Curtains up for Christmas

Among the many ways to celebrate Christmas, few feel as magical as the theater. As the holiday season arrives, venues across Korea are offering a rich lineup of performances that capture the warmth, spectacle and nostalgia of Christmas. From newly reimagined musicals and long-loved Broadway hits to star soprano concerts and sparkling ballet classics, this year’s festive offerings span genres and generations. The Seoul Metropolitan Musical Theater presents its new original production, “A Christma

Exploring depths of feeling beneath emotional barriers

Characters defined by an emotional barrier — whether technological, psychological, or grounded in exacting precision — often stir the deepest emotions in audiences. Robots, people with alexithymia (emotional blindness), and performers executing near-machine-like technique reveal the profound power of small, hard-won steps toward connection. The Broadway production of "Maybe Happy Ending" picked up multiple awards this year, and now, marking its 10th anniversary, the Korean original has returned.

Three musicals lighting up Seoul stages

For those eager to step away from their smartphones and experience the immediacy of live performance, Seoul’s theaters offer a rich and varied lineup this season. Among the many productions on stage, three stand out for their ability to entertain, challenge and connect with audiences across generations: “The Great Gatsby,” “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Red Book.” Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel, "The Great Gatsby" brings to life the excesses and fragility of the Roaring Twenties. Lavish

Korean original musicals with global potential

From resistance against censorship to the life of a dictator’s double and a friendship born in tragedy, the following productions — each distinct in style and subject matter — showcase the bold creativity of Korea’s musical theater with the potential to resonate on stages far beyond Korea. Few musicals capture the vibrancy of Korea’s emerging theatrical identity as vividly as “Swag Age: Shout Out, Joseon!” First created in 2017 as a student project at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, “Swag Age”

Women at center stage: ‘Frida,’ 'Marie Curie' and ‘Wicked’

For this summer, meet complex, resilient women — real and fictional — who stand at the forefront of musical storytelling, each backed by a proven track record on stage and in the hearts of audiences. "Frida," presented as a talk show, tells the fierce life story of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Frida’s short life of only 47 years was filled with pain. Polio left her right leg underdeveloped at six, and a bus accident at 18 led to over 30 surgeries. She married muralist Diego Rivera, 21

Three theatrical worlds under one roof

This weekend, theatergoers have a rare opportunity to sample three vastly different stage productions — all playing under one roof at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul: one a time-tested classic with over three decades of history and two freshly premiered works that opened less than a month ago. Unfortunately, none of these productions offer subtitles or translation services, so fully appreciating the performances may be difficult without Korean fluency, particularly given their

Blockbusters with a baton: film concerts bring screen legends to the stage

The "Harry Potter" Film Concert series continues its spellbinding journey, returning to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul with two back-to-back installments. From May 16 to 18, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert" takes center stage, followed by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in Concert" from Oct. 24 to 26. These performances invite audiences to an elevated experience of the beloved film series, with a live orchestra performing the movie's full ori

This spring’s most evocative musicals

"Red Cliff" - An epic to feel “Red Cliff” is a vivid combination of pansori, dance and theatrical storytelling. While technically categorized as a musical, it defies conventional boundaries -- too layered, too textured, too rooted in tradition to be simply labeled. Now in its sixth run since its premier in 2017, “Red Cliff” unfolds the legendary tale of the Battle of Red Cliffs, a pivotal naval conflict during the late Eastern Han dynasty in 3rd-century China. Though the story is rooted in Chine

Warm, moving and fresh musicals to enjoy

There's a good chance they'll bring you to tears Don't wait for spring to bring warmth. In the lingering chill, let these three musicals warm your heart instead. These productions may be recent, but they have made their mark. "A Thousand Blues" and "The Longest Nights" are making a swift return after their successful debuts last year. Meanwhile, "Chunja in Wonderland" made its debut this month but decided to extend its run for two more months. 'A Thousand Blues' In this musical by Seoul Performi

Literary legends come to life on stage

What do 'Cyrano,' 'The Man Who Laughs,' 'Jekyll and Hyde' all have in common? There are some intriguing commonalities about the musical adaptations of “Cyrano,” “The Man Who Laughs” and “Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” each of which is being staged in Seoul now. They all have roots in legendary literary works, along with music composed by American composer Frank Wildhorn. Despite being produced by different companies, each show has been brought to life by top-tier musical production teams in Korea. While