Theater and dance
Ham’s Brave New Ward (他媽的，哈姆的，悲劇) is a black comedy by Corny Chicken E.W. Cross Culture Theater (玉米雞劇團) in which a group of psychiatrists stage a production of Hamlet in the hope of curing a delusional patient. Composed of locals and expats living in Hsinchu, the theatrical company aims to update Shakespeare’s canon using Taiwanese opera, among other performance genres [see story on page 14].
■ Red House Theater (紅樓劇場), 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei City (台北市成都路10號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw.
For The Impossible Times (渭水春風), the newest installment of All Musical Theatre Company’s (音樂時代劇場) Taiwan Musical Trilogy, the group collaborated with Flux Waves Dance Theater (流浪舞蹈劇場) and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) to tell the life story of Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水), an important figure in the resistance movement against Japanese colonial rule.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Dragon Chasers (尋龍之音) by Sun Son Theatre (身聲劇場) tells the story of three young warriors who follow a dragon into a world of myth and magic. Like the company’s previous productions, The Dragon Chasers is a fusion of modern theater, dance, chant and world music.
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ 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
The Underworld Code (王國密碼), the latest production by Ping-Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班), begins with an unsolved murder 46 years ago that leads to a political scandal that rocks today’s government.
■ Tainan Municipal Cultural Center (台南市立文化中心), 332, Jhonghua E Rd Sec 3, Greater Tainan (台南市中華東路三段332號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,000, NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
WCdance’s (林文中舞團) latest work, Small Nanguan (小南管), was inspired by the graceful and delicate melodies and slow pace of nanguan (南管) music. The style of the traditional music fit perfectly with the theme of choreographer Lin Wen-chung’s (林文中) Small series, which explores and exploits movement and emotions in confined spaces. Lin said he was also motivated to explore the juxtaposition of traditional values in contemporary life. Small Nanguan opens in Taipei this weekend before beginning a three-city tour next month.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2:30pm. All four shows are sold out
■ Additional performances: June 2 at 7:30pm at National Taichung Library Chungsing Concert Hall (台中市中興堂), 291-3 Jingwu Rd, Greater Taichung (台中市精武路291之3號); June 7 at 7:30pm at the Preparatory Center of the Wei Wu Ying Center for the Arts (衛武營藝術文化中心展演場), 449-1 Nanjing Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市南京路449-1號); and June 8 at 7:30pm at the Pingtung County Art Center (屏東縣藝術館), 427 Heping Rd, Pingtung City (屏東市和平路427號). Tickets are NT$300 for Greater Taichung and Greater Kaohsiung shows and NT$150 for the Pingtung show, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
As part of the 16th Crown Art Festival (第16屆皇冠藝術節), 22.5 Minutes — Subconscious Indulgence is a collaboration between Frontier Danceland from Singapore and Taiwanese choreographer Hsieh Chieh-hua (謝杰樺). The mesmerizing modern dance piece seeks to connect body and mind through the exploration of dreams [see story above].
■ Crown Theater (皇冠藝術中心小劇場), 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 through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw.
Classical music
NTCH Young Star Series (2011兩廳院樂壇新秀系列) brings together aspiring talents Li Ming-yi (李明怡) on oboe and Lu Ching-hsuan (呂景璇) on piano for a program that includes Poulenc’s Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Gabriel Grovlez’s Sarabande and Allegro for Oboe and Piano, Antal Dorati’s Duo Concertante for Oboe and Piano, Bernhard Molique’s Concertino for Oboe and Orchestra, Makoto Shinohara’s Obsession for Oboe and Piano and Hindemith’s Sonata for English Horn and Piano.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc (法國聖馬克兒童合唱團) sees the well-known children’s choir, which gained a huge fan base here following the release of the Christophe Barratier film Les Choristes, return to Taiwan. The French answer to the Vienna Boys Choir (though this choir has both boys and girls), Les Petits Chanteurs will perform a program that includes many sacred music favorites, as well as selections from the film and a medley of Beatles hits. The choir will tour Taiwan, starting out in Hsinchu (Thursday), with subsequent engagements in Changhua (May 28), Tainan (May 29), and Kaohsiung (May 31), and finishing up in Taipei (June 1).
■ Thursday at 7:30pm
■ Performance Hall of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs Hsinchu City (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17, Dongda Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500 for all venues except Taipei (NT$400 to NT$2,000), available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
The Flintstones play classic rock covers tomorrow at The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan.
■ Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心), 112, Nankan Rd Sec 1, Lujhu Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣蘆竹鄉南崁路一段112號), tel: (03) 212-2150. On the Net: www.3baboons.com
■ Starts at 8:30pm
■ Entrance is free
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight the venue presents Hong Kong rocker Paul Wong and tomorrow Taiwan’s top rapper MC Hot Dog takes to the stage. Wednesday’s show featuring Mando-pop singer Kang Kang (康康) is already sold out.
■ 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)
■ All shows start at 8pm, except Wednesday concerts, which start at 8:30pm
■ NT$1,800 tonight, NT$1,000 (NT$800 in advance) tomorrow, sold out on Wednesday. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw, or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts a party by Useless Brotherhood with a live dub band and DJs. Tomorrow the venue hosts an evening of live Latin music from Taipei Latin Soul and DJ Raby.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Show starts at 10:30pm
■ Entrance tonight is NT$350, includes one drink
The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts a weekend of heavy metal. Tonight it’s Los Child, Vorchaos, MOZ8 and Beyond Cure (病入膏肓), while Anthelion (幻日), Forgiveness (恕) and Losing Art (漂浮者) take to the stage tomorrow. On Thursday electro-rockers Sunset Rollercoaster (落日飛車) perform along with solo act Easy and Pumpkinney Fan Club (南瓜妮歌迷俱樂部).
■ 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 tonight, tomorrow and Thursday
■ NT$700 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow (NT$500 in advance) and NT$400 (NT$350) Thursday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Indie rockers Rowen (再生草) and solo act Cheshire Cat (柴郡貓) take to the stage tonight at Witch House (女巫店), which regularly hosts shows from both indie bands and folk artists in a coffeehouse setting. Folk-rock singer Hanni (涵妮) and friends perform tomorrow. No show is scheduled for Thursday as of press time.
■ 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
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts Japanese blues guitarist Shun Kikuta, who is based in Chicago and was a long-serving member of Koko Taylor’s band. Mando-pop singer Jiwasi Dulan (吳亦帆) takes to the stage tomorrow, and on Sunday it’s Japanese fingerstyle guitarist Masa Sumade. Monday is the venue’s 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 tonight at 9:30pm, 8:30pm on Sunday and 9pm on all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$450 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Riverside Live House hosts beloved Aboriginal reggae-rocker Matzka tonight. One Million Star (超級星光大道) finalist Pets Tseng (曾沛慈) takes to the stage tomorrow night. On Sunday, it’s MTV friendly rock group DCW (東城衛). Happy-go-lucky indie band Relax One (輕鬆玩) plays on Thursday.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 8pm tonight, 8:30pm tomorrow and Thursday
■ Entrance is NT$800 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow and Thursday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
High energy garage rockers 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽) are the warm-up act for two Japanese acts, girl punks Fadeaways and mod-rocking punks The Let’s Gos, tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. Tomorrow it’s metal bands Masquerader and Goat Knight and on Wednesday, the venue hosts taike (台客) rockers Children Sucker (表兒) and We Are So Sad (傷心欲絕)
■ 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 for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
The Yellow Lighter Dogma (和拉伯) performs fusion and avant-garde jazz tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow it’s DJ Leo37 and friends. The venue is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, and opens on Thursday to host the Jason Hayashi Trio.
■ 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 tonight and tomorrow, free on other nights
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) on Tuesday, and male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday. Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs on Thursdays.
■ 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 Taipei blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels welcome. 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), 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
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts live music every Saturday night. This week features girl punks B.B. Bomb and indie rockers Bowz Tiger (包子虎).
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377, X207
■ Tomorrow at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$300, 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). Tonight English indie rock group Transition takes to the stage. Mando-pop singer-songwriter Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) performs on Sunday.
■ 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$400 tomorrow and Sunday
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts Neurosiser tomorrow night.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$150, which includes one drink
Taipei Discussion and Learning meets every Sunday at Cafe Bastille to hear lectures and discuss topics such as philosophy, science, anthropology, globalization and alternative medicine. All discussions and lectures are conducted in English. This Sunday’s topic is titled Chinese Superstition as a Process of Thought.
■ Cafe Bastille, 7 Wenzhou St, Taipei City (台北市溫州街7號), tel (02) 2362-9981
■ 7:45pm, every Sunday
■ Entrance is free. For more information visit www.taipeidiscussionandlearning.blogspot.com
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