Macmillan's 'Romeo and Juliet' in Seoul and other must-see cultural events coming up
ROMEO AND JULIETSeoul Arts Center, Opera Theater
![American Ballet Theater's principal dancers Hee Seo (Juliet) and Daniel Camargo (Romeo) in "Romeo and Juliet" The two dancers will be performing together with the Universal Ballet Company on Friday and Sunday at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. [ROSALIE O'CONNOR]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/05/09/b3a4bb5f-7383-404f-ba49-503dec2b023e.jpg)
American Ballet Theater's principal dancers Hee Seo (Juliet) and Daniel Camargo (Romeo) in "Romeo and Juliet" The two dancers will be performing together with the Universal Ballet Company on Friday and Sunday at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. [ROSALIE O'CONNOR]
May 10 – 12: The Universal Ballet Company is presenting Kenneth MacMillan’s version of “Romeo and Juliet.”
Originally premiering in 1965, “Romeo and Juliet” was the choreographer’s first three-act ballet. MacMillan’s version is well known for its flamboyant choreography.
To mark the Universal Ballet Company’s 40th anniversary, it has decided to invite Korean ballerina Seo Hee and Daniel Camargo, principal dancers at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), to join the company. The two dancers will perform the lead roles on Friday and Sunday. It will be Seo’s first Korean performance in 11 years. Her last performance was in 2013, performing in “Onegin” with the Universal Ballet Company. She is known for the role of Juliet at the ABT, performing it there for the past 15 years. However, this will be her first time performing it in Korea.
Universal Ballet’s Kang Mi-sun and Rhee Hyon-jun will perform on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., while Lee You-rim and Konstantin Novoselov will perform on Saturday evening.
Performances start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets range from 30,000 won to 150,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5
IL TENORE
Blue Square, Shinhan Card Hall
![A scene in the ongoing musical "Il Tenore" at the Blue Square in central Seoul [OD COMPANY][OD COMPANY]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/05/09/084c20e7-84ed-4e64-b241-3fe4becfd716.jpg)
A scene in the ongoing musical "Il Tenore" at the Blue Square in central Seoul [OD COMPANY][OD COMPANY]
Through May 19: Korean musical “Il Tenore,” which means tenor in Italian, is being staged at the Blue Square in central Seoul. This is an original Korean musical that 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 each have dreams that they must fight to keep as they come together to stage an opera that will spread the message of Korean independence without being censored by the Japanese. It is inspired by pioneering tenor Lee In-seon (1906-1960).
The book is by Hue Park and Will Aronson. The score was composed by Aronson with lyrics by Park. Helming the show is director Kim Dong-yeon, best known for directing the musical “Death Note.”
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 80,000 won to 160,000 won.
Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3
MATTHEW BOURNE'S "ROMEO + JULIET”
LG Arts Center Seoul
Through May 19: Matthew Bourne's reinterpretation of "Romeo + Juliet” is coming to Korea this May. One of the most popular choreographers at the moment, Bourne has transformed this tragic Shakespearean story into a tale of the “raw passion and vitality of the youth fiercely resisting established norms,” according to LG Arts Center.
The backbone of the Shakespearean story is still there, along with the music of Prokofiev's ballet, but the choreographer transposed the story into an asylum for young people. It's set in the Verona Institute, which looks like a mental institute.
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekends.
Tickets range from 30,000 won to 140,000 won.
Magoknaru Station, line No. 9, exit 3 or 4
MARIE ANTOINETTE
D-Cube Arts Center
Through May 26: The Korean production of the hit musical "Marie Antoinette" is being staged at the D-Cube Arts Center in western Seoul for its 10th anniversary. The musical tells the story of Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, but some fictional characters have been added, like Margrid Arnaud, to add more drama to the life of the queen who was sentenced to death by guillotine.
The nearly three-hour-long performance incorporates several settings, from the Palace of Versailles to Tuileries Garden and the Marais district, and the show jumps from place to place by using a revolving stage.
