Theater

“On Golden Pond”: Based on American playwright Ernest Thompson, “On Golden Pond” will be staged with veteran actors and actresses including Lee Soon-jae, Na Moon-hee and Shin Goo. The play is about aging couple Ethel and Norman, who spend each summer at their vacation home on Golden Pond in Maine. As they are visited by their daughter Chelsea, whom they haven’t seen for years, and her fiance, Norman tries hard to mend his strained relationship with Chelsea while preparing for his death. The play illustrates different kinds of relationship and meanings of life and death. “On Golden Pond” runs through Nov. 23 at Daemyung Culture Factory, near Hyehwa Station on Line 4. Ticket runs from 40,000 won to 65,000 won. For details, call (070) 7712-4388. 

“Frankenstein”: British playwright Nick Dear’s stage adaptation of “Frankenstein,” based on Mary Shelley’s novel of the same name, will be staged in Korea, directed by renowned director Cho Kwang-hwa. One evening, young scientist Victor Frankenstein successfully creates a human-like creature, who is innocent at heart, but grotesque in form. Terrified by his creation, Victor abandons his creature and flees. The creature wanders around the world, enduring rejection by mankind and loneliness, while earnestly looking for his creator. “Frankenstein” runs through Nov. 9 at CJ Towol Theater at Seoul Arts Center. Tickets run from 30,000 won to 60,000 won. For details, call (02) 585-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

“Woyzeck”: A musical adaptation of Woyzeck, a play by German playwright Georg Buchner from 1836-37, is currently being staged in at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul. For the show, producer Yun Ho-jin, the man behind Korea’s two most Korea’s two most successful original musicals “Last Empress” and “Hero,” put together an international creative team, including a British band called the Singing Loins who composed its scores. The story is about a poor, downtrodden solider, Woyzeck, who kills his unfaithful lover, Marie, and faces tragic consequences. Musical actors Kim Soo-yong and Kim Dae-hyun will play the troubled protagonist, opposite Sophie Kim as Marie. It runs through Nov. 18. Tickets run from 40,000 won to 80,000 won. For details, visit www.lgart.com.

“Once”: The Korean production of musical “Once” will open on Dec. 14 at Seoul Arts Center for a three-month run. Based on a 2006 film of the same title, the original Broadway musical won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including the trophy for the year’s Best Musical. For its Korean version, veteran rocker Yoon Do-hyun has been cast for the lead role. He will play Guy, an Irish street musician and vacuum cleaner repairman who falls in love with Girl, a Czech flower seller. Yoon will rotate with musical actor Lee Chang-hee for the role, and two emerging musical actresses, Jeon Mi-do and Park Ji-yeon play Girl. “Once” will run from Dec. 14 through March 29 at the 1,000-seat CJ Towol Theater in Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 60,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call (02) 577-1987.

“Rudolf”: The Seoul-based EMK Musical Company is once again staging “Rudolf,” an Austrian musical about Rudolf, crown prince of Austria (1858-1889), and his extramarital affair with Baroness Mary Vetsera. The piece is written based on the widespread assumption that the crown prince and his mistress committed suicide together at his Mayerling hunting lodge in 1889. Musical stars Im Tae-gyeong and Ahn Jae-wook who played the ill-fated prince in the 2012 premier return for the role. “Rudolf” runs from Oct. 11 to Jan. 4, 2015, at D-Cube Art Center, located near Exit 1 of Sindorim Station on Lines 1 and 2. Tickets cost 60,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6391-6333.


Classical music

Murray Perahia and ASMF: The London-based chamber orchestra Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields is coming to Korea for two concerts in November, together with celebrated pianist Murray Perahia. Perahia will join the concerts, to be held at Seoul Arts Center on Nov. 10-11, as a conductor and piano soloist. The program includes Beethoven’s piano concerto “The Emperor” on Nov. 10 and Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 in G Major “Surprise” on Nov. 11. Ticket prices range from 50, 000 won to 200,000 won. For details, call 1577-5266 or visit www.clubbalcony.com.

Chung Myung-whun piano recital: Maestro Chung Myung-whun is currently holding his first recital tour of Korea as a pianist, rather than as a conductor as he is better known now, starting in Changwon on Oct. 5. He will play in Daegu on Oct. 12 and then at Seoul Arts Center on Dec. 27. Goyang and Daejeon recitals are scheduled for early next year. The program consists mostly of short piano pieces by Brahms and Chopin. Ticket prices range from 44,000 won to 132,000 won. For details, call (02) 558-4588.

