2023 Oct. 13 Ticket

Frida, The Last Night Show | Paul Kim | Charlie Puth | Grand Mint Festival 2023 | Shestars! | The Phantom of the Opera | Rebecca | Ben-Hur | Les Miserables | Let Me Fly |

FRIDA, THE LAST NIGHT SHOW COEX Shinhan Card Artium

Musical ″Frida, The Last Night Show″ is currently being staged at the COEX Shinhan Card Artium in southern Seoul. [EMK MUSICAL COMPANY]

Through Oct. 15:Inspired by the late artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), the Korean-made musical “Frida, The Last Night Show” narrates the tumultuous life of the Mexican artist in the form of a late-night show with Frida as a guest.

In the musical, Frida narrates her entire life, from her childhood when she suffered from polio and the streetcar accident when she was a schoolgirl, to her difficult marriage to muralist Diego Rivera, the miscarriage that followed and the amputation of her right foot due to gangrene. Despite her physical struggles, she is able to redirect all her pain to her art with incredible strength, creating masterpiece paintings throughout her entire life.

“Frida, The Last Night Show” was first staged in March last year. The current season of the show, which began in August, is its second run.

Produced by EMK Musical Company, its book and lyrics are by Choo Jung-hwa, who also directed the musical, and music is by Huh Soo-hyun.

Actors Kim So-hyang, Ali and Kim Hieora alternate the role of Frida.

Shows start at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays. Additional 3 p.m. matinee shows are also available on Wednesdays and weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won ($50) to 90,000 won.

Samsung Station, line No. 2, exit 5 or 6

PAUL KIMOlympic Park, SK Handball Stadium

Singer and songwriter Paul Kim [YONHAP]

Oct. 13 – 15:Singer-songwriter Paul Kim will be holding a three-day concert in Seoul to promote his latest single “Hangang.” Kim debuted in 2014 and has produced numerous hit songs including “Me After You” (2018) and “Traffic Light” (2019).

The concert begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, at 6 p.m. on Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets range from 110,000 won to 143,000 won.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3 or 4

CHARLIE PUTHOlympic Park, KSPO DomeOct. 20 – 21:As part of its Asian tour, “The ‘Charlie’ Live Experience” concert will be making a stop at the KSPO Dome of the Olympic Park in eastern Seoul. The upcoming two-day concert in Seoul is U.S. singer-songwriter Charlie Puth’s first visit in five years.

The Berklee School of Music graduate first visited Korea in 2015 to promote his album and went on to hold two concerts, one in 2016 and most recently in 2018.

Puth is behind many hit songs including “See You Again” (2015), “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (2016), “Attention” (2017), and “Left and Right” (2022), a song he collaborated on with Jungkook of boy band BTS on.

Tickets range from 88,000 won to 187,000 won.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3 or 4

GRAND MINT FESTIVAL 2023Olympic Park

Oct. 20 – 22: This year's Grand Mint Festival will kick off on Oct. 20 under the title "GMF2023: Special Night" and will give each artist more stage time than previous festivals. Three more stages, the "Mint Breeze Stage," "Loving Forest Garden" and "Café Blossom House," will run at this year's edition.

The Grand Mint Festival is known for featuring up-and-coming new artists alongside well-known artists in its lineup.

This year's lineup includes Lee Seung-yoon, Younha, pictured above, Damons Year, Jukjae, Choi Yu-ree, Nell, Thronapple, Kim Feel, JisokuryClub, Touched, Sora and Stella Jang among many others.

Doors will open from noon on each day.

One-day ticket costs 121,000 won.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3 or 4

SHESTARS!Hongik Daehangno Art CenterThrough Nov. 12: The musical, cowritten by writer Jeon Su-yang and musical director Kolleen Park, summarizes 80 years of the country’s girl group history, ranging from the Jeogori Sisters to the Hee Sisters.

The musical depicts the early days of the local music scene, showing how the popularization of radios during the Japanese colonial period and the 1950-53 Korean War enabled the music industry to thrive even in wartime, with many singers performing for soldiers in the U.S. Army. Then the musical follows Korean singers’ performances in Southeast Asian countries after the U.S. Army bases were relocated there following the outbreak of the Vietnam War. The musical opens with a character singing a song called “Maiden Choir,” mixed with the Korean folk song “Arirang,” in front of Japanese soldiers.

Tickets range from 65,000 won to 110,000 won.

The show begins at 8 p.m. on weekdays and at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends. There are no performances on Mondays.

Hyehwa Station, line No. 4, exit 3

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERACharlotte TheaterThrough Nov. 17:“The Phantom of The Opera,” based on the 1910 French novel “Le Fantome de l’Opera” by Gaston Leroux, is about soprano Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of the Phantom, a mysterious, disfigured musical genius.

The show opened in the West End in 1986 before going to Broadway in 1988. It was directed by Broadway hitmaker Hal Prince, the music was written by the industry’s titan composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and it was choreographed by Gillian Lynne who was also behind the choreography for the musical “Cats.”

The show closed on Broadway in April after a 35-year run and is the longest-running show on Broadway to date. For the Korean production, actors Cho Seung-woo, Jeon Dong-suk, Choi Jae-rim and baritone Julian alternate the role of Phantom. Sopranos Sohn Ji-soo and Song Eun-hye will alternate the role of Christine.

Tickets range from 90,000 won to 190,000 won.

