Theater
All U People Theater’s (全民大劇團) Television Station in Chaos (瘋狂電視台 — 相聲了沒) returns to Taipei with six shows starting tonight. The stand-up comedy, performed in Mandarin, tells the story of five workers who try to rescue the TV company they work for from bankruptcy. The cast includes comedian Bacy Tang (唐從聖) and theater veteran Luo Bei-an (羅北安).
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$550 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A collaboration between Song, Song, Song Children’s and Puppet Theatre (九歌兒童劇團) and Theatre Mala Scena in Croatia, Play & Play (遊戲狂想曲) is a children’s theatrical piece that fuses dance and acrobatics to portray the imaginary worlds of a boy and a girl.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 10:30am, 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 10:30am and 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through ERA ticketing and online at www.ticket.com.tw
In Yubon’s Encyclopedia (魚蹦小百科), comedy troupe Yubon Theatre (魚蹦興業) shares all the strange facts, weird tidbits and useless information that you may or may not know.
■ Live Comedy Club & Cafe Taipei (卡米地喜劇俱樂部), 20, Ln 553, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段553巷20號)
■ Tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm and 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available online through www.walkieticket.com. Or contact the Comedy Club to reserve seats by sending an e-mail to ticket@comedy.com.tw or calling (02) 2764-5529
For Entrance (奇幻旅程), Diabolo Dance Theatre (舞鈴劇場) takes audiences on a journey through the eyes of a little girl with its visually opulent, high-energy performance of diabolo, a traditional children’s game, and Chinese acrobatics. The show runs through the end of March.
■ Expo Hall at Taipei Expo Park (花博公園舞蝶館), located at the intersection of Zhongshan North Road (中山北路) and Minzu East Road (民族東路) in Taipei City
■ Tonight, tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Flying-Group Theatre (飛人集社劇團) presents The Dying Fish (魚), which centers on the tragic yet comic romance between a kindergarten teacher and her insurance salesman boyfriend. An uninvited guest comes along and shakes up the couple’s dull life together.
■ Open Theater (大開戲聚場), B1, 107, Jhonggang Rd Sec 3, Greater Taichung (台中市中港路三段107號B1)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$350, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporaryr
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Local post-rock heroes Sugar Plum Ferry (甜梅號) perform tomorrow and popular Aboriginal rocker Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽) takes to the stage on Saturday. On Wednesday, the venue holds a pre-Lunar New Year’s party featuring pop singer and actress Wan Fang (萬芳) and rock singer-songwriter A-hsiang (阿翔) of the beloved but defunct underground rock band Luantan (亂彈).
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 8pm on Friday, 8:30pm tomorrow and Wednesday
■ NT$500 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance), NT$1,000 on Saturday (NT$800 in advance), NT$600 on Wednesday (NT$400 in advance). Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw, www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tonight, The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts metal bands Epitaph and Nocturne Moonrise. Post-rock/emo band Orangegrass (橙草) and garage rock group Fever Trend take to the stage tomorrow. No shows are scheduled for tomorrow night, but on Sunday, the venue hosts a trio of indie bands: Windmill (風籟坊), Paper Girl (紙片女孩) and he of Japan.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ NT$500 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (NT$400 in advance each night). Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts grunge/Brit-pop band Arkmen (阿克曼樂團) and indie electronica outfit Morning Call (輕晨電). Tomorrow it’s indie rock band Green!Eyes. On Saturday, indie rock solo act Han Hsuan (韓軒) takes to the stage.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號), tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Shows start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games, open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300
Miss Banana (香蕉小姐) and Wind Evasion (風迷藏) take to the stage tomorrow at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. On Saturday, We Are So Sad (傷心欲絕) opens for indie rock vocalist/guitarist Insecteens (昆蟲白). On Wednesday, it’s upstart performers Han Hsuan (韓軒) and How to Program C Plus Plus.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1), tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300 on Friday (includes one drink) and NT$500 on Saturday (includes one drink before 11:30pm, two drinks after 11:30pm). Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts up-and-coming Mando-pop female crooner Ren, real name Hsia Yu-tung (夏宇童), and acoustic pop band Little Eyes (小眼睛). Jazz saxophonist Tony Tung (董舜文) and friends perform tomorrow, while Mando-poppers Filipe King (杜俊瑋) and Taiwan Soul Band (台灣爽) take to the stage on Saturday. On Sunday, it’s Mando-pop singers GJ (蔣卓嘉) and Su Yi-cheng (蘇亦承).
