Actors on stage do more than just read lines -- they sing songs, appreciate paintings and rekindle inspiration. Two gripping plays currently running in Seoul -- John Marans’ “Old Wicked Songs” and Lee Halls' “The Pitmen Painters” -- bring music and art to the stage, exploring the depth of arts and how they shape our lives. Veteran TV and film actors have taken to the stage for “The Pitmen Paint...

The performance is part of the “Traveling Korean Arts” project by the KOFICE, in cooperation with Korean Cultural Centers abroad, which aims to introduce Korean arts and culture to overseas audiences. Reservation is required and can be made through the official site of the Korean Cultural Center in Belgium.

“Showman: A Dictator’s Fourth Body Double,” a black comedy created by a Korean creative team, took home the award for best musical of the year at the 7th Korea Musical Awards ceremony, Monday evening at LG Arts Center in Seoul. “Showman,” a story revolving around Nebula, a mysterious, eccentric old man who insists that he is a body double, and Sua, a fake photographer who tries to prey on Nebula...

Actors Kim Sang-joong, Gil Hae-yeon bring gripping tension to life

Cho, who is performing in a new musical for the first time in eight years, said he was honored to join the production. "I've been on stage for more than 20 years but it is hard to tell when I might be able to perform Phantom again (in the future). This is truly a precious opportunity and I will do my best," said Cho. It was not possible to stage the musical, one of the longest-running shows on ...

Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will continue to explore the art of dance in 2023 with experimental programs for the next season. “20▲△” (Twenty Triangle Triangle) which premiered in 2021 will return to the stage in February as the first program of the season. Directed by choreographer Song Joo-won, the performance was part of the “Dance and Technology Project” which incorporated VR as...

Two ballet troupes present different versions of timeless classic 'The Nutcracker'

Korean traditional dance is something that comes out “naturally” in the everyday life of Koreans, says Park So-young, a 28-year-old dancer of the National Dance Company of Korea. Park specializes in Korean dance at the national dance troupe, performing works inspired by traditional dances. She focuses on displaying the features of Korea’s traditional emotions and lifestyle into dance while seeki...

Michelin-star chef Joseph Lidgerwood from Evett in Gangnam-gu reinterpreted the dishes with local tastes in mind. “It was important to us not to just bring over the menu from London … but change and make adaptations for Korean audiences,” said Mountfort. “The food is part of the story and the guests are part of the story. … There is a social dynamic that comes with sharing and enjoying food tog...

After four-day Circus Cabaret over Chuseok, Circus Caravan kicks off Saturday

The local edition was co-produced by relatively new production companies -- Sem Company and Studio Sunday -- joined by Kim Mun-jung, one of the highest-profile music directors in Korea. It seems the musical appeals to wider audiences in South Korea. Unlike musicals that are currently taking the stage by storm with audiences who are primarily in their 20s, “Mrs. Doubtfire” is drawing more season...

In a tumultuous industry where careers are short-lived, K-pop idols are finding new paths in musical theatre

Kim became the first Asian dancer to join the Mariinsky Ballet in 2011. In 2012, he made his debut as Ali in “Le Corsaire,” just one month after joining the troupe. He was promoted to the company’s principal dancer in 2015, the youngest to hold the role at age 23. There are about 270 dancers in the Mariinsky Ballet, and 13 are named as principal dancers. Kim was also the first Korean ballet danc...

Choi mentioned the symbolic Pink Floyd live performance held at the Berlin Wall site in 1990, eight months after it was brought down. “I hope the DMZ area will become a peace tourism area when the pandemic comes to a complete end. People from around the globe can come to think of the painful history underlying Korea, in a familiar and approachable way.” The musical incorporates the latest visua...

Yet, the successful run of “The Man Who Laughs,” taking place during COVID-19 pandemic, was likely impossible without its star actors. Unlike Broadway and the West End, which rely heavily on tourists attending theater, South Korea’s musicals depend on star actors. “The Man Who Laughs” features top actors in its lead and supporting roles. In a concept familiar to Korean audiences, the lead role i...