[The Korea Herald]2007.04.28 /

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Musical "Run Hany": The musical adaptation of the 1988-animated TV series "Run Hany" lets kids and adults recall the sweet memories of the past. The musical hits the stage at Sejong Center for Performing Arts, downtown Seoul, from April 28 to May 6. Based on the comic book "Run Hany" created by cartoonist Lee Jin-ju, the TV animation of the same title gained explosive popularity among kids in the late 1980s. In the wake of the track and field events boom between the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, the comic took used the sport to make a heart-touching story. The story begins when Hany, a tomboy and troublesome teenager, enters middle school. The only thing she could do better than other students was run fast, but nobody knew the reason behind her ability: She runs away to hide her tears whenever she thinks about her mother who passed away when she was a kid. Tickets are 30,000 won to 50,000 won. Children under five are advised not to attend the show. Call (02) 399-1114-6 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr for details. "Bremen Town Musicians": Chongdong Theater presents the musical until May 20. Based on the Grimm Brothers classic fairy tale, the four animals of the musical - a donkey, a hound, a cat and a rooster - hit the road in the hope of becoming Bremen town musicians. The musical will have live music played on various instruments such as a rain stick, a traditional Chilean wind instrument and a Hawaiian traditional four-stringed ukulele. Characters will also sing a cappella songs to help kids understand the meaning of harmony. Tickets are 25,000 won and 30,000 won. Call (02)751-1500 or visit www.chongdong.com for details. "Booby Cong Dda Cong": The homegrown musical for kids is currently hitting the stage at Woongin Think Big Art Hall in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. It runs through May 13. Booby, a yellow dog, is a popular animation character among children ever since it was introduced through children books and character products. The story begins with Booby of yellow star getting an SOS letter from his friend Chicaboom of green star. Booby learns from the letter that another his friend Dudu faces danger, and tries to rescue his friends. Tickets are 20,000 won to 40,000 won. Call (02)797-5020 for more information. "Changgeuk Opera Cheong": The National Changgeuk Company of Korea presents a remake version of Shim-cheong, well-known Korean classic played through the form of pansori, Korean traditional music. Using stage method like popular musical and opera, the Korean classical folk operas tell the story of Sim-cheong, a young girl who sells herself for 300 sacks of rice in hopes of curing her fathers blindness. It focuses more on Sim-cheong, rather than her life devoted her father. It also highlights the agony and fear that Cheong that had to suffer as a fragile human being. Tickets are 10,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4115 or visit www.ntok.go.kr "Innocent Steps": A musical based on a hit movie "Innocent Steps" is currently being staged at the Baekam Art Hall in Samsung-dong, southern Seoul. It runs through July 1. In "Innocent Steps," pop star Eugene plays Chae-rin, a Korean-Chinese girl who comes to Seoul on a residence visa issued through a fake marriage. As part of the deal, Chae-rin is forced to learn dancing for a national competition under the guidance of her husband Young-se, a frustrated professional dancer. The musical, like the film, portrays the life of the pure Chae-rin, who falls in love with Young-se while learning to dance. The film version featured popular teen star Moon Geun-young and actor Park Gun-hyung. It was fairly successful, with over 2.2 million viewers in 2005, when the film was released. Tickets are all 50,000 won. Call (02) 3446-3075 for more information. "First Love": The homegrown musical featuring singer-turned-musical actress Hey and rising musical star Hong Gwang-ho, tries to portray the memory of first love, one that is sweet but can be returned to. Inspired by Marcel Pagnols "The Fanny" trilogy, the musical "First Love" tells of an innocent but tragic love story between Sun-I (played by Kim Hye-won a.k.a Hey) and Hae-soo (played by Hong Gwang-ho). The story of the Korean musical begins with Won-suk, Sun-Is son, visiting his seashore hometown. There he meets his mother and Mr. Park (Hae-soos father), the blind, who requests him to read a letter sent from his son. The three get informed that Hae-soo has died of malaria. Sun-I recalls her moments with her first love Hae-soo 30 years ago. "First Love" hits the stage on March 27 and runs through June 17 at the Seensee Musical Theater located at Daehangno, downtown Seoul. English subtitles are not provided. Tickets