Hwang Jung-min's 'Macbeth,' 'Kinky Boots,' a g.o.d concert and other events to check out

"Macbeth" is Hwang Jung-min's return to the theater stage for the first time since “Richard III,” another Shakespeare work, in 2022.

MACBETH

National Theater of Korea, Haeoreum Theater

Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,″ starring veteran actor Hwang Jung-min, above, is being staged at the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Through Aug. 18: Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” stars veteran actor Hwang Jung-min. Director Yang Jung-woong, who is known as a “Shakespeare specialist” is taking the helm in directing this “Korean reinterpretation of ‘Macbeth.” The director said he tried to focus on the poetic language in the original play while incorporating “contemporary mise-en-scene to recreate a modern wasteland of desire in occult-like settings.”

The play is Hwang’s return to the theater stage for the first time since “Richard III,” another Shakespeare work, in 2022.

Actor Kim So-jin is playing Lady Macbeth and Song Il-kook plays Banquo.

The play begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays; and at 2 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. There are no performances on Mondays.

Tickets range from 44,000 won ($32.20) to 110,000 won.

Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6

FRANKENSTEIN Blue Square, Shinhan Card Hall Through Aug. 25: The Musical "Frankenstein” is celebrating its 10th year since its premiere and is being staged at the Blue Square in central Seoul. This musical, based on Mary Shelley’s 1823 novel of the same name, was produced in Korea and adds new characters and creative plot twists to the classic monster tale.

The musical is set in 19th-century Europe and centers on the efforts of Swiss scientists Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Henry Dupre to create a fearless, immortal soldier.

However, the experiment goes awry, and a dangerous monster is born.

Actors Yoo Jun-sang, Shin Sung-rok, Kyuhyun and Jeon Dong-seok alternate the role of Victor, while Park Eun-tae, Kai, Lee Hae-jun and Ko Eun-sung alternate the role of Henry Dupre, a character that only exists in the Korean production.

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

Ticket prices range from 80,000 to 170,000 won.

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

HAMLETHongik Daehangno Art CenterThrough Sept. 1:A famous tragedy written by William Shakespeare will be staged by Korea’s veteran actors, including Jung Dong-hwan, Park Jung-ja, Kim Sung-nyu and Jeon Moo-song.

The veteran actors will, however, take on smaller roles to make way for younger actors like Kang Pil-seok and Lee Seung-ju, who will take the lead role of Hamlet.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 60,000 won to 90,000 won.

Hyehwa Station, line No. 4, exit 3

KINKY BOOTSBlue Square, Shinhan Card Hall Sept. 7 – Nov. 10:Charlie Price takes over the family business from his father and begins to run a shoe factory, but he soon realizes he is on the verge of bankruptcy. In a bid to find a breakthrough, the businessman unwillingly teams up with a drag performer named Lola to produce a line of high-heeled boots for other drag queens called "kinky boots."

Through the relationship between the unlikely pair, the musical spotlights how people from different backgrounds can come to understand each other.

This hit musical is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and the Korean production is joining in to mark the event. The upcoming production will feature actors Lee Seok-hoon from the K-pop trio SG Wannabe, Kim Sung-kyu from the K-pop boy band Infinite and musical actors Shin Jae-bum and Kim Ho-young as Charlie. As for the role of Lola, four musical actors — Choi Jae-lim, Park Eun-tae, Kang Hong-seok and Seo Kyung-soo — will alternate.

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

Ticket prices range from 80,000 won to 170,000 won.

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

DISNEY IN CONCERT Olympic Park, 88 Jandi Madang Sept. 7: Korea’s only outdoor Disney concert, which excites Disney movie fans every year, will feature songs from hit movies ranging from “Lion King” (1994) and “The Little Mermaid” (1989) to “Aladdin” (1992), “Frozen” (2013) and “Encanto” (2021). Four Disney Broadway singers will be visiting Korea for the show, accompanied by the Ditto Orchestra.

Children must be at least four years old to attend.

The concerts begin at 6 p.m.

Tickets range from 50,000 won to 100,000 won. Families can use a table seat for four people priced at 250,000 won.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3

g.o.d CONCERT KSPO Dome

Considered one of the first-generation boy bands in K-pop, g.o.d, which debuted in 1999, is holding another concert this year at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul from Sept. 27 to 29. [IOK COMPANY]

Sept. 27 – 29:Considered part of the first generation of boy bands in K-pop, g.o.d, which debuted in 1999, is holding another concert this year. Since its success of reuniting through a concert in 2022, the boy band has been holding a concert every year. The 2022 concert, titled “2022 god Concert ‘On’,” was the group’s first concert as a complete group in four years. It sold out shortly after the tickets went on sale.

g.o.d consists of members Park Joon-hyung, Yoon Kye-sang, Danny Ahn, Son Ho-young and Kim Tae-woo.

The boy band has released seven regular albums and has numerous hit songs including “To Mother,” (1999) "Road” (2001), “One Candle” (2000), among many others.

Tickets range from 132,000 won to 176,000 won.

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

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3 or 4 CHICAGOD-Cube Arts Center

Broadway’s hit musical “Chicago” is being staged at the D-Cube Arts Center in western Seoul. [SEENSEE COMPANY]

Through Sept. 29: Broadway’s hit musical “Chicago” is now one of the most sought-after musicals for Koreans as well. Last year, Koreans got to see the Broadway production of the show here and this year, the Korean production is making a return.

The musical is based on the 1926 play of the same name by journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins about the actual criminals and crimes she reported on in Chicago.

The musical revolves around Roxie Hart, an ambitious chorus girl, who murders her lover.

Actors Choi Jung-won, Yoon Gong-joo and Jeong Sun-ah will alternate Velma Kelly, while IVY, Tiffany Young and Min Kyung-ah play Roxie Hart. Actors Park Gun-hyung and Choi Jae-rim will alternate Billy Flynn.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 160,000 won.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

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

INMO YANG & BERLINER BAROCK SOLISTENLotte Concert HallSept. 25: Violinist Yang In-mo, who became the first Korean to win the first place prize at the prestigious XII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland, in 2022, will be accompanying Berliner Barock Solisten, or the Berlin Baroque Soloists, at Lotte Concert Hall in southern Seoul.

Founded in 1995 by prominent members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Berliner Barock Solisten attempts to create a unique approach to the musical works of the 1600s and 1700s.

The program with Yang includes Bach’s “Violin concerto in E Major, BWV 1042,” as well as Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.”

Tickets range from 30,000 won to 200,000 won.

The concert begins at 8 p.m.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 1 or 2

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

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