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Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Three theatrical worlds under one roof
This weekend, theatergoers have a rare opportunity to sample three vastly different stage productions — all playing under one roof at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul: one a time-tested classic with over three decades of history and two freshly premiered works that opened less than a month ago. Unfortunately, none of these productions offer subtitles or translation services, so fully appreciating the performances may be difficult without Korean fluency, particularly given their dialogue- and lyric-heavy nature. "Phantom" The musical "Phantom" by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit premiered in 1991, following the blockbuster success of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera.' While both works draw inspiration from Gaston Leroux's classic novel, Webber's version became a global phenomenon, overshadowing 'Phantom.' Yet 'Phantom' offers a compelling and distinctive reimagining of the same story, shedding new light on the Phantom's inner world. It's well worth experiencing not only as a point of comparison but also as an example of how a familiar narrative can be transformed through a different artistic lens. In particular, the Korean production of "Phantom," presented by EMK Musical Company, has taken creative liberties to craft its own distinctive interpretation, earning widespread acclaim over the past decade. Now in its fifth and final run, the production returns with powerhouse vocalists Park Hyo-shin, Kai, and Jeon Dong-seok, who bring stirring intensity to the show's vocally and musically demanding score. EMK has confirmed that this season will mark the conclusion of this version. "Phantom" runs at the Sejong Grand Theater until Aug. 11, with no performances on Mondays. Tickets range from 70,000 won to 170,000 won ($51.50 to $125). "The First Great Show" Presented by the Seoul Metropolitan Musical Theatre, 'The First Great Show' is a whimsical and heartfelt homage to Korea's early musical theater. Set in the 1960s, when the idea of a 'musical' was just beginning to take root in Korea, the production follows director Yoo Deok‑han and producer Kim Young‑woong as they attempt to stage the nation's first-ever musical. This fresh, nostalgic production offers laughter and insight into Korea's theatrical origins. Running through June 15 at the Sejong M Theater, the show features a stellar creative team, including director Kim Dong‑yeon. Kim led the original Korean staging of 'Maybe Happy Ending,' which won six awards at the Tony Awards with its Broadway adaptation. Ticket prices range from 60,000 won to 80,000 won. "I'm Nowhere" At the Sejong S Theater, Seoul Metropolitan Theatre's new original, 'I'm Nowhere,' boldly confronts a haunting social reality: the lives of the forgotten. Written and directed by renowned theater-maker Ko Sun-woong, the play is inspired by a newspaper article on 195 unclaimed deaths — individuals who lived and died like ghosts, unnoticed by society. The story centers on a woman who escapes years of domestic violence, sheds her identity, and drifts through the margins of society, only to die alone and become a literal ghost. Through her posthumous gaze, the play explores what it means to be unseen in both life and death. For this play, Ko takes an inventive, meta-theatrical approach, where actors break the fourth wall and openly acknowledge the artifice of theater. The play runs until June 22 except on Mondays. Ticket prices range from 40,000 won to 50,000 won. gypark@
Boston Globe
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Kennedy Institute lines up prominent Trump supporter for its board
Under board chair Bruce Percelay, a Boston-based developer, the EMK Institute is trying to go beyond accommodating tourists and school field trips at its signature Dorchester building, which features a full-sized replica of the US Senate chamber, to focus on a broader policy mission: encouraging bipartisan politics. It's a mission that the institute's namesake, Ted Kennedy, understood and practiced during his several decades representing Massachusetts in the Senate. Toward that end, the EMK Institute has held televised debates between prominent Democrats and Republicans, and encouraged leaders from both parties to attend confabs at the institute's homestead in Hyannis. The EMK board already includes several Republicans, including former US senators Saxby Chambless of Florida, John Sununu of New Hampshire, and Mel Martinez of Florida. But it was important to Percelay to bring someone on board with ties to Donald Trump, particularly now that Trump is back in the White House. 'There was nobody better at reaching across the aisle than Ted Kennedy,' Percelay said. 'This, to me, is emblematic of how Ted Kennedy would have functioned. You can't make progress or make change by talking in an echo chamber.' Advertisement Enter David Urban, a lawyer, lobbyist, and CNN commentator. He was once chief of staff for then-senator Arlen Specter, working on Capitol Hill for five years during Ted Kennedy's tenure. Urban helped Trump win over Pennsylvania voters in 2016. More recently, he got to know Joe Kennedy III during the former Massachusetts congressman's Senate campaign, and the two hit it off. (Joe Kennedy, grandnephew of Ted, is on the EMK Institute board, as is former Rhode Island congressman Pat Kennedy, a son of Ted's.) Urban owns a house on Nantucket, which is how he came to know Percelay, who publishes N Magazine on the island. Percelay, Urban recalled, invited him to Hyannisport to learn more about the institute. Advertisement The institute's mission dovetailed with Urban's political beliefs. With 60 votes needed to pass most major bills, bipartisanship is crucial to getting things done in the Senate, Urban said. 'The Institute really serves an important role in maintaining that bipartisan flame of the Senate,' Urban said. 'I'm happy to put my shoulder to the wheel and get some more folks up here who are Republicans, and help expand the mission.' This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene. Jon Chesto can be reached at
