Theater
Shakespeare Unplugged 3 — Macbeth (莎士比亞不插電3 — 馬克白) by Tainanjen Theater Troupe (台南人劇團) stages a contemporary version of Shakespeare's masterpiece. The performance will come to Taipei next weekend.
Baida Education and Cultural Center (百達文教中心), 3F, 85 Shengli Rd, Tainan City (台南市勝利路85號3F)
Today, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
Tickets are NT$450 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
The Glass Menagerie (玻璃動物園) by US playwright Tennessee Williams will be performed by Spring Wind Art Theater (南風劇團). The play takes place during the Great Depression and investigates the tenuous relationship between an aging mother and her shy daughter, as narrated by the son.
Chihshan Hall, Kaohsiung Cultural Center (高雄文化中心至喜廳), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Paper (紙) by Puppet Beings Theater Company (偶偶偶劇團), is a puppet theatrical performance in four un-related segments. Using paper as the primary medium to create a variety of simple puppets, the troupe uses themes such as identity and fear in each of the four vignettes to illustrate contemporary concerns that appeal to children and adults alike.
Eslite Bookstore, Tainan (台南誠品書店), B2, 181 Chungjung St Sec 1, Tainan City (台南市長榮路一段181號 B2)
Tomorrow at 2:30 and 7:30pm and Sunday at 11am and 2:30pm
Tickets are NT$300 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Half-Mile Great Wall (半里長城) by the Ping Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班), takes a humorous look at the building of the Great Wall.
Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw (Note: Only NT$500 are available for tomorrow and NT$1,200 tickets available for Sunday)
A touch of Zen (正版 神武不二) is a unique theatrical experience by Taipei-based drumming performance group U-Theater. Using traditional Chinese martial arts and qi gong as the basis of the performance, the play is a reflection on the relationship between percussion and meditation.
Tainan Municipal Cultural Center Performance Hall (台南市立文化中心演藝廳), 332 Chunghua E Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號)
Tomorrow at 7:30pm
Tickets are NT$350 to NT$2,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Mom Is So Annoying (媽媽好討厭) tells the amusing story of two daughters who, after being scolded by their mother, wish that she would disappear. To their astonishment, their mother does in fact disappear and their initial feelings of joy soon turn to sadness as they anxiously await her return.
Ilan Performing Arts Center of the Ilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau (宜蘭縣文化局演藝廳), 482 Chungshan Rd Sec 2, Ilan City (宜蘭市中山路二段482 號)
Tomorrow at 7:30pm
Tickets are NT$200 to NT$400 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Classical Music
The Rutgers University Queens Chorale Taiwan Concert Tour (美國羅格斯大學后聲合唱團2007台灣巡迴音樂會). The Rutgers University Queens Chorale was founded in 1974 by a small group of women who wanted to sing traditional Rutgers music in a relaxed, social atmosphere. Originally named the "Rutgers Women's Chorale," members were also part of the Kirkpatrick Choir, a mixed-voice concert ensemble, directed by David Drinkwater. Now, 32 years later under the direction of Victor Shen (沈新欽), members of the chorale are from all of the undergraduate programs at the Rutgers University, and the repertoire has expanded to include concert music. Tonight, the group will be joined by the Tunghai University Modern Chorus (東海大學現代合唱團) and the Providence University Chorus (靜宜大學合唱團). Conducted by Shen and Yen Yu-fen (顏毓芬), the concert will include special music program of American contemporary choral works.
At the National Taichung Library Chunghsing Concert Hall (台中市中興堂), 291-3 Jingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路291之3號).
All tickets cost NT$200 and are available by calling Mr. Kao at 0972-373-567
Tonight at 7:30pm
Huang Hui-hsin Bassoon Recital (黃慧馨低音管獨奏會). Huang has a doctorate in bassoon performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of William Winstead. This year, Huang will play a program of romantic works by French, German and Brazilian composers. Accompanied by pianist Lin Sheng-ying (林聖縈), Huang will present Jean Jean Françaix's Divertissement, Saint-Saens' Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Op.168, Francisco Mignone's Valsas para Fagote Solo, Gabriel Pierne's Concert Piece, Op.35, and Gustav Schreck's Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Op.9.
At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
Tickets range from NT$200 to NT$400 and are available through NTCH ticket outlets
Tonight at 7:30pm
National Chinese Orchestra — The Silk Road Fantasy (NCO世界拼圖系列 — 絲綢之路). Under the baton of maestro Qu Chunquan (瞿春泉), the NCO will open with Chao Chi-ping's (趙季平) The Silk Road Fantasy played by the guan (管子) soloist Wu Shiao-Chung (吳曉鐘). Audiences can follow the music across central Asia, visiting the ancient city of Kashgar (喀什), through Chu's arrangement of The Market of Kashgar (喀什的市集), Ku Kuan-jen's (顧冠仁) Jingle of Bells hung around Camels' Necks (駝鈴響叮噹) and Liu Hsi-chin's (劉錫津) Silk Road and Camel Bells (絲路駝鈴). Finally, the concert program will reach Bagdad with the 3rd and 4th movements of Scheherazade arranged by Wang Fu-chien (王甫建).
