[Highlights] Arts and entertainment calendar

“Tropical”: Dance Theater Tic will be presenting the group’s 2016 piece “Tropical” at Guerilla Theatre in Hyehwa-dong, Seoul from Oct. 21-23. Chronicling the story of six men stuck in the tropics after the Earth’s axis mysteriously shifts, the performance conveys the contradicting forces of life and death, and hope and desperation. “Tropical” will begin at 8 p.m. on the Friday and at 4 p.m. on the weekend. Tickets are from 20,000 won, and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com. For inquiries, call (010) 7917-7720.

“Sleeping Beauty”: Korean National Ballet will perform “Sleeping Beauty” at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House from Nov. 3-6. After presenting Rudolf Nureyev’s rendition in 2004, the group is back with a different take of the classic fairy tale, choreographed by Marcia Haydee, a former prima ballerina of the Stuttgart Ballet group. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets range from 5,000 won to 100,000 won and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com. For inquiries, call (02) 587-6181.

“The Little Prince”: Now celebrating its fifth year, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will be performing the French classic “The Little Prince” at the Gimhae Arts and Sports Center in Gimhae on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. An adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s novella, the performance will showcase the group’s unique take on the widely-known story about the world seen through the eyes of a boy from a faraway star. Tickets range from 20,000 won to 30,000 won and are available at ticket.interpark.com. For inquiries, call (055) 320-1234.

“The Nutcracker”: The Korean National Ballet will be performing the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” at the Cheonan Arts Center from Dec. 6-7. Originally choreographed by Petipa and Ivanov, the two-act ballet boasts score by the legendary composer Tchaikovsky. Tickets range from 10,000 won to 70,000 won, and are available at ticket.interpark.com or cnac.co.kr. For inquiries, call 1566-0155. 

Exhibitions

“Dear Life”: Glass artist Kim Ki-ra is holding a solo exhibition of her latest collection “Dear Life” at Gallery Sklo in Sinsa-dong, Seoul. Inspired by Canadian writer Alice Munro’s short story collection of the same title, the collection contains Kim’s observations and reflections on nearly six decades of her life. Scheduled to run until Oct. 23, the exhibition is free admission for all visitors. For more information, visit www.gallerysklo.com.

“Unforseen”: Art and modern dance meet in a joint experimental performance project between the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea and the National Dance Company of Korea. The performances presented by 13 artists and teams are staged spontaneously at various spots of the museum, or presented in an exhibition format at the museum. The performances will combine unique features of contemporary art and dance, encompassing diverse fields from visual art, film, poetry and dance media to sound. The performances run from now until Oct. 23 at the MMCA’s Seoul museum at 30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. For more information, visit www.mmca.go.kr.

“Gathering Clouds”: Kukje Gallery is holding a solo exhibition of renowned artist Anish Kapoor until Oct. 30. The exhibition presents sculptures that are results of his exploration of materials and abstraction. On display are twisted rectangular stainless steel blocks with polished surfaces, and sculptural voids in fiberglass and steel at the K1 and K3 exhibition spaces. For more information, visit www.kukjegallery.com.

“Nam June Paik Show”: Large-scale installations by Nam June Paik, including a few rarely seen in previous exhibitions of Paik’s works, are on display at the commemorative exhibition that celebrates the late artist’s 84th birthday. Highlight pieces of the exhibition, which opened on July 20 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, include large video art installations “Turtle” and “M200,” which consist of many television monitors that each show imposing images created and edited by Paik. The exhibition runs until Oct. 30 at DDP. Tickets range from 5,000 won for children to 15,000 won for adults. For more information, visit www.ddp.or.kr.

“Personal Collection”: Atelier Hermes is presenting a solo exhibition of Jeong Geumg-hyung, winner of the 16th Hermes Foundation Misulsang. The prestigious art award, sponsored by the global fashion brand, has selected artist Jeong, who is known for her interactive performances with exercise machines and mannequins that gradually transform into erotic actions. The exhibition, which runs until Oct. 23, showcases objects Jeong used in her performances and stages on-site performances by Jeong on selected dates. For more information, call (02) 3015-3258.