Musical actor Kim So-hyang and Lee Ji-hye alternate the role of Marie Antoinette. Ock Joo-hyun, Lee Areumsol and Yoon Gong-joo have been cast to play the role of Margrid, who begs for money on the street but later becomes a revolutionary leader.
The male protagonist Fersen will be alternated by three actors — Lee Hae-jun, Yoon So-ho and Baekho.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and national holidays; and 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
SEOUL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Olympic Park
![Jazz pianist Yun Seok-cheol of Yunseokcheol Trio [ANTENNA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/05/09/c45e3e9e-f888-4e42-acb2-b66ca76686c9.jpg)
Jazz pianist Yun Seok-cheol of Yunseokcheol Trio [ANTENNA]
May 31 – June 2: It's that time of the year again when you can enjoy an array of music from some of the hottest artists in your playlist. Lie down on your picnic mat with a glass of wine and enjoy. This year's Seoul Jazz Festival kicks off on May 31 and goes for three days. The final line up was announced on April 17 and it includes artists like Lauv, Melody Gardot, John Scofield Trio, Lianne La Havas, Yunseokcheol Trio, pictured, So Soo Bin, Paul Kim, Car The Garden, Jessie Reyez, Wave To Earth, Stella Jang, Caravan Palace, BIBI among many others.
A one-day ticket costs 187,000 won, while a ticket to all three days costs 420,000 won.
Tickets are available at ticket.melon.com.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3 or 4
ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE DE PARIS WITH SUNWOO YEKWON
Lotte Concert Hall
June 12: Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon will be accompanying Orchestre de Chambre de Paris for a concert at Lotte Concert Hall in June. Yekwon rose to international stardom after winning the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017. The French chamber orchestra will be visiting Korea with Russian maetro Maxim Emelyanchev. He is currently the chief conductor of Il Pomo d'Oro.
The program includes Mozart's "'Don Giovanni’ Overture,” Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58,” and "Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 'Eroica.'”
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets range from 40,000 won to 150,000 won.
Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 1 or 2
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Chungmu Art Center
Through June 23: The Korean production of the Broadway hit musical "Dear Evan Hansen” is currently underway at the Chungmu Art Center in central Seoul. The musical follows the titular Evan, an anxious high school student who gets caught up in a snowballing lie while trying to console the grieving family of a classmate who committed suicide.
Three actors alternate the role of Evan: Park Kang-hyun, Lim Kyu-hyung and Kim Sung-kyu.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 70,000 won to 160,000 won.
Sindang Station, line No. 6, exit 9
HEDWIG
Charlotte Theater
Through June 23: A dynamic mix of rock music and monologue, this eight-time Tony-nominated musical follows the life of a band called The Angry Inch. The Korean production of the musical premiered in 2005.
The story revolves around a boy named Hansel living in East Germany in 1988.
One day, a U.S. lieutenant proposes to marry Hansel if he changes his gender to female. Hansel eventually decides to adopt the name Hedwig and undergoes a sex change operation, but it fails. He flies to Kansas only to find that he has been dumped.
Undeterred, Hedwig starts wearing wigs and makeup, forms a band called The Angry Inch and becomes a rock star.
The Korean production of this musical features musical performers Jo Jung-suk, Yu Yeon-seok and Jeon Dong-seok, who alternate the main role.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays; at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends; and at 3 p.m. on public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 80,000 won to 150,000 won.
Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 3
HANS ZIMMER FILM MUSIC ENCORE CONCERT
Lotte Concert Hall
June 30: German film composer and music producer Hans Zimmer’s renowned film scores will be performed by maestro Kim Jae-won and the WE Philharmonic Orchestra. This upcoming concert is an encore, following the success of the same concert that was performed in January.
Some of Zimmer’s most famous pieces will be performed, including “First Step” from “Interstellar”; “Time” from “Inception”; the main theme from “The Dark Knight”; “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King”; “Maestro” from “The Holiday”; and “Tennessee” and “There You’ll Be” from “Pearl Harbor,” and others.
The performance begins at 5 p.m.
Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won.
Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 1 or 2
*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555
BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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