are 35,000 won to 45,000 won. Call (02) 3485-8700 for more information. "Music in My Heart": The 2005 hit musical returns to the stage this weekend at Ja-U Theater in Daehangno, downtown Seoul. The story about Mina, a deaf playwright, and Jae-hyuk, a handsome play director, shows the audience how love can embrace every defect you have. TV actor Park Hyung-joon plays Jae-hyuk. The venue is near Hyehwa station, Subway Line No. 4, Exit 1. Tickets are 40,000 won. For preview shows which runs through March 18, discounted tickets are available. Call (02) 738-8289 for more information. "I DO I DO": The Korean version of the Broadway musical is currently on the stage at the KT & G Sangsang Art Hall located at Samsung-dong, southern Seoul. Written by Harvey Schumidt and Tom Jones, authors of hit-musical "Fantasticks," the musical centers on the story of marriage presented by only two actors who take roles of a wife and a husband. The musical begins with the wedding day of Michael and Agnes. It then tells of their 50 years of marriage that had troubles, laughter and reminiscence. The star of the smash musical "Mamma Mia," Park Hae-mi takes the role of Agnes, a full-time homemaker, while Lee Byung-joon, a longtime musical actor, plays Michael, an ambitious writer. Tickets are 40,000 won to 70,000 won. Exit 2, Samsung Station, Subway Line No. 2. Call (02) 334-5211 for more information. Drama "Chil-soo and Man-soo": The 2007 version of the hit drama portrays ones break with his or her family, and a sense of isolation felt by lower class people often neglected by society. The drama is full of social innuendo, but it is surely an amusing theatrical piece produced in comic sketches. Chil-soo, a wild and waggish character, makes arguments with his painting partner Man-soo on issues in general but they try to embrace their wounded hearts and share their feelings of abandonment triggered by their poor social status. One day, Man-soo accidentally drops an aluminum bottle that was filled with painting fluid and it causes a multiple car crash on the street. Police misconceive the accident as a suicidal case, and try to stop them. The two painters also mistakenly think the police are trying to arrest them. The two, in despair, acknowledge that society would never try to understand them. They jump from the roof. The new version of "Chil-soo and Man-soo" is currently being staged at Yeonwoo Theater in Daehangno, downtown Seoul. It runs through July 29. Tickets are 25,000 won. Call (02) 762-0010 for more information. "My Mother": Ko Doo-sim, a veteran actress, brings tough but warm sensitivity to her latest effort as the mother in "My Mother." Based on a bestseller of the same title, the drama "My Mother" tells the story of a love-hate relationship between a mother and her daughter. Jang Young-nam, who appeared in last years popular play "The Vagina Monologues," and Daehangnos rising star, Seo Eun-kyung takes on the role of the daughter. will hit the stage at Yeosul-madang in Daehangno from April 12 through May 6. Tickets are 40,000 won. English subtitles are not provided. For more information, call (02) 501-7888. "Welcome to Ghost House": Yoo Ji-tae, a rising star in Koreas film and entertainment industry, returns to the stage with the experimental theatrical piece. The drama, Yoos second theatrical creation, is scheduled to hit the stage at Cecil Theater near British Embassy in Seoul from April 10 to May 27. The drama begins with youngsters exploring a desert house to produce a TV program called Welcome to Ghost House. They meet a mysterious figure, In-woo, at the house, and through him they learn about the tragic story of a protective mother and her daughter, who suffers from leprosy. Yoo plays In-woo, who has a special ability to communicate with ghosts or wandering spirits. Tickets are 35,000 won. Call (02) 541-4519 for more information. Dance "Choon Hyang": The Universal Ballet Company and the Goyang Cultural Foundation are to present the ballet version of "Choon Hyang" for the first time at the newly built ARAM Art Complex on May 4-6. Taking motives from the countrys traditional folk tale "Chunhyang," the ballet production is to tell an everlasting love story between the daughter of a "gisaeng," or a female entertainer from the Joseon Dynasty, and Mongryong, a man of noble blood. The ballet has taken a choreographic structure and storyline from a contemporary Korean dance production called "Dance/Chun-hyang" and tried to express the beauty of Korea through the form of Western choreographic arts. Tickets are 20,000 won to 100,000 won. Call 1577-7766 or (02) 2204-1041 for more information. "Quidam": The acclaimed show presented by world-famous Canadian circus troupe Cirque du Soleil, is currently being staged at Jamsil Sports Complex, southeastern Seoul. With a cast of 54 performers, the show