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓), tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Show starts tonight at 9:30pm, 9pm on all other nights
■ NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and Saturday and NT$350 on Sunday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) hosts female Mando-pop crooner Hsieh Yi-wen (謝苡雯). Tomorrow Victor Wong (品冠), who currently has an album on the Mando-pop charts, takes to the stage, and on Saturday it’s another set of female pop singers, Shennio Lin (林芯儀) and Esther Liu (劉品言).
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號), tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8:30pm
■ NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow, and NT$400 on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts Aiphy (愛妃), electro-band XOXO (叉圈叉圈) and Phantasy of Mirage (現象師). Tomorrow, it’s 140 BPM, featuring DJs Bounce Girls, Adam, Bomb Threats and Robi Roka. On Saturday, the venue hosts a party dubbed Warehouse II with DJs Inn, @llen, Lai and Neker. On Wednesday, DJ Taili spins dub and roots reggae.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight, NT$140 tomorrow, NT$350 on Saturday, free on Wednesday. Admission includes one drink
JCK Jazz Trio performs tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar. French expat Olivier Baron and his quintet take to the stage tomorrow. Wild Cactus Jazz plays on Saturday. On Tuesday, it’s Ash and Friends, and on Wednesday, the venue hosts SM Duo, a piano and drums outfit.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1), tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tomorrow and Saturday, free other nights
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday, and veteran performer Ann Lang (郎祖筠) on Wednesdays.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號), tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Italian restaurant Capone’s hosts pop rock band Mary Jane and Her Quartet every Friday. On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Wednesday nights, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
Tonight, The TAV Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts a screening of the heavy metal documentary, Anvil! The Story of Anvil. No shows are scheduled tomorrow, but on Friday, the Danny Deysher Jazz Quartet takes to the stage.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377, X207
■ Shows start at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes one drink
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tomorrow indie rock/pop songstress Deserts Chang (張懸) takes to the stage with her band Algae. On Sunday, it’s garage band Mary See The Future (先知瑪莉).
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ NT$500 tomorrow and NT$400 Sunday
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live music every Saturday. This weekend features hard rock group Lizard Blues and pop-rock band Rose and Beef.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes one drink
Classical music
Ars Nova Trio Play the Classics (新藝術三重奏/古典好好聽) opens Forum Music’s series of four New Year concerts featuring the Ars Nova Trio, comprised of Chen Yi-an (陳奕安) on violin, Yen Ching-ying (顏慶瑩) on piano and Kuo Hsin-ping (郭心蘋) on cello. The program includes numerous works by Johann Strauss Jr, as well as compositions by Moritz Moszkowskio and Emil Waldteufel.
■ Saturday 7:30pm
■ Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號)
■ Tickets are NT$300; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Taichung Symphony Orchestra New Year’s Concert 2012 — A Night of Eastern Symphonic Music (台中市交響樂團2012新年音樂會 — 東方交響樂之夜) sees the orchestra present its seventh New Year concert in a tradition that goes back to 2004. The program includes He Zhanhao’s (何占豪) Butterfly Lover’s Violin Concerto (梁山伯與祝英台小提琴協奏曲) and Huang Fou-tong’s (黃輔棠) Formosa Fantasy (台灣狂想曲), as well as Ippolitov-Ivanov’s Caucasian Sketches Op.10, Respighi’s Pines of Rome (Finale), and Hardiman’s The Lord of the Dance.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
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