2020.3.4 Ticket
Canceled / postponed showsThe ongoing coronavirus outbreak has hit the country’s cultural scene hard, with cultural events being canceled or postponed one after another.
British pop star Mika canceled his two Seoul concerts recently. The pop star was planning on performing on March 4 and 5 at Jamsil Arena in southern Seoul.
Young piano virtuoso Kim Sun-wook was scheduled to perform a recital on March 6 at Seoul Arts Center (SAC) in southern Seoul, but it has been postponed. A new date has not been decided yet.
The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul also canceled some of its shows. One of them is dance drama titled “N.O.T,” a work by the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre. The performance was scheduled for March 12 and 13.
The Korean National Ballet’s “Swan Lake,” slated for March 20, 21 and 22 at the SAC, also called off its performances.
Some shows postponed their opening dates. Musical “Mamma Mia!” was supposed to open on March 8 at D-Cube Arts Center in western Seoul, but its opening date has been delayed to April 7.
MARIE CURIE
Chungmu Arts Center, Middle Theater Black
Through March 29
Among the many male-oriented local musicals, the original musical “Marie Curie” touches upon the story of Marie Curie, the first female physicist and chemist to win the Nobel Prize in 1903. She won her second Nobel Prize in 1911.
The musical revolves around the life of Marie from the moment she discovers radium and a series of misfortunes after the discovery. The musical also sheds light on the marginalized life of the scientist who emigrated from Poland to France.
After premiering in 2018, the musical was chosen as New Musical of the Year by Arts Council Korea.
In making a return to the stage, “Marie Curie” is reportedly adding more drama to the relationship of Marie and Anne, a fictional character who is an employee working at a watch factory.
Through the relationship of the two female characters, the musical shows the growth of Marie.
The musical starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays and national holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.
Tickets are priced from 20,000 won ($17) to 66,000 won.
Sindang Station, line No. 6, exit 9.
Blue Square, Interpark Hall
March 14 - June 27
“The Phantom of the Opera” is returning to Korea for the first time in seven years.
The timeless musical centers around Christine, who used to be an obscure singer, but finds herself filling in for leading soprano Carlotta and eventually soaring to stardom. But Christine is abducted from her dressing room one day by a disfigured man dubbed The Phantom of the Opera. Although Christine is released from The Phantom on the condition that she will stay devoted to him, Raoul, who is in love with Christine, promises that he will confront The Phantom.
The plot is the same, but the show’s producers reportedly upgraded all of the show’s props, including the chandelier, a key prop for the musical.
Jonathan Roxmouth will play The Phantom while Claire Lyon is playing Christine and Matt Leisy is playing Raoul.
Lyon played the same role in 2012 when “The Phantom of the Opera” premiered in Seoul.
The musical is in English, and Korean subtitles will be provided on screens throughout the theater.
The musical starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.
After the Seoul show, the musical will move to Daegu in July for about two months.
Tickets range from 60,000 won to 170,000 won.
Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3.
ALAN WALKER
Olympic Park, Olympic Hall
April 16
Electronic dance music artist and music producer Alan Walker is making his way to Seoul.
Walker, who performs with his face covered by a black hoodie and a mask, is known for songs such as “Fade,” “Sing Me to Sleep,” “Alone” and “Tired.”
Walker has appeared at many local music festivals since 2017, and he is widely known among Korean music fans. The musician made a name for himself in the local music scene by collaborating with Lay, a member of boy band Exo, on a single titled “Sheep” in 2018.
The show starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 110,000 won to 132,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 or 9, exit 3.
OPENING
Seoul Arts Center, CJ Towol Theater
April 17 - 19
Marking its 10th anniversary, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company begins this year with “Opening,” which consists of two original dance pieces.
One is titled “Beyond Black” and has been choreographed by Shin Chang-ho. Shin continuously asks questions about the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence through his works. “Beyond Black” is an extension of his such curiosity. In “Beyond Black,” the choreographer makes a comparison between moves of human dancers and those of artificial intelligence.
The other piece is entitled “The Rite of Spring,” choreographed by Ahn Sung-soo. Some religious rituals conducted by Russian pagans are also reinterpreted by Ahn. Female priests dedicate well-built men as scapegoats in the piece.
The dance performance starts at 7:30 p.m. on April 17 and 3 p.m. on April 18 and 19.
Tickets range from 10,000 won to 50,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
Marking its 10th anniversary, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company begins this year with “Opening,” which consists of two original dance pieces. One is titled “Beyond Black,” and the other is “The Rite of Spring,” pictured above. [KOREA NATIONAL CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY]
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater
April 28 - May 17
Set in Austria in 1938 during World War II, the musical is based on a true story of the von Trapp family singers.
The musical begins as Maria, a postulant, becomes a governess to the seven children of Georg von Trapp, a naval officer and a widower.
Unlike Georg who raises his children with strict discipline, free-spirited Maria lets the children be children by teaching them to sing and frolic in nature.
The children eventually open up to Maria while Georg also falls for the children’s new teacher.
But the von Trapp family and Maria face a new chapter in their life as the family decides to flee from Austria to Switzerland in opposition to Nazis.
After premiering on Broadway in 1959, the musical won five Tony Awards the next year.
Sumptuous songs such as “Edelweiss,” “Do-Re-Mi” and “My Favorite Things” will be performed.
The musical starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and national holidays; and 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 30,000 to 110,000 won.
Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8.
*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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