“Denmark:Design”: In collaboration with Design Museum Denmark, the Seoul Arts Center is showcasing some of the most understated, yet eye-catching works of everyday household items from leading Danish designers and brands, including Hans. Wegner, Vitra, Bang & Olufsen, Finn Juhl, and more. The exhibition runs from now until Nov. 20. Tickets are 10,000 won for adults, and range from 5,000 won to 8,000 won for children. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr.

“Body Flower”: Australian artist Emma Hack, known for body-painted illusionary artwork, is holding a solo exhibition at Savina Museum of Contemporary Art through Oct. 30. The museum is showcasing 49 photographs the artist created since 2005. The nine different series of photographs are themed with natural elements and reveal painted bodies camouflaged against background images. For more information, visit www.savinamuseum.com.

“The Parliament of Possibilities”: Danish-Icelandic installation artist Olafur Eliasson is holding a solo exhibition at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul. An experimental artist who works with a wide range of elements and concepts, Eliasson will be presenting a total of 22 works, from “Moss wall,” made with moss from Iceland, to “Your unpredictable path,” a glass sculpture made from more than 1,000 spheres. The exhibition runs from now until Feb. 26, 2017. Tickets are 8,000 won for adults, and 4,000 won for children. For more information, visit www.leeum.samsungfoundation.org.

“Nick Knight: Image”: British photographer Nick Knight is holding his first Seoul exhibition at Daelim Museum. Best known for his collaborations with leading design icons, including Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and more, Knight will be showcasing some of his never-before-seen photographs and digital images from over the years. The exhibition runs from now until March 26, 2017. Tickets are 5,000 won for adults, and range from 2,000 won to 3,000 won for children. For more information, visit www.daelimmuseum.org.

Pop Music

“BTS”: Popular K-pop boy group BTS, short for Bangtan Boys, is holding a concert on Nov. 12 and 13 at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul. The concert will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. The seven-member boy band was formed by Big Hit Entertainment in 2013 and debuted that year with its first album “2 Cool 4 Skool.” Since then, the band has reaped significant international popularity, with fan club members throughout Southeast Asia, China and Japan. The band has heavy hip-hop influences in its pop-dance songs. Known for its large social media presence, BTS was named by Forbes as the most retweeted artist on Twitter in March. Tickets are priced at 55,000 won and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com.

“One OK Rock”: Japanese rock band One OK Rock is holding a concert at Seoul’s KBS Arena in Seoul’s Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Formed in Tokyo in 2005, the alternative rock, post-hardcore band is composed of members Taka, Toru, Ryota and Tomoya. It has released eight studio albums and two EPs so far. Popular songs include “Wherever You Are” in 2010, “Clock Strikes” in 2013, “Heartache” and “Cry Out” in 2015. Acts associated with the band include News, Neck Deep, All Time Low, Sleeping with Sirens, 5 Seconds of Summer, My First Story and Cold Rain. Tickets are priced at 99,000 won and 110,000 won. For inquiries, email amuse_kr@naver.com.

“Yoon Do-hyun”: YB, one of Korea’s best-known rock bands formerly known as the Yoon Do-hyun Band, will be holding a concert in celebration of the iconic group’s 21st anniversary from Oct. 26-30 at Hongik Daehangno Art Center in northeastern Seoul. With nine full-length studio albums under its belt, YB’s music is based on classic and modern rock combined with a contemporary Korean sound. The first half of the concert will feature solo acoustic performances by the band’s frontman Yoon Do-hyun. The second half will showcase the band in its entirety and the energetic performances it has come to be known for. YB’s hit songs over the years include “I’m A Butterfly,” “Love Two” and “I Will Fall in Love.” Tickets are priced at 99,000 won and 110,000 won, and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com. 

“Sam Ock -- Wintery Tour”: Korean-American singer-songwriter Sam Ock is coming to Korea for the second time for a Christmas-themed concert at 8 p.m. on Nov. 29 at Yonsei University Centennial Hall. The artist, heavily influenced by artists such as John Legend and Bruno Mars, incorporates self-played drum, guitar, bass and piano sounds into his rhythm and blues music. Also lauded as a vocalist and rapper, the multi-faceted Ock will perform covers of beloved Christmas carols and original songs including “Rollercoaster” and “Made for More.” Tickets are priced at 55,000 won and 66,000 won, and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com.

