Theater
Adapted from Nikolai Gogol’s short story of the same title, Overcoat (外套) is directed by Russian theater director and professor of drama Oleg Liptsin and produced by International Theater Ensemble. Founded and developed by Liptsin, the ensemble is an international network of artists and theaters from different parts of the world including Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, India, Taiwan, Poland, France, Canada and the US.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Directed by American theater veteran John Maloney, The Island of the Dream (夢之島) by the Party Theater Group (同黨劇團) takes audiences on a fantastic voyage to a bizarre world that exists between the realm of dreams and reality.
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Taipei Capital Ballet’s (台北首都芭蕾舞團) 2011 Scenery in Four Colors (四色風景2011) is composed of four contemporary ballet pieces by four choreographers from different training backgrounds. This performance follows the troupe’s Ballet Kaleidoscope (芭蕾萬花筒) another quartet presented in April that drew inspiration from jazz, tango, modern dance and classical ballet.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Formosa Aboriginal Song and Dance Troupe (原舞者) presents Dreaming of Azalea Mountain (迴夢杜鵑山), a theatrical tribute to Uyongu Yatauyungana (高一生, 1908-1954), a tribal teacher, leader and musician of a Tsou tribe (鄒族) clan in Alishan (阿里山) who was killed during the White Terror.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), East Two Hall (東二館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tomorrow and Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 and NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Ping Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班) is restaging its classic Apocalypse of Beijing Opera (京戲啟示錄), which combines writer/director Hugh Lee’s (李國修) childhood experiences at the Chunghwa Market (中華商場), which was torn down in the 1980s, his relationship with his father, and the day-to-day reality of running a theater group.
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Greater Taichung (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tomorrow and Thursday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Verbitsky & Dang Thai Son Manfred & Manfred (左手上帝‧右手情人‧曼孚列的異想世界) sees the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) and concert pianist Dang Thai Son performing under the baton of guest conductor Vladimir Verbitsky. The program includes Schumann’s Manfred Overture and Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54, as well as Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony, Op. 58.
■ Wednesday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Let the World See Taiwan and Hear TNUA (讓世界看見台灣，聽見北藝大︰管絃樂篇), a performance that is part of the Kuandu Arts Festival (關渡藝術節), has the orchestra of the Taipei National University of the Arts’ (國立臺北藝術大學管絃樂團) music department performing with concert pianist Li Fang-yi (李芳宜) under the direction of visiting conductor Francois Boulanger, who is the regular conductor of the Orchestre de la Garde Republicaine. The program includes Chien Nan-chang’s Dragon Dance, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23 and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E Minor “From the New World”. The Kuandu Arts Festival runs from Wednesday through Oct. 30. Information about other events associated with the festival can be found at kdarts.tnua.edu.tw/festival/home.html.
■ Thursday at 7:30pm
■ Taipei National University of the Arts Theater (國立臺北藝術大學展演藝術中心戲劇廳), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市學園路1號)
■ Tickets are NT$300, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
The Taipei Metro Exit Music Festival continues tomorrow with a free show at Shilin MRT Station (士林捷運站). Performers include the Jiguang Percussion Group (極光打擊樂團), female Mando-pop singer Tang Ching (唐青) and Jimmy Wang (王俊傑), a folk and ballad singer from Tamsui.
■ Taipei Metro Exit Music Festival, Shilin MRT Station (士林捷運站)
■ 3pm to 5pm
■ Admission 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. Australian indie pop singer-songwriter and actress Lenka takes to the stage tonight. On Wednesday, it’s Astro Bunny (原子邦妮) and Mando-pop singer Liao Wen-chiang (廖文強), and on Thursday, the venue hosts The Next Big Thing, a showcase of up-and-coming bands that includes Passionate Winkers (激情睫毛), Coconuts (椰子) and Green!Eyes.
■ 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
■ NT$2,000 and NT$2,400 tonight (prices depend on seating area), NT$500 on Wednesday (NT$400 in advance), and NT$200 on Thursday. 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 is an evening of heavy metal at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists. Performers include Japanese groups SoundWitch and 6 Ft. Down and local metal heroes Hekate (席卡堤). Electro-rockers Sunset Rollercoaster (落日飛車) and OCD Girl (強迫女孩) take to the stage tomorrow. On Sunday, Hakka hip-hop troupe Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤) shares the bill with Staycool and punk band Inhuman Species (非人物種). On Wednesday, it’s experimental solo performer Wang Yu-jun (王榆鈞) and violin and accordion duo 10-9-2 (十九兩樂團).
■ 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 and NT$300 Wednesday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts Mandarin-crooning expat rockers Transition (前進樂團). Tomorrow, ambient electronica artist Empty Space on a Chessboard (棋盤上的空格) opens for indie rock singer-songwriter insecteens, aka Sugar Plum Ferry (甜梅號) guitarist Hsiao Bai (小白).
■ 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
Popular indie rockers Touming Magazine (透明雜誌) take to the stage tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. In Disorder (無秩序) opens the show. Tomorrow’s and Wednesday’s shows were not announced as of press time.
■ 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
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts drummer Chang Wen-kuang (張文光), who performs jazz fusion and rock with his quartet. Also on the bill is up-and-coming pop singer Arroy Shen (申東靖). Ben Pai (白吉勝) sings Mando-pop tomorrow night, and on Sunday it’s Good Husband (好好先生) and Malaysian folk pop singer Yu Heng (宇珩). 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, 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$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Guitar Utopia (吉他烏托邦), an ensemble of acoustic guitar players, takes to the stage tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow the venue hosts emo-influenced indie rockers Silverbus (銀巴士) and electronica group Frande. On Thursday, it’s indie rock duo JS.
■ 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, tomorrow and Thursday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
So La Lay performs Latin jazz tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow Swiss-born, New York-trained pianist Claude Diallo leads his trio on a return visit to Taipei. On Tuesday, it’s a jazz outfit called One Night in Taipei (鍾氏兄弟福音爵士樂團). On Thursday, Chia’s Jazz Trio takes to the stage.
■ 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, NT$500 tomorrow, free other nights
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts an event called AMP, or art, music, photography and poetry. Tomorrow is the Soul, Sweat and Swank show with live music from the Funky Brothers (放客兄弟).
■ 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 usually start after 10pm. Contact venue for exact times
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow, 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. 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
Italian restaurant Capone’s, hosts Taipei Swing, which holds its weekly social on Fridays. All are welcome to join and a beginner’s lesson is offered. Music is provided by electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Tomorrow, 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 and bassist Rick Taira.
■ 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
Tomorrow, The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan, hosts an evening of blues rock from expat musician Mike Mudd.
■ 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 8pm
■ 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 is a hip-hop party with Yella Boyz, L.B.C. and DJ Charlene, among a long list of performers. Tomorrow Japanese heavy metal bands SoundWitch and 6 Ft. Down take to the stage, with local group Hekate (席卡堤) as the opening act.
■ 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 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow (NT$300 in advance).
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts live music performances every Saturday. Taking to the stage tomorrow are
female punksters BB Bomb, My Skin Against Your Skin (featuring Andrea Huang (黃盈誼) and Yu Si-lu (尤世儒), both formerly of Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢)), and indie pop duo U.TA (屋塔).
■ 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, which includes one drink
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