A Muto performance is not merely an unconventional combination of different art forms, but also an unusual spectacle. One of the band’s musicians plays the “geomungo” -- a Korean traditional string instrument -- with a violin bow, while another uses a modular synthesizer to create an exotic harmony with it. There are two large video panels that stand together and function like a folding screen, ...

Director Koh Sun-woong depicts chaos after Korea’s liberation from Japan

The world tour of the beloved musical “The Phantom of the Opera” will land in Korea this winter. The South Korean leg of the world tour will kick off at Dream Theater in Busan, with its first performance in December. It will then move to Blue Square in Seoul, before winding up at Kyeimyung Art Center in Daegu. The cast and the schedule for the performance has not been confirmed. Based on the F...

The 2019 Seoul Performing Art Festival (SPAF) is set to kick off its 18-day run, bringing 19 international productions onstage. The festival, organized by the Korea Arts Management Service, is slated to take place Oct. 3-20 in central Seoul, spread out across Arko Arts Theater, Deahakro Arts Theater, Sejong Center and Arts Theater at Korea National University of Arts. This year’s SPAF puts 19 p...

The Doosan Art Center will stage Kim Su-jung’s “Egalia’s Daughters: A Satire of the Sexes” from Oct. 1-19 at the center’s Space111 theater in Seoul. Kim is an up-and-coming theater director whose works aim to increase awareness of social and political issues. She currently leads the New Universe Theatre Company and is a DAC artist. Kim’s latest work is a contemporary reimagining of the 1977 fem...

Laboratory Dance Project, a South Korean contemporary dance company that marks its 20th anniversary next year, is collaborating with guest choreographers in a project that might just lead to a stylistic breakthrough. The dance company has invited two well-known Korean choreographers, Jung Young-doo and Kim Seol-jin, in “Triple Bill,” its latest production that will run Sept. 26-29 at LG Arts C...

Political drama constitutes one of the backbones of German theater, particularly that of the 20th century, and “Let Them Eat Money. Welche Zukunft?!” is a contemporary production in that tradition. The detailed descriptions of the political and economic fallout and the steps that Europe took to arrive there allow the audience to think about how they would feel in the characters’ shoes, not be ov...

In the story of “Cyrano,” love has always been in the air. A love letter, serenade, love triangle, misunderstanding and betrayal ... they are all there in the musical. And yet, the 2019 season has returned with even more love than before. Based on a play of the same name written by Edmond Rostand in 1897, the love story of Cyrano has grown in popularity across the world, being adapted into films...

The Universal Ballet Company will reintroduce its popular Korean classics, “Shim Chung” and “The Love of Chunhyang,” in October in celebration of the company’s 35th anniversary. “The Love of Chunhyang” runs Oct. 4-6, followed by “Shim Chung” Oct. 11-13, both at the Seoul Arts Center. “The Love of Chunhyang” is a more recent production that highlights a romance between noble-born Lee Mong-ryong ...

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will stage its production “Swing” between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 at Seoul Arts Center. “Swing” is a contemporary dance piece of the state-run dance company’s Director Ahn Sung-soo. It had its premiere in April last year and received a positive response. “Swing,” an hourlong performance, features Ahn’s swing-styled choreography in which he has also comb...

The National Theater Company of Korea has canceled scheduled performances of a play by pro-Japanese playwright Lim Sun-kyu, amid growing economic and political tensions between Korea and Japan. The work was scheduled to be staged Sept. 27-Oct. 13 at Baek Sung-hee & Jang Min-ho Theater in Seoul. “Binghwa” (1940) is a late Japanese colonial period play carrying pro-Japanese elements that was subm...

Music-drama, film highlight ‘national hero’ Hong Beom-do, epic battle of Bongodong

Spanish choreographer Marcos Morau will introduce his new work July 19-20 at the Seoul Arts Center. The latest contemporary dance piece by the young artistic director of La Veronal is produced in collaboration with the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, led by Ahn Sang-soo. Spanish choreographer Marcos Morau (Edu Perez) Dancers rehearse “Ssang Ssang,” created by Spanish choreographer M...

I never thought I’d say this, but having watched the musical adaptation of the 2003 Richard Linklater film “School of Rock,” I actually prefer the stage version. Nobody can recreate Jack Black’s uncontained quirkiness, unorthodox charisma and unhinged charm, qualities whch formed the backbone of the movie. Dewey Finn is a role made for Black, and no one will fit into it better than him. Ever. B...

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo principal dancer An Jae-yong focuses on expressing emotions