2023 Nov. 23 Ticket

Kim Joo-won's Tango Ballet | Les Miserables | Let Me Fly | Cirque du Soleil: Luzia | Sister Act

Ballerina Kim Joo-won [KWEN HYEK-JAE]

KIM JOO-WON’S TANGO BALLETGoyang Aram Nuri Arts CenterThrough Nov. 26: Ballerina Kim Joo-won will be staging a ballet performance she has choreographed to tango music. Kim, a former principal dancer of the Korean National Ballet, graduated from Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow and was awarded the Benois de la Danse in 2006. In the show, tango music based on the theme of love and parting will be expressed through dancing and singing. Other dancers Yim Jeong-hee, Kim Hee-hyun and Kim Hyun-wung will be joining Kim Joo-won on stage. Milonga Tango music will be played by Koh Sangji Band.

The show begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets range from 30,000 won to 60,000 won.

Jeongbalsan Station, line No. 3, exit 3

Musical “Les Miserables” begins its run at the Blue Square in central Seoul from Nov. 30. [JOONGANG ILBO]

LES MISERABLESBlue Square, Shinhan Card HallNov. 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."

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.

Hyehwa Station, line No. 4, exit 1

Cirque du Soleil's ″Luzia″ show is ongoing at the Seoul Sports Complex's Big Top in Songpa District, southern Seoul. [YONHAP]

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: LUZIA Jamsil Sports Complex, Big Top Arena Through Dec. 31: Cirque du Soleil is back in Seoul with a thrilling water show.

Luzia's theme is Mexican culture, incorporating Latin American musical scores, and Aztec and Mayan-inspired stage design.

It is the only Cirque du Soleil show that uses water. Various acts throughout the show, such as trapeze and aerial performances, involve the circular pool in center stage or the rain "curtain" that sprays water from the ceiling.

The Cirque this year is performing in Busan for the first time as well. Luzia is slated to open at Shinsegae Department Store, Centum City's big top, next year from Jan. 13 to Feb. 4.

The Seoul show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and national holidays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 290,000 won.

Sports Complex Station, line No.2, exit 6 or 7

SISTER ACTD-Cube Arts CenterThrough Feb. 11, 2024: This international tour production of “Sister Act” is Korean musical production company EMK Musical’s latest work. Directed by Robert Johanson, the show is a “totally new version of ‘Sister Act’ with a different tone and look,” Johanson said during a press conference for the show.

Johanson and choreographer Jayme Mcdaniel are among those newly stepping into "Sister Act," while music director BA Huffman has worked on the musical since its initial Broadway production alongside composer Alan Menken.

Actors like Nicole Vanessa Ortiz playing the lead Deloris and Kim So-hyang playing Mary Robert have been part of the Korean production of "Sister Act" productions, and others, including Mary Gutzi playing Mother Superior and six other Korean actors who have been cast in the show's ensemble, are joining the team for the first time.

The show will be staged in English.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays; and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.

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

Sindorim Station, lines No. 1 and 2, exit 1 or 5

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

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