at Olympic Park this May 19 and 20. /Courtesy of Seoul Jazz Festival 2018
Classical Concerts
‘Richard Yongjae O’Neill’
Lotte Concert Hall
March 31
Violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill is visiting Korea for a concert at Lotte Concert Hall on March 31. Born to a Korean-American mother in the United States, the renowned recitalist has performed at big concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Louvre and Seoul Arts Center. O’Neill has made nine solo albums that have sold more than 200,000 copies. His chamber music initiative DITTO has introduced tens of thousands to chamber music in South Korea and Japan. As a former member of CMS Two, he was the first violist to receive the artist diploma from Juilliard and was honored with a Proclamation from the New York City Council for his achievement and contribution to the arts.
The concert is named after his ninth album “DUO” which features a duo repertoire with other strings.
Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit credia.co.kr or call (02) 1577-5266.
Big Tickets
‘John Legend 2018 Darkness and Light Tour’
Olympic Park, Olympic Hall
March 15
Acclaimed American singer John Legend will return to Korea for a concert at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park on March 15. A child prodigy, Legend was born in 1978, starting his musical career with his grandmother teaching him the piano. The 10-time Grammy Award winner became an in-demand session musician and songwriter, working with such artists as Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Janet Jackson. Legend’s 2004 debut album went platinum thanks to the hit single “Ordinary People,” which also landed him the Grammy for Best New Artist for that year. In December 2016, Legend released his fifth studio album, “Darkness and Light,” which features collaborations with Miguel and Chance the Rapper.
Since the release of “Darkness and Light,” Legend has co-executive produced and starred in the movie “La La Land,” and performed the title track to the recent remake of “Beauty and the Beast” with Ariana Grande.
Tickets cost 110,000 to 165,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
‘Seoul Jazz Festival 2018’
Olympic Park
May 19 and 20
On May 19 and 20, Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at Olympic Park. Founded in 2007, it is one of the biggest jazz festivals in Seoul.
Many famous jazz artists are expected perform and to enjoy jazz music with audiences. The lineup includes Branford Marsalis Quartet, Lauryn Hill, Jessie J, Maceo Parker, Arturo Sandoval & His All-Star Band, Chris Botti, Iron & Wine, Gretchen Parlato, Clean Bandit, Children of the Light, Rhye, Epik High, Lucid Fall Trio, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lee Hi, Loyle Carner, PREP, Khruangbin, Heize, the Soul Rebels and Richard Parkers.
One-day pass tickets cost 155,000 won and two-day pass tickets cost 240,000 won. For more information, visit seouljazz.co.kr or call (02) 563-0595.
Pop & Jazz Concerts
‘LANY’
Yes 24 Live Hall
April 7
American indie pop band LANY will visit Korea for a concert at Yes24 Live Hall on April 4. Formed in 2014, LANY, an acronym for "Los Angeles New York,” consists of Paul Jason Klein, Charles Leslie "Les" Priest and Jake Clifford Goss.
After touring with Troye Sivan, Ellie Goulding, Halsey and X Ambassadors, LANY released a mini-album titled “Make Out” in 2015. The song was a hit online, streaming over 14 million times. When the group embarked on a world tour in 2016, they released "Where the Hell Are My Friends." Their self-titled debut album followed in 2017, peaking at No.4 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.
LANY visited Korea for Valley Rock Festival last year, as part of their Australia/Asia tour.
Tickets cost 77,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.yes24.com or call (02) 1544-6399.
‘PHOENIX Live in Seoul’
Blue Square IMarket Hall
April 21
French alternative rock band Phoenix will come to Korea for a concert at Blue Square IMarket Hall on April 21. Phoenix is an indie pop band from Versailles, France, consisting of Thomas Mars (lead vocals), Deck d'Arcy (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), Christian Mazzalai (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) and Laurent Brancowitz (guitar, backing vocals).
Its music has been featured in such films as “Shallow Hal” and “Lost in Translation.” In 2006 the band appeared in “Marie Antoinette” which was directed by Sofia Coppola, Thomas Mars' partner.
