Theater
Tomorrow and Sunday, expat drama group Taipei Players presents An
Evening of ForePlays at the Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場). On the Net: www.taipeiplayers.com
■ 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400 in advance, NT$500 at the door. Advance tickets available at Toasteria branches at 2, Ln 248, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段248巷2號) and 1, Ln 72, Yunhe St, Taipei City (台北市雲和街72巷1號)
The Sorceress Bride (花嫁巫娘) is Taiwan Bangzi Company’s (台灣豫劇團) latest production of bangzi opera (梆子), otherwise known as Henan or Yu opera (豫劇). The performance tells of the forbidden love between a tribal necromancer and a foreigner. The top-notch cast is led by Taiwanese bangzi opera diva Wang Hai-ling (王海玲) and Tsao Fu-yung (曹復永).
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
EX-Theatre Asia’s (EX-亞洲劇團) Numit Kappa is a theatrical adaptation of the ancient Indian poem of the same title, which is regarded as an important early piece of Manipuri-language literature. The production recounts the story of two royal brothers and their tyrannical ways.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Part of the 15th Crown Arts Festival (皇冠藝術節), Stay (癮) is a collaboration between Dance Forum Taipei (舞蹈空間) and Jenni Hong Dance, an American contemporary dance troupe founded in 2004 by Taiwan-born and New York City-based choreographer and performer Jenni Hong (洪于倫).
■ Crown Theater (皇冠小劇場), 50, Ln 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北市敦化北路120巷50號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$450, available NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s (雲門舞集) Water Stains on the Wall (屋漏痕) is the newest creation by Lin Hwai-min (林懷民). The production was inspired by Chinese landscape painting and the Tamsui River, which the artist can see from his home in Bali (八里) Township, Taipei County.
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 and NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Legend of the Theatrical Troupe (梨園傳奇), Contemporary Legend Theater’s (當代傳奇劇場) acclaimed production that comprises highlights from classic Beijing operas such as Si Lang Seeks His Mother (四郎探母) and Farewell My Concubine (霸王別姬) and stars Wu Hsing-kuo (吳興國) and Wei Hai-min (魏海敏), has a three-show run in Kaohsiung this weekend.
■ Kaohsiung Chih-teh Hall (高雄至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Taichung Improv presents two shows on Dec. 11, the first an afternoon of entertainment for children aged five to 12, the second a Whose Line Is It Anyway?-style night of comedy. On the Net: www.taichungimprov.com.
■ Dec. 11 from 2pm to 3pm (children’s performance) and 8pm to 10pm
■ Stock 20 Theater (二十號倉庫實驗劇場), 6-1, Ln 37, Fuxing Rd Sec 4, Taichung City (台中市復興路四段37巷6-1號) and Retro Coffee House, 116, Wucyuan W Rd Sec 1, Taichung City (台中市五權西路一段116號)
■ Admission for the children’s show is free, NT$350 for the evening show. To purchase tickets in advance call Scott on 0917-622-437
Classical music
Part of the International Chopin Festival 2010 (20X10蕭邦CHOPIN國際音樂節), Gwhyneth Chen (陳毓襄) will perform a selection of Chopin nocturnes and other works.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,800, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or through ibon, FamiPort and Life-ET kiosks nationwide
Boris Guslitser Recital (波里斯‧古斯力瑟鋼琴獨奏會) presents Israeli-born concert pianist Boris Guslitser with a program that includes Beethoven’s Sonata Op 57, No. 23 “Appassionata”, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 and Mephisto Waltz, Chopin’s Nocturne No. 13 in C Minor, Ballade No. 1, Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise, and Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 3 in A Minor.
■ Tuesday at 7:30pm
■ Chunghsing Concert Hall, Taichung (台中中興堂), 291-3 Chingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路291之3號)
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,200, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or through ibon, FamiPort and Life-ET kiosks nationwide
2010 Taiwan Connection Music Festival — A Night of Concertos (2010 Taiwan Connection 音樂節 — 協奏曲之夜) presents two outstanding violin soloists, Hu Nai-yuan (胡乃元) and Jimmy Hsueh (薛志璋), together with viola virtuoso Scott Lee (李捷琦) performing a program that includes JS Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043, Paul Hindemith’s Trauermusik for Viola and String Orchestra, Shostakovich’s Symphony for Strings arranged by Lucas Drew, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op.55 “Eroica”.