“Aida”: Famed opera director Franco Zeffirelli’s 1963 production of Verdi’s opera “Aida” at La Scala in Milan will be revived in Seoul in celebration of the 130th anniversary of establishment of Korea-Italy diplomatic relations. It will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from Nov. 25 to 30. Tickets cost 77,000 to 330,000 won. For more information, call (02) 722-5822.

Zubin Mehta in Ulsan: Zubin Mehta will conduct Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Ulsan on Oct. 22. The one-night-only concert will be held at the 900-seat concert hall of Hyundai Arts Center, which is associated with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., headquartered in the city. The program will include Schubert’s Symphony No. 6 in C major, D. 589, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, op. 6., Tickets cost 100,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, call (052) 202-6300 or visit www.hhiarts.co.kr.


Pop Music

Jeff Bernat: Up-and-coming R&B singer-songwriter and producer Jeff Bernat is making his way back to Korea with a special three-day concert series to be held in Seoul next month. This will be the artist’s second visit to Seoul this year after performing a sold-out show at Uniqlo AX Hall earlier in January. Bernat’s popular single “Call You Mine” was featured in the Korean drama “You Are My Destiny,” gaining him recognition among local fans. Bernat is slated to perform on Oct. 17, 18 and 19 at the Lotte Card Art Center. The shows will also include guest performances by local talents Eric Nam and Esna. Tickets to Bernat’s upcoming concerts can be purchased online for 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Grand Mint Festival: This year’s annual two-day Grand Mint Festival will feature veteran rock band Sister’s Barbershop, popular acoustic duo 10cm, Glen Check, Romantic Punch, Verbal Jint, the Peppertones, Peterpan Complex and many more. The upcoming festival will be held at the Olympic Park in Seoul, and will have five different stages. The 2014 Grand Mint Festival will be held on Oct. 18 and 19. Ticket prices are listed at 88,000 won for a one-day pass and 140,000 won for a two-day pass. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Akon: Popular American hip-hop artist and producer Akon will be coming to Seoul in November to perform a collaborative concert with local hip-hop artists Bumkey, San E and YDG. Akon made a name for himself as a hip-hop artist after the release of his debut album “Trouble,” featuring the hit single “Locked Up.” In 2006, Akon released his second album, “Konvicted,” which was nominated for three Grammy Awards. Two years later he unveiled his platinum-selling album “Freedom,” which included some of his best-known singles: “Right Now (Na Na Na),” “I’m So Paid,” “Beautiful” and “We Don’t Care.” Akon will be performing at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on Nov. 27. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Tenacious D: Rock musician and Hollywood actor Jack Black, best known for his role as Dewey Finn in the blockbuster hit “School of Rock,” will be coming to Seoul along with bandmate Kyle Gass for the comedy rock group Tenacious D’s first concert in Korea. The band is best known for Black’s thespian-like vocals and the quick-witted crude humor that people have come to expect from the rocker-comedian. Tenacious D’s most recent album, “Rize of the Fenix” (2012), received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Album in 2013. The duo is slated to perform two live shows at Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Hall on Dec. 5 and 6. Ticket prices range from 99,000 won to 121,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Dance

“The Seventh Symphony & The Rite of Spring”: The Korean National Ballet is prepping for its upcoming staging of the “The Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky and Uwe Scholz’s “Seventh Symphony.” The presentation will combine the dance performance for Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 7 and the classic choreography of “The Rite of Spring,” which was originally created by Vaslav Nijinsky for the initial 1913 performance in Paris. The KNB’s upcoming performance of “The Seventh Symphony & The Rite of Spring” will be staged from Oct. 16 to 19 at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater. Tickets range from 5,000 won to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Snow White”: As part of Hyundai Card Culture Project 16, the ballet version of “Snow White” is making its way to Seoul this winter. Based on the Grimm brother’s version of the classic fairytale, “Snow White” has been reinterpreted as a romantic contemporary ballet. The magical and enchanting ballet features choreography by Angelin Preljocaj and music by Gustav Mahler. “Snow White” will be performed at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater from Nov. 14-16. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com. 