The band's fourth album in 2009, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” won the Best Alternative Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. Its fifth album released in 2013 “Bankrupt!” debuted at No.4 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart. In April 2017, the band released its sixth album “Ti Amo” and is currently on tour.
Tickets cost 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Plays & Musicals
‘Amadeus’
Gwanglim Art Center BBCH Hall
Until April 29
The play “Amadeus” will be staged at Gwanglim Art Center BBCH Hall until April 29. “Amadeus” is a play created by Peter Shaffer, which gives a highly fictionalized account of the lives of the composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. First performed in 1979, “Amadeus” was inspired by a short 1830 play by Alexander Pushkin called “Mozart and Salieri.”
In the play, significant use is made of the music of Mozart, Salieri and other composers of the period. The premieres of Mozart's operas “The Abduction from the Seraglio,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni” and “The Magic Flute” are each the setting for key scenes of the play.
Actors Ji Hyun-jun, Han Si-sang and Lee Choong-joo will play the role of Salieri. Actors Cho Jung-seok, Kim Jae-uck and Sung Guy will play the role of Mozart.
Tickets cost 66,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1577-3363.
‘Anna Karenina’
Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater
Until Feb. 25
Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater is presenting the musical “Anna Karenina” until Feb 25. The musical “Anna Karenina” is about a virtuous woman in 1870s Russia who is married to a government official 15 years older than her. Anna falls in love with the handsome and charming Count Alexis Vronsky, but she is torn by her loyalty to her husband and small son. Meanwhile, Vronsky had first courted Ekaterina "Kitty" Alexandrovna Shcherbatsky, who chose him over gentleman farmer Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin. When Vronsky falls in love with Anna instead, Kitty becomes ill, and Levin, heartsick, withdraws to his country estate. Kitty and Levin finally declare their love for each other.
Anna's choice of love over duty leads to tragedy: Her affair with Vronsky is revealed, and she is shunned; eventually, she throws herself in front of an oncoming train.
Actors Ock Joo-hyun, Jung Sun-ah and Lee Ji-hoon will appear in this musical.
Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 02-541-6236.
‘Bare the Musical’
Baekam Art Hall
Baekam Art Hall presents “Bare the Musical” until Feb. 25. “Bare the Musical” is a rock musical with a unique sung-through pop score, heart-pounding lyrics, and a cast of bright young characters.
The story follows a group of students at a Catholic boarding school as they grapple with issues of sexuality, identity and the future. Peter and Jason have fallen in love with each other, but Jason, a popular athlete, fears losing his status if it is discovered he is gay. Unpopular Nadia, Jason’s sister, is contemptuous for Ivy, a beautiful girl with a questionable reputation. As the group attempts to put up a production of Romeo and Juliet, tensions flare, self-doubt simmers, and God’s path seems more difficult to find than ever.
Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1588-5212.
‘Richard III’
Seoul Arts Center CJ Towol Theater
Until March 4
The play “Richard III” by William Shakespeare is staged at CJ Towol Theater of Seoul Arts Center until March 4. Written around 1592 by Shakespeare, “Richard III” depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of King Richard III of England.
The play charts the rise of a cold-blooded and dastardly villain, Richard, who slaughters his family and even marries his victim’s widow to become king.
Actor Hwang Jeong-min returns to the stage after 10 years for the leading role of King Richard III. Actors Jung Woong-in and Kim Yeo-jin also appear in this play.
Tickets cost 33,000 won to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.
‘The Last Kiss’
LG Art Center
Until March 11
LG Art Center presents the musical “The Last Kiss” until March 11. The musical is based on the true story of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria, with the lyrics by Jack Murphy and music by Frank Wildhorn. As the pressures of the monarchy fall upon his shoulders, Prince Rudolf is in political and personal conflict with his father, Emperor Franz Joseph, and his marriage to Princess Stephanie of Belgium is crumbling when he meets and falls in love with the 17-year-old Baroness Mary Vetsera. Their secret relationship doesn't escape the attention of Prime Minister Eduard Taaffe, who hopes to use his knowledge of the affair to destroy Rudolf's political career. This ends with the historic event called “Mayerling incident,” the death of Prince Rudolf and Baroness Vetsera at the Mayerling hunting lodge in 1889.