At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
Tickets range from NT$300 to NT$800 and are available through NTCH ticket outlets
Tonight at 7:30pm
2007 Young Star Series — Lucy Chuang Clarinet Recital and Lin Chia-wei Guitar Recital (2007兩廳院樂壇新秀 — 莊蕙竹豎笛獨奏會與林家瑋吉他獨奏會). Chuang and Lin have been selected by NTCH as the young stars of the year. Chuang is currently the principal clarinettist of the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra. She will hold a concert tomorrow and present Stravinsky's Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet, Brahms' Sonata No.1 in F Minor, Op.120, Debussy's premiere Rhapsodie, and Bartok's Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano. Still at his late teenage stage, the 18 year-old guitarist Lin has already been on the list of international famed guitarists. He began his performing career at the age of six and has won in several international guitar competitions, which include the second prize of the 2003 International Guitar Competition in Thailand, the 2005 International Guitar Competition in Singapore, and others. On Sunday, Lin will perform Bach's Sonata No.1, BWV1001, Sor's Deuxieme Grande Sonata, Op.25, Ponce's Sonata No.3, Rodrigo's Sonata Giocosa, and Brouwer's Sonata.
At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
For Chuang's concert, NT$300 tickets are sold out, but seats are still available from NT$400 to NT$500. For Lin's concert, tickets range from NT$300 to NT$400. All tickets are available through NTCH ticketing
Tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm
National Symphony Orchestra Richard Strauss Cycle X — Death and Transfiguration (發現理查．史特勞斯系列十 — 英雄的昇華). In the last concert series, NSO will present Richard Strauss' Symphonic Fantasy from opera "Die Frau ohne Schatten", Schlagoberswalzer, Op.70, and Tod und Verklarung, Op.24, and Brahms' Violin Concerto, Op.77, with guest performer 27-year-old American Grammy Award–winning violinist Hilary Hahn, There will be a pre-concert talk by Peng Guang-lin (彭廣林) in the lobby of the National Concert Hall for the Taipei concert 30 minutes prior to the concert on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday at the National Concert Hall, Taipei, and June 5 at the Hsinchu Municipal Performance Hall (新竹市立演藝廳), 17 Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
For the Taipei concert, all tickets are sold out. For the Hsinchu concert, NT$1,500 tickets are sold out, but NT$300 to NT$1,200 tickets are still available through NTCH ticketing
Sunday at 2:30pm and Tuesday at 7:30pm
Upcoming
The Canadian Society in Taiwan (CST) is holding its annual "Canada D'eh" celebrations this year at Baishawan. The party includes live music, barbeque goodies, swimming, and fresh ocean air. There will be plenty of games such as tug-of-war, a kid's activity tent and raffle prizes. Free buses will depart from Hongshuling (紅樹林) MRT Station every seven minutes to bring partygoers to the beach.
Baishawan Beach
June 30, 1:30pm to 11pm
Pre-sale tickets are NT$400 and NT$500 at the venue and can be purchased through the CST
Complete details can be found at www.canadiansociety.org
The much-anticipated annual CSI Taipei — as in "Comedy Show In Taipei" — happens next Saturday at Post49 Club in Tianmu. The show features new material from expat comedy guru Dan "Gonzo" Machanik, as well as sets by Kurt Penney, Mark Goding and Matt (the Puppet Guy). For more information on this and future comedy shows, log on to groups.msn.com/TaiwanComedy. For information on Dan Machanik, check out www.danielmachanik.com.
Entrance is free
Next Saturday starting at 10pm
31, Ln 35 Zhongshan N Rd Sec 6, Taipei (台北市中山北路六段35巷31號). Call (02) 2835-6491 or visit www.posthome1.com
Contemporary
Shengun (神棍), 88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽) and Emily play tonight at The Wall. Tomorrow Back Quarter (四分衛) performs for the entire evening. On Wednesday, Secondary Citizen (次等公民), Invisible Hand (逆指針) and 13 High take the stage. Then on Thursday, it's another Challenging the Fire (火焰大挑戰), a night of half-hour sets by up-and-coming bands.
Entrance tonight and tomorrow is NT$400. Wednesday is NT$300. Thursday is NT$150
Shows start at 8pm
B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or visit www.the-wall.com.tw
Tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), it's house regulars G.J.O. Big Band a "groovin' jazz orchestra" who play everything from swing and standards to Latin, funk and rock. Tomorrow it's Biung (王宏恩), an Aboriginal singer who won a Golden Melody award for best non-Mandarin male singer. Sunday features performances by two female singer-songwriters: Denise Juan (阮丹青) and Mayonnaise (美乃滋). Monday is open-jam night, when anyone with an instrument can play a few songs on stage. On Tuesday, it's Shengna (聲納) and Unsafe. On Wednesday, it's New Yorker (紐約客) and Elisa (一粒沙). And on Thursday, it's solo performances by Huang Chian-wei (黃建為) and Suming, a member of Totem (圖騰) and Echo GS (艾可菊斯), who can, and often will, use lots of different instruments during a solo show.
