'Blind Runner,' Shakespeare works and other performances, concerts to check out

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Published: 17 Jul. 2024, 16:22 Updated: 17 Jul. 2024, 16:30

'Blind Runner,' Shakespeare works and other performances, concerts to check out

BLIND RUNNER
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, S Theater

July 18 – 21: “Blind Runner,” a compelling theatrical work by the renowned Iranian playwright and director Amir Reza Koohestani, will have its Asian premiere at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul on July 18. Known for his minimalist style and introspective narratives, Koohestani brings forth a thought-provoking piece that delves into themes of memory, identity and the passage of time.

The play has been invited by the theater as part of Sync Next 24, a project launched by the theater to showcase more contemporary theatrical works.

It tells the story of a woman who returns to her childhood home after many years. The house, now abandoned and filled with memories, becomes a space where past and present intersect. As she navigates through the remnants of her past, she encounters various versions of herself at different stages of life. These interactions lead her to reflect on her identity, the choices she has made and the paths she could have taken.

The play will be performed in Persian with Korean subtitles.

Director Koohestani will have a talk session with audience members after the performance on July 19.

The show begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets range from 45,000 won ($32.60) to 55,000 won.

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

PSY’S SUMMER SWAG
Seoul Grand Park

Psy's ″Summer Swag″ is currently touring across the peninsula, stopping at Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, this weekend. [P NATION]

July 20 and 21: Singer Psy’s annual “Summer Swag” concert series kicked off in Wonju on June 29. For those in Seoul, the closest one will be held at Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon on July 20 and 21.

"Summer Swag" is a concert series with water, music and fun. It features upbeat songs like "That That" (2022) featuring BTS's Suga, "New Face" (2017), "I Luv It" (2017), "Gangnam Style" (2012) and "Champion" (2014) and plenty of water sprayed at the audience to fight the heat.

This year, Psy is making nine stops, including Gwangju on July 6, Daegu on July 13 and 14 and Daejeon on July 27 and 28. The concert will wrap up in Suwon on Aug. 24 and 25.

The Seoul Grand Park concerts begin at 6 p.m. on both days.

Tickets range from 165,000 won (119.50) to 175,000 won.

Seoul Grand Park station, line No. 4, exit 2

HERO
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater

Through Aug. 11: The Korean musical “Hero,” which centers on the life of Ahn Jung-geun, the Korean independence fighter who was executed in 1910 after assassinating Japanese Resident-General Ito Hirobumi, is being staged at the Sejong Center in central Seoul. The musical is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

The musical stars actor Jung Sung-hwa, who plays the lead character Ahn.

Musical actor Yang Jun-mo and Min Woo-hyuk also alternate the role with Jung.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays; and at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 60,000 won to 160,000 won.

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

MACBETH
National Theater of Korea, Haeoreum Theater

Through Aug. 18: Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” stars veteran actor Hwang Jung-min. Director Yang Jung-woong, who is known as a “Shakespeare specialist” is taking the helm in directing this “Korean reinterpretation of ‘Macbeth.” The director said he tried to focus on the poetic language in the original play while incorporating “contemporary mise-en-scene to recreate a modern wasteland of desire in occult-like settings.”

The play is Hwang’s return to the theater stage for the first time since “Richard III,” another Shakespeare work, in 2022.

Actor Kim So-jin is playing Lady Macbeth and Song Il-kook plays Banquo.

The play begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays; and at 2 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. There are no performances on Mondays.

Tickets range from 44,000 won to 110,000 won.

Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6

HAMLET
Hongik Daehangno Art Center

Shakespeare's famous tragedy ″Hamlet″ is being staged at the Hongik Daehangno Arts Center in central Seoul. [NEWS1]

Through Sept. 1: A famous tragedy written by William Shakespeare will be staged by Korea’s veteran actors, including Jung Dong-hwan, Park Jung-ja, Kim Sung-nyu and Jeon Moo-song.

The veteran actors will, however, take on smaller roles to make way for younger actors like Kang Pil-seok and Lee Seung-ju, who will take the lead role of Hamlet.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 60,000 won to 90,000 won.

Hyehwa Station, line No. 4, exit 3

DISNEY IN CONCERT
Olympic Park, 88 Jandi Madang

″Disney in Concert″ an annual outdoor concert at the Olympic Park's 88 Jandi Madang in southern Seoul, will be held on Sept. 7 this year. [CREDIA]

Sept. 7: Korea’s only outdoor Disney concert, which excites Disney movie fans every year, will feature songs from hit movies ranging from “Lion King” (1994) and “The Little Mermaid” (1989) to “Aladdin” (1992), “Frozen” (2013) and “Encanto” (2021). Four Disney Broadway singers will be visiting Korea for the show, accompanied by the Ditto Orchestra.

Children must be at least four years old to attend.

The concerts begin at 6 p.m.

Tickets range from 50,000 won to 100,000 won. Families can use a table seat for four people priced at 250,000 won.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.

CHICAGO
D-Cube Arts Center

Through Sept. 29: Broadway’s hit musical “Chicago” is now one of the most sought-after musicals for Koreans as well. Last year, Koreans got to see the Broadway production of the show here and this year, the Korean production is making a return.

The musical is based on the 1926 play of the same name by journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins about the actual criminals and crimes she reported on in Chicago.

The musical revolves around Roxie Hart, an ambitious chorus girl, who murders her lover.

Actors Choi Jung-won, Yoon Gong-joo and Jeong Sun-ah will alternate Velma Kelly, while IVY, Tiffany Young and Min Kyung-ah play Roxie Hart. Actors Park Gun-hyung and Choi Jae-rim will alternate Billy Flynn.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 160,000 won.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

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

INMO YANG & BERLINER BAROCK SOLISTEN
Lotte Concert Hall

Sept. 25: Violinist Yang In-mo, who became the first Korean to win the first place prize at the prestigious XII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland, in 2022, will be accompanying Berliner Barock Solisten, or the Berlin Baroque Soloists, at Lotte Concert Hall in southern Seoul.

Founded in 1995 by prominent members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Berliner Barock Solisten attempts to create a unique approach to the musical works of the 1600s and 1700s.

The program with Yang includes Bach’s “Violin concerto in E Major, BWV 1042,” as well as Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.”

Tickets range from 30,000 won to 200,000 won.

The concert begins at 8 p.m.

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]