Actors Kai, Jeon Dong-seok, Leo and Suho will play the role of Rudolf.
Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-6478.
‘Kinky Boots’
Blue Square Interpark Hall
Until April 1
The Broadway musical “Kinky Boots,” with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, is staged at Blue Square Interpark Hall until April 1. Based on the 2005 British film of the same name which was inspired by true events, the musical “Kinky Boots” tells the story of Charlie Price. Having inherited a shoe factory from his father, Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen Lola to produce a line of high-heeled boots and save the business. In the process, Charlie and Lola discover they are not so different after all.
Actor Kim Ho-young and singer Lee Suk-hoon from the group SG Wannabe will play the role of Charlie. Actor Jung Sung-wha will play the role of Lola. Tickets cost 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1588-5212.
‘Billy Elliot’
D-Cube Arts Center
Until May 7
The musical “Billy Elliot," based on the 2000 film of the same name directed by Stephen Daldry, is staged at D-Cube Arts Center until May 7.
The music is by Elton John and the lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around Billy, a British orphan who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. The story of his personal struggle and achievements are balanced against a counter-story of family and community strife caused by the 1984-85 U.K. miners' strike in Northeastern England.
Five child actors who have gone through competitive auditions followed by two years of training will play the role of Billy.
Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 577-1987.
‘Doctor Zhivago’
Charlotte Theater
The musical “Doctor Zhivago” returns to Charlotte Theater six years since its 2012 premiere. “Doctor Zhivago” is based on the 1957 Nobel Prize-winning Boris Pasternak novel and the 1965 Academy Award-winning film.
The story is set in the early 20th century, when revolution was stirring in Russia. Doctor Zhivago, a political idealist and aristocrat by birth, is married with children, but finds himself drawn from them physically, politically and emotionally by the alluring Lara Antipova. As war in Russia rages on and the love story between Zhivago and Lara escalates in complexity, life becomes complicated.
Led by the director Matthew Gardiner, the production will be different from the 2012 Seoul original production directed by Des McAnuff.
Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1588-5212.
Dance
‘Next Step’
National Theater of Korea, Haneul Theater
March 15 to 17
The National Theater of Korea will present “Next Step,” a project aiming to discover and nurture future choreographers from the members of National Dance Company of Korea from March 15 to 17. The project accompanies the entire process of creation, including preproduction research engaged with educational workshops with experts from different disciplines, building the concept of the piece, and creating the actual stage performance. The dancers involved in the Next Step, launched by National Dance Company of Korea for the first time, will aim to create a completely new form of dance through their unique analysis, deconstruction, reconfiguration and reinterpretation of the traditional dance repertories of National Dance Company of Korea, ultimately searching for the possibility of expanding the boundary of Korean traditional dance.
Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Clubs
Club Octagon
Nonhyeon
Located near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, Club Octagon is notable for its stylish interiors and elite clientele. The club features a performance stage, lounge bar and dining area and is the perfect place to unwind on a night out after work or on the weekend. It is near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on 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 on Line 6. For more information, call (02) 792-1127.
Club Evans
Hongik University
Club Evans is a live music club that has served as a platform for emerging jazz artists for a decade. It also operates jazz recording studios, where it produces albums for many local jazz artists, and a jazz academy. Club Evans holds jazz concerts and music sessions every Monday and Tuesday. Opening at 7:30 p.m., Club Evans is located near exit 1 of Sangsu Station on Line 6. For more information, visit clubevans.com or call (02) 337-8361.
Once in a Blue Moon
Apgujeong
Once in a Blue Moon, one of the best-known jazz clubs in the city, 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 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, features music by some of the city's best DJs and a spacious interior with a state-of-the art lighting nightly. Club Answer is located in Cheongdam, a posh Seoul district known for its party culture, near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on Line 7. For more information, call (02) 514-4311.
Club Double Eight
Sinsa
Opened in 2010, Club Double Eight takes clubbing to new heights. Located in Gangnam, near exit 1 of Sinsa Station on Line 3, it provides diverse hotel promotions and features weekend lineups with exuberant DJs. For more information, call (02) 543-8803.