Here's what to watch in Seoul over the Lunar New Year

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Published: 08 Feb. 2024, 16:04

Here's what to watch in Seoul over the Lunar New Year

FESTIVAL
National Theater of Korea, Haneul Round Theater

The National Dance Company of Korea's traditional performance titled ″Festival″ is being staged at the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul during the seollal holidays from Feb. 9 to 11. [NATIONAL THEATER OF KOREA]

Feb. 9 — 11: The National Dance Company of Korea is staging a Korean folk dance performance to welcome the new year during the Seollal holiday. “Festival” is the state-run dance troupe’s special holiday production that signifies the meaning of “welcoming good spirits, entertaining the spirits, and bidding farewell to the spirits while wishing for dispelled misfortune through dignified traditional dances.”

Since this year is the Year of the Blue Dragon, more powerful choreography that signifies this animal will be showcased, the company said.

The performance begins at 3 p.m.

Tickets cost 30,000 won ($22.60).

Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6

SISTER ACT
D-Cube Arts Center

Through Feb. 11: This international tour production of “Sister Act” is Korean musical production firm EMK Musical Company’s latest work. Directed by Robert Johanson, the show is a “totally new version of ‘Sister Act’ with a different tone and look,” Johanson said during a press conference for the show.

Johanson and choreographer Jayme McDaniel are among those newly stepping into “Sister Act,” while music director BA Huffman has worked on the musical since its initial Broadway production alongside composer Alan Menken.

Actors like Nicole Vanessa Ortiz, who plays the lead role of Deloris, and Kim So-hyang, who plays Mary Robert, have been part of the Korean production of “Sister Act” in the past. Others, including Mary Gutzi in the role of Mother Superior and six other Korean actors who have been cast in the show's ensemble, are joining the team for the first time.

The show will be performed in English.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays; and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 170,000 won.

Sindorim Station, lines No. 1 and 2, exit 1 or 5

REBECCA
LG Arts Center, LG Signature Hall

Through Feb. 24: Korea’s hit musical “Rebecca,” which had its 10th-anniversary run last year, is back at the LG Arts Center for an encore run.

The musical is based on Daphne du Maurie's Gothic romance novel, but is reportedly also inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film “Rebecca.”

The musical, which combines romance and suspense, first hit the stage in Vienna in 2006, and the Korean production premiered in 2013.

Set in a mansion called Manderley, “Rebecca” tells the story of Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widower who lost his wife Rebecca in a drowning accident and cannot get over the traumatic incident. Maxim marries another woman, but his new wife learns a disturbing secret — Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper of the mansion, still worships the late Rebecca.

When the musical was first staged in Seoul, it was the highest-selling musical for five consecutive weeks. It still attracts musical aficionados who have watched it multiple times.

Musical director Robert Johanson has been at the helm of the production since its premiere.

Four actors, including Min Young-ki, Ryu Jeong-han, Oh Man-seok and Tei will alternate the role of Mr. de Winter, while Shin Young-sook, Lisa, Ock Joo-hyun and Jang Eun-ah will play Mrs. Danvers.

It starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; and at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 170,000 won.

Magongnaru Station, line No. 9, exit 3 or 4

IL TENORE
Seoul Arts Center, CJ Towol Theater

A scene in the musical ″Il Tenore″ [OD COMPANY]

Through Feb. 25: “Il Tenore” explores the tragedy of young, passionate people during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945). It is inspired by Korea's first-ever Italian opera and the country’s pioneering tenor Lee In-seon (1906-60).

“Il Tenore,” which means tenor in Italian, follows med-student-turned-opera-singer Yun I-seon, anti-Japanese activist and opera director Seo Jin-yeon and activist and stage designer Lee Su-han, who all have dreams that they must fight to keep against the world as they come together to stage an opera that will spread the message of Korean independence without being censored by the Japanese. The original new musical has a book by Hue Park and Will Aronson. The polished, 150-minute production marks the first time the show has been commercially staged for a public audience.

Actors Hong Kwang-ho, Park Eun-tae and Seo Kyung-soo alternate the role of Yun I-seon; Kim Ji-hyun, Park Ji-yeon and Hong Ji-hee alternate Seo Jin-yeon; and Jeon Jae-hong and Shin Sung-min alternate Lee Su-han.
Tickets range from 80,000 won to 140,000 won.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

RENT
Coex Shinhan Card Artium

Through Feb. 25: The musical “Rent” is back in Seoul after its last run in the summer. “Rent” is an American musical by Jonathan Larson, inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera from 1896, “La Bohême.” It depicts the lives of young, aspiring artists in New York City during the late '80s and early '90s. Since 2000, “Rent” has had eight productions in Korea, not including the current run.