“The Nutcracker”: The original production of “The Nutcracker” was created in 1892 by Marius Petipa and choreography Lev Ivanov. To this day, it is considered to be one of the most classic holiday tales. In 1986, the Universal Ballet first presented its version of “The Nutcracker” by Adrienne Dellas in Seoul. In 1999, the local performance of the ballet was reinterpreted by choreographer Vasily Vainonen, and it will be staged once again at the Universal Arts Center from Dec. 19 to 31. Tickets range from 10,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Exhibitions

“Dead Man”: The exhibition starts from the question that hit artist Kim Sung-yoon: “What will artists do when the world faces an apocalypse?” The artist begins his latest “Dead Man” series set in the background of zombie virus outbreak. The apocalyptic setting is reflected in dark portrait paintings such as “Dancer Becoming Zombie” and “Study for Zombie.” The exhibition also calls the end of his Sargent painting method, characterized with understated tone and color using charcoal in drawing, and subtle gradation of colors. Inspired by Lucio Fulci’s movie “Zombie 2” and Edward W. Said’s “On Late Style: Music and Literature against the Grain,” the artist leads the dark, anxious ambience in portrait paintings of men. The exhibition runs through Oct. 31 at Gallery Hyundai, Jongno, Seoul. For more information, call (02) 22287-3500. 

“Life of Always a Mirror”: Artist Kim Sung-hwan, well known for his interdisciplinary works and his exhibition at Tate Modern in 2012, is holding a solo exhibition at Art Sonje Center in Seoul. Titled “Life of Always a Mirror,” the exhibition integrates video works, drawings, installations, architecture and performance in a single exhibition space. The artist presents video works, including “A-DA-DA,” which he made after watching a student stutter in a college class, and “Temper Clay,” which reads Shakespeare’s “King Lear” as a disciplinary issue around property distribution and places in the context of Korean modern history. Kim presents mirror installations that reflect his video works and drawings. The exhibition runs through Nov. 30 at Art Sonje Center in Jongno, Seoul. For more information, call (02) 733-8945.

Gwangju Biennale: The 10th Gwangju Biennale kicked off on Sept. 5 with 413 works by 111 artists from 38 countries under the theme of “Burning down the House.” The biennale examines the potential of art as a movement by exploring contemporary artists’ efforts to address personal and public issues, according to Jessica Morgan, artistic director of Gwangju Biennale 2014. The exhibition will continue through Nov. 9 at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall and other venues throughout the city. For more information, visit www.gwangjubiennale.org.

Mediacity Seoul: Korea’s largest showcase of media art will be held at the Seoul Museum of Art from Sept. 2 to Nov. 23. The eighth media art biennale, titled “Ghosts, Spies and Grandmothers,” brings together 452 teams of media artists from 51 countries. The exhibition explores several themes: ghosts stand for the forgotten history and traditions of Asia, spies symbolize memories of the Cold War, and grandmothers are a metaphor for women in the colonial era. On Sept. 1, the Seoul Saenam exorcism, registered as an intangible cultural property of Korea, will be performed to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.mediacityseoul.kr.


Festivals

Ganggyeong Jeotgal (Salted Seafood) Festival: Salt-fermented seafood, or jeotgal in Korean, refers to fish and shellfish whose meat and internal organs are fermented with salt to keep them from spoiling. Ganggyeong, a fishing village on the west coast, is famous for jeotgal. During the festival, visitors can buy salted seafood at discounted prices of up to 30-40 percent at the festival market. The festival takes place at Ganggyeong port, Jeotgal Market and Jeotgal Exhibition Hall in Ganggyeong, South Chungcheong Province, from Oct. 15-19. For more information, visit www.ggfestival.co.kr or call (041) 746-5662. (Yonhap)

Icheon Rice Cultural Festival: For thousands of years, rice has been the key staple grain in Korea, and Icheon, a town south of Seoul, is famous for its high-quality rice that was served to kings and queens. Programs will include a reenactment of the parade that transported rice to Hanseong (the old name for Seoul) for presentation to the king, a huge rice cauldron that can feed thousands of people and a straw crafting contest. Various performances of traditional music, dance and folk plays will entertain visitors, who will also have the chance to buy this year’s crop of Icheon rice and experience the traditional agricultural culture of the farm town. The festival is held at Seolbong Park, Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, from Oct. 22-26. For more information, visit www.ricefestival.or.kr or call (031) 644-4125. (Yonhap)

Suncheon Bay Reeds Festival: An annual reed festival will be held at the well-preserved wetlands of Suncheon Bay from Oct. 17-19. The festival at Suncheon Bay Garden and other venues throughout the city offers visitors a chance to walk along the popular reed path and appreciate the serene landscape. During the festival, craft-making classes using reeds will be held and visitors will be able to stay in a reed hut. Other highlights include a cooking competition for local chefs and a party where visitors are invited to try a variety of local dishes. For more information, visit http://reeds.suncheon.go.kr.