Theater
Ping-Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班) is reviving Wedding Memories (女兒紅), a semi-biographical play based on the life story of artistic director Hugh Lee’s (李國修) mother that premiered in 2003. The story centers on an obedient girl in China who, in an attempt to prevent a family scandal, volunteers to marry the man who impregnated her younger sister.
■ Metropolitan Hall (台北市社教館城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Kaohsiung City Ballet (高雄城市芭蕾舞團) presents the ninth iteration of its Dance Shoe series, which aims to provide young choreographers with a platform to perform in public. Dance Shoe 2012 (2012點子鞋) is composed of works by six choreographers, including Dominique Yen (顏鳳曦), Ko Tzu-chun (柯姿君) and Wu Cheng-en (吳承恩).
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$450, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
An operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra and Her Fools (艷后和她的小丑們) by the National Guoguang Opera Company (國立國光劇團) spans the spectrum from traditional Beijing opera to contemporary musical styles. The production stars opera diva Wei Hai-min (魏海敏). Chi Wei-jan (紀蔚然), a major figure in the world of experimental theater, wrote the script.
■ Chungshan Hall (台中市文化局中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Greater Taichung (台中市學士路98號)
■ Saturday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
In La Naissance (初生), Flying-Group Theatre’s (飛人集社劇團) critically acclaimed puppet production, a girl finds an egg inside the mouth of a whale. Together the girl and the whale embark on a magical journey.
■ Yilan Performance Hall (宜蘭演藝廳), 482, Jhongshan Rd Sec 2, Yilan City (宜蘭市中山路二段482號)
■ Tuesday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Shen Yun Performing Arts 2012 Taiwan Tour (神韻晚會) ends this week in Taoyuan with a new lineup of dances, songs and music. Founded with the aim of preserving China’s richly diverse history of artistic achievement, Shen Yun claims to be “the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company.”
■ Taoyuan County Performing Arts Center (桃園縣展演中心), 1188 Jhongjheng Rd, Taoyuan City (桃園市中正路1188號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 10am
■ Tickets are NT$1,200 to NT$5,000, available through ERA ticketing and online at www.ticket.com.tw
Classical music
NCO Kids Series — “Who” Is Wu-song Fighting?! (NCO童心系列親子音樂會 — 武松打Who?!) is a collaboration between the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan (台灣國家國樂團) and the Paper Windmill Theater (紙風車劇團). The production is a fun and family-friendly piece of musical theater that mixes Chinese opera, martial arts, traditional folk music with rap and pop to reinterpret the famous folk story of Wu Song and the Tiger (武松打虎). Only a small number of tickets remain for this popular mixture of the traditional and the contemporary.
■ Saturday at 7:30pm
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Seediq Bale Symphonic Poem (賽德克巴萊電影交響詩音樂會) saw its world premiere last month as part of the Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival (高雄春天藝術節). The work was inspired by Taiwan’s cinematic historical extravaganza Seediq Bale (賽德克‧巴萊), and was commissioned by the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra (高雄市交響樂團) and composed by Ricky Ho (何國杰).
■ Saturday at 7:30pm
■ Taipei International Convention Center (台北國際會議中心), 1, Xinyi Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市信義路五段1號)
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Russian Resurrection (俄羅斯復活記) is a concert by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) featuring guest conductor Vladimir Verbitsky and violinist Kyoko Takezawa. The program includes Glinka’s Valse Fantaisie, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op.35 and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op.47.
■ Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Legacy Taipei hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Indie rockers Vast and Hazy, Young David (青春大衛), Overnight and Hang in the Air (盪在空中) are on tonight’s lineup. Singer-songwriter Rachel Liang (梁文音) performs tomorrow.
■ 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 starts at 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$200 tonight and NT$900 tomorrow, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw and www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks.
Japanese emo rock band Start of the Day performs tonight with Kanina and No Money No Honey at The Wall (這牆). US metalcore band August Burns Red appears tomorrow night with Mutaker.
■ 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
■ Music shows start at 8pm
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and NT$1,500 tomorrow. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Acoustic act Little Lamb Sisters (小羊妹妹) and Neo perform tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Big Pie (周大派) and LGF (小青蛙) appear tomorrow night and Saturday’s roster features punk rockers Inhuman (非人物種).
■ 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
■ Performances 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
■ Entry for music shows is NT$300
Singers Freda Li (利得彙) and Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) take to the stage tonight at Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言). Huh? Fusion Group (蛤樂團) performs tomorrow. On Saturday, it’s Mando-pop singer Filipe King (杜俊瑋), who appears with 36 Roundhouse Kicks (三十六迴旋踢). T-Work (陳零九) and Ady Chang (張十二) take to the stage on Sunday night.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 9pm
■ Entrance fee is NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and Saturday, and NT$350 Sunday.
Jazz quartet Tiny Step (門田英司) jams tomorrow night at Riverside Live House. Saturday’s spotlight is on BaBa Band (爸爸辦桌) and Samingad (紀曉君).
■ 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 tomorrow and Saturday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow night. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse/ and tickets.books.com.tw
Austrian indie rock bands Sweet Susie and Manni Montana join Johnny Hi-Fi from the US tomorrow night at Underworld (地下社會). Me·di·oc·ri·ty and Two and Half Stars (兩星半) appear Saturday.
■ 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
■ Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy Hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300, which includes one drink
Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge and jazz venue, hosts The YAM Project (暫別音樂會), followed by A-len Yue (余佳倫) tomorrow night. Soul (神之樂團) performs Saturday morning.
■ 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 8pm tomorrow and 10am Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$200
New Zealand rockers The Bollands, Australia’s Taun and Mike Mudd perform tonight at Revolver. Tomorrow’s lineup features Japan’s Astro Attack, MOZ8, Human Beings and a DJ set by Trippple Nippples. Saturday night’s party is called Loud in the Dark, with a roster of future bass, funk, techno and rap spun by DJs Sylvain, Rob Jabbaz, Katrina Niu and Admonished.
■ 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 Thursday, NT$300 tomorrow night and NT$250 Saturday. All admission fees include one drink
Jazz fusion quartet Microcosmos plays tomorrow night at TAV Cafe
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377 X207
■ Friday’s show starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is NT$350, which includes one drink
EZ5 Live House 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 Tiger Huang (黃小琥) on Wednesday.
■ 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
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s, with live music from electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. Iris sings “romantic chansons” Sunday nights and on Wednesdays, 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. On the Net: visit www.caponestaipei.com.tw
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink, dancers receive a free drink coupon. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
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