Shows start at 9:30pm
Entrance tonight is NT$400. Tomorrow, Sunday and Thursday is NT$350. Tuesday and Wednesday is NT$300. On Monday there is a one-drink minimum
B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
Underworld (地下社會) presents indie bands Candy Wine (糖果酒) and Underflow (暗流) tonight. Tin Pan Alley (錫盤街) and Dolly's Pillbox (朵莉的藥盒) perform tomorrow. Wednesday features Rock Jam 45 (石頭果醬) and Hysteria (歇斯底里).
The bar opens at 8pm and bands take the stage at 9pm
Entrance is NT$300
B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.underworld-taipei.blogspot.com for more information
As of press time, the Living Room (小客廳) and Velvet Underground (地下絲絨) had not yet posted their schedules for the coming week. Check the Web sites, www.livingroomtaipei.com and www.velvet-underground.com.tw for times and listings. The Living Room, (02) 8787-4154, is located at 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路5段8號3樓). Velvet Underground, (02) 2314-1868, is at B1, 50 Zhongxiao W Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市忠孝西路一段50號B1)
In Taichung, Grooveyard is hosting a farewell party tonight for guitarist Mel Backstrom, aka Mel Jones, with "lots of different players" and "an eclectic mix of Mel's favorites." Tomorrow, it's The DoLittles, billed as "one of Taiwan's most exciting new bands, tight, exciting and very original." Meanwhile, Groovecity features The Filipino Connection, who play jazz, pop and rock, tonight and tomorrow.
The music runs from 9:30pm to 11:30pm at Grooveyard. At Groovecity, the music runs from 6:30pm to 9pm
Grooveyard cover is NT$200. Groovecity entrance is NT$300
Groovecity is inside Tiger City (台中老虎城旁停車場) at 120 Henan Rd Sec 3, Taichung (台中市河南路三段120號老虎城). Grooveyard is located at 2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung (台中市華美西街105號二樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information
Exhibitions
Exhibition in Memory of the Yutingning Studio — Former Director Chin Hsiao-yi's Donations and His Calligraphy (玉丁寧館紀念展 — 秦前院長捐贈文物及其書法). Hailed as "the literary great," Chin was the museum's director from 1983 to 2000 and left an indelible mark on the development of the museum, including a personal donation of 296 works of art from his Yutingning Studio and 42 sets of rare books from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In memory of the late director who passed away in January, the museum has arranged a special exhibition on Chin's donation and his calligraphy works.
National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院), 221 Zhishan Rd Sec 2, Taipei
(台北市至善路二段221號). Open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 3pm. Call (02) 2881-2021
Until July 14
The First Photo Gallery of Taiwan — A Legend of Rose Marie (美而廉藝廊－攝影家風華再現). Digital images have become the most powerful medium for contemporary artists, even as traditional photography has faded into the background. By revisiting the birth and decline of Taiwan's first photography studio, the Rosemary Photo Gallery (1953 to 1973), the exhibition lets viewers review the milestones of Taiwan's photography through a showcase of works by pioneering masters such as Lang Ching-shan (郎靜山), Cheng Nan-kuang (鄭南光), Wu Shao-tung (吳紹同) and Chang Chao-tang (張照堂).
Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館) at 181 Changshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段181號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Call (02) 2595-7656
Until Sunday
Discontinuity (一連串不連續事件). Featuring multimedia works by eight local artists, the exhibition aims to make a close connection between art's sociopolitical context and the viewer through diverse issues ranging from the international division of labor, the global chain of production to environmentalism and exploitation of the third world.
Saltpeanuts, 23, Ln 60, Taishun St, Taipei (台北市泰順街60巷23號). Open Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 1am. Call (02) 2368-1019
Until June 17
Field Study, Items and Paintings — Special Exhibition of Chen Chi-lu's Aboriginal Illustrations (田野＋器物＋繪圖－陳奇祿先生原住民圖誌特展). A respected academic, anthropologist and cultural official, Chen dedicated himself to the study of Taiwan's Aborigines and led extensive field research on Aboriginal tribes and cultures from the 1940s to the 1950s. To celebrate Chen's contribution, the exhibition showcases a series of his illustrations both as records of anthropological studies and as art works in their own right.
National Taiwan Museum (國立台灣博物館), 2 Xiangyang Rd, Taipei (台北市襄陽路2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2382-2699
Until Oct. 14
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Mongolian influencer Anudari Daarya looks effortlessly glamorous and carefree in her social media posts — but the classically trained pianist’s road to acceptance as a transgender artist has been anything but easy. She is one of a growing number of Mongolian LGBTQ youth challenging stereotypes and fighting for acceptance through media representation in the socially conservative country. LGBTQ Mongolians often hide their identities from their employers and colleagues for fear of discrimination, with a survey by the non-profit LGBT Centre Mongolia showing that only 20 percent of people felt comfortable coming out at work. Daarya, 25, said she has faced discrimination since she
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