■ Thursday 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$250 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914). Tomorrow and Sunday, the venue hosts the Urban Simple Life Festival (簡單生活節), which features international guests Lisa Ono, John Cale of the Velvet Underground, and Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum. Also appearing on the bill are pop stars Chang Hui-mei (張惠妹, better known as A-mei), Cheer Chen (陳綺貞) and Tanya Chua (蔡健雅). [See story on Page 14.]
■ 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)
■ Tonight and tomorrow, from 11am to 10pm
■ NT$1,200 for a single-day pass at the door (NT$900 for single-day pass or NT$1,600 for two-day pass when purchased in advance). Tickets can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
No shows are scheduled tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists. Tomorrow J-pop duo Libraian takes to the stage. On Thursday, it’s post-rock group Penguin Bear Likes to Eat Chicken Balls (企鵝熊愛吃雞肉球) and up-and-coming indie group Uncolored Unknown (樸素未知) and a band called Easy.
■ 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 begin at 7:30pm tomorrow, 8pm Thursday. Performances usually start on time
■ Entrance is NT$1,500 tomorrow and NT$400 on Wednesday (NT$300 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Solo acoustic rocker Erin Xia (夏寧杉) performs tonight at Witch House (女巫店), which regularly hosts performances from both indie rock bands and folk artists in a coffeehouse setting. Also playing tonight is folk rock group Live 4 (賴福樹樂團). Tomorrow garage rockers The White Eyes perform in support of their latest release, Kiss Your Eyes. They share the bill with one-man electro-rock band Sonic Deadhorse.
■ 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
Gypsy jazz group Dark Eyes performs tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s Mando-pop singer Queenie (方宥心) and on Sunday TV show host and pop singer Ado (阿洛) takes to the stage. On Monday, the venue hosts its weekly open jam.
■ 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 at 9:30pm tonight and 9pm all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$150 on Monday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Nu-metal rockers Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子) appear tonight at Riverside Live House. Tomorrow it’s pop-rap group Cool Silly (傻酷樂團) and on Thursday the venue hosts an awards ceremony for a Hakka music video competition.
■ 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
■ 8:30pm tonight and tomorrow, 7pm Wednesday
■ Entrance is NT$500 tonight and tomorrow, free on Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
As of press time, no shows are scheduled tonight at Sappho de Base, a late night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow The Earl Hines II Jazztet performs cool jazz and on Wednesday Coromandel Express, armed with sitars and tablas, among other instruments, performs a “musical masala” of jazz.
■ 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
■ Entrance is NT$150 tomorrow and Wednesday
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) and male crooner Shin Lung (辛隆), who performs every Saturday. Legendary pub performer and pop singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥) performs on Mondays.
■ 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
Soul jazz singer Djavan performs on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s. Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號)
■ 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
Taipei Swing has moved its dance socials on Friday nights to The Tavern. Dancers of all levels are welcome, and a short beginner’s lesson is offered.
■ 415, Xinyi Rd, Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段415號), tel: (02) 8789-0892. On the Net: www.tavern.com.tw
■ 9:30pm to midnight
■ Entrance is free
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight upbeat punks Punkhoo (胖虎樂團) take to the stage. Tomorrow it’s the turn of post-rock group Bugs of Phonon (聲子蟲) and Sky Post (天空郵局).
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (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 tonight and 7pm tomorrow
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow
The Checkered Record Club, an indie music club in Tainan, hosts Outlet Drift (漂流出口) and Star 69 tomorrow night.
■ B1, 314, Simen Rd Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市西門路二段314號B1), tel: (06) 222-3238
■ Shows starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$170
Tomorrow night, three expat rock and blues musicians perform at the Dream Community’s indoor theater: Bradley Tindall of the Rising Hedons, one-man delta blues band Jack Conqueroo and BoPoMoFo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ) front man DC Rapier.
■ 95 Minzu 2nd St, Sijhih City, Taipei County (台北縣汐止市民族二街95號) On the Net: www.dreamcommunity.org.tw
■ Shows starts at 7pm
■ Entrance is NT$300
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