Classical Music 

"Chung Kyung-wha": Chung Kyung-wha needs no introduction as one of Korea’s most recognized and highly regarded musicians. She first began playing the violin at the age of 6 and was immediately recognized as a child prodigy. She made her concert debut at the tender age of 9 with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. At 13, Chung enrolled at The Juilliard School in New York City and began studying with masters Ivan Galamian and Joseph Szigeti. Chung’s upcoming concert recital will be entirely dedicated to the works of Bach. The performance will be held at Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from 40,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266.

“Julia Fischer Violin Recital”: Critically acclaimed German violinist Julia Fischer will be holding a violin recital at Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Accompanied by German pianist Martin Helmchen, the program will consist of pieces by Brahms, Schubert and Dvorak. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com. For inquiries, call (02) 599-5743.

“San Francisco Symphony”: The world-renowned San Francisco Symphony will perform at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. The concert will be conducted by the symphony’s music director Michael Tilson Thomas, who has been lauded by the San Francisco Examiner as “an enthusiastic ambassador for classical music.” The performance will be accompanied by award-winning classical pianist Lim Dong-hyek. Tickets range from 60,000 won to 280,000 won and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com. For inquiries, call 1577-5266.

“Clara-Jumi Kang & Son Yeol-eum”: Critically acclaimed Korean violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and pianist Son Yeol-eum will hold a duo concert presenting Brahms and Schumann pieces at the Seoul Arts Center on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. Born in Germany, Kang is an award-winning violinist who has performed with world-class composers and chamber musicians, including Chung Myung-whun, Gidon Kremer and Jian Wang. Born and raised in Korea, Son first gained international recognition when she was chosen as the soloist for New York Philharmonic’s Asia tour in 2004. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 100,000 won and can be reserved at ticket.interpark.com. For inquiries, call (070) 8879-8485.

Theater

“Phantom”: Not to be confused with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway smash hit production “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Phantom” is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and based on the novel by Arthur Kopit. The musical’s storyline is often billed as the “hidden and untold” story of the infamous opera ghost. The Korean rendition of the musical will star Park Eun-tae, Park Hyo-shin and Jeon Dong-suk. “Phantom” will be staged at the Blue Square theater in Seoul from Nov. 26 to Feb. 26. Ticket prices range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-6478.

“Monte Cristo”: Edmund Dantes, a promising young sailor, is awaiting his wedding with the beautiful Mercedes until he is suddenly falsely accused and arrested for conspiracy by the dastardly Mondeo, who is secretly in love with the fair Mercedes. The musical rendition of the famed literary tale of “Monte Cristo” will be held at the Chungmu Art Hall’s Grand Theater in Seoul from Nov. 19 to Feb. 12. It will star Ryu Jeong-han, Um Ki-jun, Kai, Shin Sung-rok. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-6478.

“Mr. Show”: By renowned musical director Kolleen Park, the naughty male striptease show “Mr. Show” is returning to the stage this year. The women-only variety show features strapping young men who dance and perform various themed acts that are geared toward tantalizing females. The live show -- only for those 19 and above -- will be staged until Dec. 4 at the Shinhan Card Fan Square’s Live Hall in Seoul. Tickets are 52,000 won and 80,000 won. For more details, call (02) 547-5694.

“Dorian Gray”: CJeS Culture is unveiling its first original production -- a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 19th century novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Starring K-pop star Kim Jun-su, the musical was scripted by Cho Yong-shin and directed by Lee Gi-na. It also features music composed by Kim Moon-jeong. “Dorian Gray” will be staged from Sept. 3 to Oct. 29 at the Seongnam Arts Center’s Opera House. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363.

“Kinky Boots”: The hit Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” is making its way back to Seoul once again. Based on the book by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein and with music and lyrics by Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winner Cyndi Lauper, the musical tells the true story of Charlie Price who goes to oddly extreme lengths to save his father’s shoe factory. The local production will star Lee Ji-hoon, Kim Ho-young, Jung Seong-hwa and Kang Jong-seok. “Kinky Boots” will be staged until Nov. 13 at Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Tickets range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.