2022 May 18 Ticket

Ilmu | Lim Dong-hyek Piano Recital | European Jazz Trio Disney vs. Ghibli | Reverence | Aida | The Man who Laughs | The Sleeping Beauty | Vortex | Death Note | Alsatang |

ILMUSejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater

A concept photograph of Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater's "Ilmoo" [SEOUL METROPOLITAN DANCE THEATER]

May 19 – 22:Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater is presenting “Ilmu,” a traditional dance which used to be performed during Jongmyo Jeryeak ancestral rites. The literal meaning of ilmu is “line dance" and true to its name it sees groups of dancers perform in lines.

A total of 55 dancers are participating in the performance. Big names in the performing arts world — Jeong Hye-jin, artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater, designer and director Jung Ku-ho, and music director and choreographer Kim Jae-duk — took part in creating the work.

Tickets range from 30,000 won ($23.50) to 80,000 won.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

LIM DONG-HYEK PIANO RECITALSeoul Arts Center, Concert Hall May 24: Pianist Lim Dong-hyek is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut. To celebrate, he will be holding a recital presenting two of Shubert’s final pieces — Piano Sonata No. 20 in A Major, D. 959 and No. 21 in B flat Major, D. 960. The two pieces are included on Lim’s upcoming sixth album, which will drop on March 10.

Lim has often expressed that Shubert’s music “fits him like my own dress” and that he feels “this great sense of unity” with the Austrian composer.

Lim first stole the limelight in the world’s classical music scene after becoming the youngest top prize winner of 2001 Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris and has gone on to forge a stellar career.

The recital begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 100,000 won.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

EUROPEAN JAZZ TRIO DISNEY VS. GHIBLI Lotte Concert Hall June 6: European Jazz Trio is visiting Korea for the first time in four years to showcase a concert featuring soundtracks from Disney and Studio Ghibli’s hit films series like “Frozen,” “Toy Story,” “Aladdin,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

The European Jazz Trio comprises of pianist Marc Van Roon, bassist Frans van der Hoeven and drummer Roy Dackus.

Tickets range from 45,000 won to 85,000 won.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 1 or 2 REVERENCESeoul Arts Center, Jayu Theater

Ballerina Kim Joo-won during a press conference on May 17. [EMK ENTERTAINMENT]

June 9 – 12:Ballerina Kim Joo-won will stage a performance to mark the 25th anniversary of debut. In ballet, “reverence” refers to a bow or curtsy to the audience at the end of a performance.

Kim said she hopes to send reverence to herself and to all those who have been with her for the past 25 years. She’ll also showcase parts of famous ballet pieces she’s performed ranging from classical pieces like “Giselle” and “Le Corsaire” to contemporary pieces she’s produced like “Tango Ballet – 3 Minutes: Su Tiempo” and “Dear Moon.” Kim also acts as the artistic director of the performance. Kim debuted as a dancer of the Korean National Ballet in 1998 through “Le Corsaire.” She was with the company for 15 years. In 2006, she won the Best Female Dancer Award at the Benois de la Danse, a renowned competition in the dance world.

The performance begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets range from 25,000 won to 40,000 won.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

AIDABlue Square, Shinhan Card Hall

Through Aug. 7:Musical Aida returns after three years. Set in ancient Egypt, the story follows a love triangle between three protagonists: Radames, an Egyptian military commander, who enslaves the people of Nubia including Aida, the princess of Nubia, and Amneris, the daughter of Pharaoh and the fiancée of Radames.

On his way home from the victory against Nubia, the long-time enemy of Egypt, Radames develops an interest in Aida. Without knowing that Aida is the princess of Nubia, Radames sends her as a gift to Amneris. Soon after, Radames and Aida fall for each other and Aida tries to find a balance between her love for Radames and her responsibility to her people.

The musical, also known as “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida” is based on an opera of the same title.

Yoon Gong-joo and Jeon Na-young star as Aida; Kim Woo-hyung and Choi Jae-rim as Radames; and Ivy and Min Kyung-ah as Amneris.

Performances start at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends.

There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.

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

THE MAN WHO LAUGHS Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Center, Grand Theater

June 10 – Aug. 22:Led by American theater director Robert Johanson, this musical is based on Victor Hugo’s 1869 novel of the same name. The musical has been praised for its stage design, put together by designer Oh Pil-young. The story is set in 17th-century England, where there was a huge gap between the rich and the poor.

The story revolves around the main character Gwynplaine’s life and the unfair treatment he endures from society.

For the upcoming production, singer Park Hyo-shin and musical actors Park Eun-tae and Park Kang-kyun alternate the role of Gwynplaine.

The musical starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays and at 4 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Ticket prices range from 60,000 to 150,000 won.

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

Seoul Arts Center, Opera Theater

Universal Ballet Company's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" will be presented on June 11 and 12 at the Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. [UBC]

June 11 and 12: The Universal Ballet Company will be presenting “The Sleeping Beauty” as part of this year’s Ballet Festival. The ballet will take on the traditional Kirov style that boasts magnificent stage design with beautiful backdrops such as silver spider webs.

It is based on Charles Perrault’s fairytale “Sleeping Beauty in the Woods.” It was turned into a ballet performance by Marius Petipa in 1890. The piece accompanies Tchaikovsky’s melodies.

Tickets range from 10,000 won to 120,000 won.

The performance begins at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both days.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

VORTEXNational Theater of Korea, Haeoreum Theater

June 24 – 26:The National Dance Company’s “Vortex,” which premiered in 2014, will be back on stage again this summer. The work is the National Dance Company of Korea’s first-ever collaboration with a foreign choreographer — Tero Saarinen from Finland. Ever since its creation, the work has established itself as a widely popular repertoire, presented as the opening performance of Cannes Dance Festival in 2015 and at a number of Korean and international venues including Kanagawa Arts Theater in Yokohama, Japan. The work is complemented with audio and visuals by Mikki Kunttu’s refined set and lighting design and monochromatic costumes by Erika Turunen.

The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets range from 20,000 to 70,000 won.

Dongguk University Station, line No.3, exit 2 DEATH NOTE Chungmu Art Center, Grand Theater

Through June 26:The Korean production of the musical “Death Note” is being staged at the Chungmu Art Center in central Seoul for the first time in five years. The musical is based on the Japanese manga series of the same title by Tsugumi Obha and Takeshi Obata. With music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics by Jack Murphy, the musical premiered in Korea in 2015.

The story follows a high school student named Yagami Light, who stumbles upon a notebook that kills those whose names get written in it.

Actors Hong Kwang-ho and Ko Eun-sung alternate the role of Yagami Light, while Kim Jun-su and Kim Seong-chul alternate the role of L. Former Lovelyz member Kei is alternating the role of Amane Misa with Jang Min-je.

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

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.

Sindang Station, line No. 6, exit 9

ALSATANGGalleria Foret Through Aug. 28:The musical "Alsatang" is based on the children's book of the same name written by Baek Hee-na. Baek is a renowned picture book artist who won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, referred to as the "Nobel Prize of children's literature," last year with her book "Cloud Bread."

Since its premiere four years ago, it’s been a hit show among young children. The story revolves around a character named Dongdong-e, a shy nine-year-old boy who usually spends his time at home playing with marbles. One day, he pays a visit to a small store to buy more marbles and discovers a strange-looking jawbreaker. He buys it, and adventure ensues when he puts it in his mouth.

The musical begins at 11 a.m. on Fridays and at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets cost 60,000 won.

Seoul Forest Station, Suin-Bundang line, exit 5

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

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