The musical begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no performances on Mondays.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 3

REBECCABlue Square, Shinhan Card HallThrough Nov. 19:Korea’s hit musical “Rebecca” is gearing up to come back to the Blue Square in central Seoul to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Korean premiere.

The musical is based on Daphne du Maurie's Gothic romance novel, but is reportedly also inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film “Rebecca.”

The musical, which combines romance and suspense, first hit the stage in Vienna in 2006.

Set in a mansion called Manderley, “Rebecca” tells the story of Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widower who lost his wife Rebecca in a drowning accident and cannot get over the traumatic incident. Maxim marries another woman but his new wife learns a disturbing secret — Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper of the mansion, still worships the late Rebecca.

When the musical was first staged in Seoul, it was the highest-selling musical for five consecutive weeks. It still attracts musical aficionados, who have already watched it multiple times.

Musical director Robert Johanson has been at the helm of the production since its premiere.

Four actors, including Min Young-ki, Ryu Jeong-han, Enok and Tei will alternate the role of Mr. de Winter, while Shin Young-sook, Lisa, Ock Joo-hyun and Jang Eun-ah will play Mrs. Danvers.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays and at 3 p.m. on Sundays.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 170,000 won.

Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3

BEN-HURLG Signature Hall, LG Arts Center

Through Nov. 19:“Ben-Hur” is a locally produced musical, adapted from the 1880s novel “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ” by Lew Wallace.

Set in Jerusalem under the imperial rule of Rome in A.D. 21, the musical is about Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish aristocrat, who becomes unfairly accused of treason after refusing to help his long-time friend and powerful figure of the Roman Empire, Messala. Ben-Hur ends up becoming a slave on a Roman battleship following the accusation, and as he tries to come out of his situation, he plots his revenge on Messala.

Actors Park Eun-tae, Shin Sung-rok and Kyuhyun alternate the role of Ben-hur, while Lee Jee-hoon, Park Min-sung and Seo-kyung-su alternate the role of Messala.

The ongoing production marks its third season since premiering in 2017. It is helmed by EMK Musical Company and was written by Wang Yong-beom, who also directed the show, and composed by Brandon Lee.

Shows start at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 170,000 won to 80,000 won.

Magoknaru Station, line No. 9, exit 3 or 4

LES MISERABLESBlue Square, Shinhan Card Hall

The Korean production of the masterpiece musical “Les Miserables” will be performed in Seoul this winter. The main protagonist Jean Valjean, a runaway prisoner who was in jail for 19 years for stealing a piece of bread, will be played alternately by Min Woo-hyuk and Choi Jae-rim. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Nov. 30 – March 10, 2024:The Korean production of the masterpiece musical “Les Miserables” will be performed in Seoul this winter. The show is based on the French novel set in 1832 and follows the life of Jean Valjean, who is sentenced to 10 years behind bars for stealing a loaf of bread.

The main protagonist Jean Valjean, a runaway prisoner who was in jail for 19 years for stealing a piece of bread, will be played alternately by Min Woo-hyuk and Choi Jae-rim.

In the 2015 production of "Les Misérables," Min played Enjolras, the leading student revolutionary; his first entry into blockbuster musicals. Today, he is best known for musical roles such as Ahn Jung-geun in "Hero," Victor Frankenstein in "Frankenstein" and Ben Hur in "Ben Hur."

Choi is a veteran musical star best known for playing Miss Trunchbull in "Matilda" and Billy Flynn in "Chicago."

Kim Woo-hyung and Kai have been cast as Inspector Javert, an uncompromising police officer who has been hunting down Jean Valjean for decades. Kim is also a familiar face of "Les Misérables," having played Enjolras in the 2013 production of "Les Misérables" and Javert in the 2015 production. His recent roles include Radames in "Aida" and Hades in "Hadestown."

"Les Misérables" will open on Oct. 15 in Busan's Dream Theatre and run through Nov. 19 before coming to Seoul.

The popular film adaptation was first released in 2012, starring actors such as Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. The movie was a box-office hit in Korea, ranking as the 86th most-watched movie of all time in Korea, according to data from the Korean Film Council.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays; and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets are priced from 90,000 won to 180,000 won.

Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3

LET ME FLYYes24 Stage, Hall 1 Through Dec. 10: “Let Me Fly” is a local sci-fi time travel musical that received outstanding reviews upon its opening in March last year. It was nominated for six categories in last year’s Korea Musical Awards and nabbed wins for Best Production, Best Musical Composition and Best Male Rookie Actor categories.

The story revolves around Nam-won, an aspiring fashion designer, who, one night in 1969, travels to the future where he finds himself as a 70-year-old man. The plot unfolds as Nam-won tries to make his way back through time.

The ongoing show, which opened on Sept. 26, is in its second production. It is garnering public attention especially for being first the musical theater performance by star actor Park Bo-gum. He is alternating the role of the young Nam-won with Ahn Ji-hwan and Shin Jae-beom.

Actors Na Ha-na, Hong Jee-hee and Im Ye-jin alternate the role of young Nam-won’s lover Jeong-bun; Kim Tae-han, Kim Do-bin and Lee Hyeong-hoon alternate the role of old Nam-won; and Bang Jin-ui, Yoon Gong-joo and Choi Soo-jin alternate Nam-won’s grandmother Seon-hee.

“Let Me Fly” is produced by Proslab, the book and lyrics were written by Jo Min-hyeong and the music by Min Chan-hong.

Shows start at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 55,000 won to 77,000 won.

*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]