involves breathtaking circus acrobatics such as juggling, contortionists and aerial acrobatics, featuring an inspirational character "Quidam" which leads audiences to an unknown, mythical but adventurous world. Quidam, Latin for anonymous passerby, describes a mysterious character in an alienated world. The show, led by the gothic character, was created in 1996, inspired by the people of New York City -- walking past each other with their heads down, not communicating. Tickets are 55,000 won to 200,000 won. For more information and ticket reservation visit www.quidam2007.co.kr or call 1544-1555 or 1588-7890. The show runs for two and half hours. Children aged under five are advised not to attend the show. The performance runs from March 29 to June 3. Festival "Youth Performing Arts Festival": The National Theater of Korea presents "Youth Performing Arts Festival" starting this week until July 1. The festival is designed to offer teenagers and their family chances to experience various cultural activities and help them expand their understanding on arts. The state-run theater has arranged to stage a total of 20 performances during its 68 days run. It includes "Changgeuk Opera Cheong," a remake version of Shim-cheong, well-known Korean classic played through the form of pansori, Korean traditional music (May 1-13); "Unusual Concert" by the State Academic Central Puppet Theater (May 16-20); Broadway musical "King and I" performed by original cast (May 18-29); "Waiting for Godot" by Contemporary Legend Theatre from Taiwan (June 29- July 1); "Handcart, overturned" by Corporal Theatre Momggol (April 25- May 6); and "Hamlet Cantabile" by Performance Group Tuida (May 18-27). Call (02) 2280-4115~6 or visit www.ntok.go.kr for more information. "Ansan International Busking Arts Festival": The Asan festival will be held May 4-6 with 30 street performing troupes from 16 countries participating. Busking arts refers to performing arts made by and for buskers and street performers. The street festival includes a number of circus performances including "Bondarenko," "Chinese Acrobatic Circus" and "Cirque Baroque." The organizing committee said this years festival will present various busking arts like musical and mime performances. Performances are free. For more information, call (031) 481-3838 or visit www.aibaf.com "Busan International Performing Arts Festival": The Busan festival will be held at nine separate venues around the southern port city May 5-15. Titled "Revolt or Recreation," the Busan festival tries to reinterpret masterpieces of theatrical plays to highlight the everlasting value and power of each work. Seven productions, remakes or parodies of the worlds classic pieces are expected to add modern twists to the originals, and to make audiences discover their true meaning. Tickets are 15,000 won to 30,000 won. Call (051) 627-2735 or visit www.bipaf.com for more information "Uijeongbu Music Theater Festival": Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, is holding an international arts festival with artists from across the globe May 11-27. Based at the Uijeongbu Arts Center, the festival will stage 10 foreign and domestic productions across the city. Foreign performances to be presented at the festival are Swiss producer Heiner Gobbels "Hashirigaki" (May 11-12); El Choque Urbanos "Fabricando Sonidos (Making Sounds)" (May 22-23); Joel Zwicks "Monsieur Chopin" (May 16-17) and "George Gershwin Alone" (May 19-20) and Compania Teatro Cinemas "Gemelos" (May 12-13). Local shows include Kim Young Dongs "Sori, the United Korean symphony with Kim Young Dong" (May 15); performance group Tuidas "Hamlet Cantabile" (May 14); The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts play for children "Grandma Mago" (May 24-25); Uijeongbu Opera Company Prime Philharmonic Orchestras "Opera Carmen" (May 18-19) and the homegrown musical "Maria Maria" (May 26-27). English subtitles are provided. For details and ticket reservation, visit www.umtf.or.kr or call (031) 828-5847. Tickets are 10,000 won to 40,000 won. "Springwave Festival": Offering the opportunity to appreciate arts in various forms -- through painting, installations and performing arts -- "the Springwave Festival" kicks off in Seoul on May 4- 30 at several different venues around the capital city including the Seoul Arts Center, Arko Art Center and Rodin Gallery. For the opening of the festival, William Forsythe, one of the worlds foremost choreographers, presents his installation titled "Scattered Crowd" at the Rodin Gallery (May 4-5). According to the organizing committee, 4,000 white balloons, floating like clouds over a sea of sounds, will be installed, letting visitors create something new, something that moves inside a living piece of art. For more information, visit www.springwave.org or call (02) 725-1164~5. no 2007.04.28