Bae Do-hoon, a member of the crossover group Forestella, and Jeong Won-young alternate the role of Mark.

Jeon Na-young, who was part of the 2020 cast, is playing Maureen again. She is alternating the role with Kim Soo-yeon.

Jo Kwon, musical actor and member of boy band 2AM, and Kim Ho-young are alternating the role of Angel.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 140,000 won.

Samsung Station, line No. 2, exit 5 or 6

DRACULA: THE MUSICAL
Charlotte Theater

Based on the 1897 novel “Dracula” by Irish author Bram Stoker, the musical of the same name is being staged at the Charlotte Theater in southern Seoul. [OD COMPANY]

Through March 3: Based on the 1897 novel “Dracula” by Irish author Bram Stoker, the musical revolves around Count Dracula who has been living alone for 400 years after losing the love of his life. One day, Count Dracula falls in love with Mina Murray, the fiancee of a young lawyer named Jonathan Harker.

The intertwined love story of the three — Count Dracula, Mina and Jonathan — unfolds against the backdrop of a Gothic castle.

The Korean production of the musical premiered locally in 1998. For the upcoming production, Kim Jun-su, Jeong Dong-seok and Shin Sung-rok alternate the role of Dracula, while Lim Hye-young, Jeong Sun-ah and Ivy alternate the role of Mina.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 170,000 won.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 3

LES MISÉRABLES
Blue Square, Shinhan Card Hall

Through March 10: The Korean production of the masterpiece musical “Les Misérables” is being staged at the Blue Square in central Seoul. The show is based on the French novel set in 1832 and follows the life of Jean Valjean, who is sentenced to 10 years behind bars for stealing a loaf of bread.

The main protagonist Jean Valjean, a runaway prisoner who was in jail for 19 years for stealing a piece of bread, will be played alternately by Min Woo-hyuk and Choi Jae-rim.

In the 2015 production of “Les Misérables,” Min played Enjolras, the leading student revolutionary; his first entry into blockbuster musicals. Today, he is best known for musical roles such as Ahn Jung-geun in “Hero,” Victor Frankenstein in “Frankenstein” and Ben Hur in “Ben Hur.”

Choi is a veteran musical star best known for playing Miss Trunchbull in “Matilda” and Billy Flynn in “Chicago.”

Kim Woo-hyung and Kai have been cast as Inspector Javert, an uncompromising police officer who has been hunting down Jean Valjean for decades. Kim is also a familiar face of “Les Misérables,” having played Enjolras in the 2013 production of “Les Misérables” and Javert in the 2015 production. His recent roles include Radames in “Aida” and Hades in “Hadestown.”

The popular film adaptation was first released in 2012, starring actors such as Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. The movie was a box-office hit in Korea, ranking as the 86th most-watched movie of all time in Korea, according to data from the Korean Film Council.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays; and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets are priced from 90,000 won to 180,000 won.

Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3

SCHOOL OF ROCK WORLD TOUR
Seoul Arts Center, Opera Theater

Through March 24: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical “School of Rock,” which has been rocking the world, is being staged at the Seoul Arts Center. Based on the hit movie of the same name that starred Jack Black, the musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who poses as a substitute teacher at a prep school to earn a few bucks. After discovering musical talents in his straight-A students, he forms a rock band with them to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands contest.

The musical had its Broadway premiere in 2015 and its West End debut in 2016. The international tour began in 2018 with shows in Australia, China, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Japan.

The show will be staged in English with Korean subtitles.

Dewey Finn will be played by actors Conner Gillooly and Reuben Browne.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no performances on Mondays.

Tickets range from 60,000 won to 170,000 won.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater

Through March 24: The Korean production of the famed musical “Notre Dame de Paris” is back for the first time in six years.

The musical is based on the 1831 French novel by Victor Hugo. Set in the 15th century, “Notre Dame” follows several characters including Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer of the Notre-Dame Cathedral who is in love with a beautiful dancer named Esmeralda.

Musical actors Chung Sung-hwa, Yang Joon-mo and Yoon Hyeong-ryeol will alternate the role of Quasimodo. Esmeralda, the captivating gypsy protagonist, will be played by musical actors Yuria and Jung Yoo-ji and Solar of girl group Mamamoo.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays; 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 170,000 won.

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]