Theater
Translated by poet Yu Kuang-chung (余光中), a local rendition of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde will take to the stage for five performances. The production is helmed by renowned theater director Yang Shih-peng (楊世彭) and features a star-studded cast including Lu Yan (盧燕), Yang Chin-hua (楊謹華), Yang Chian-pei (楊千霈) and Lin Ching-tai (林慶台)
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Kumud Dance Company’s (谷慕特舞蹈劇場) modern dance piece Shih Chieh-yung — the Land of Dreams I (史擷詠夢土一), pays tribute to Gerald Shih (史擷詠), an eminent composer for film, dance and theater who died in August last year at the age of 53. The production is inspired by and uses music from Shih’s 2007 album Dreamland — Indigenous Hearts (夢土部落之心).
■ New Taipei City Arts Center (新北市藝文中心演藝廳), 62 Jhuangjing Rd, Banciao Dist, New Taipei City (新北市板橋區莊敬路62號)
■ Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Organized by Taichung Improv, the Quickies — Instant Play Festival — Taichung 2012, now in its third year, challenges aspiring writers, directors and actors by giving them random ideas to create a theatrical show from scratch within 24 hours. The curtain goes up at 8pm on June 16. Those interested in signing up can visit www.taichungimprov.net/quickies.asp, or send an e-mail to taichungimprov@gmail.com.
■ Open Theater, B1, 107, Taichung Harbor Rd Sec 3, Greater Taichung (台中市西屯區台中港路三段107號B1)
■ June 16 at 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 at the door and NT$300 in advance, available from various venues in Taichung, including Salut Pizza, tel: (04) 2310-3541 and Best Language School, tel: (04) 2265-1403
As part of the ongoing Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival (高雄春天藝術節), River of Love, Dream of Romance (愛河戀夢) by the Ming Hwa Yuan Sky Troupe (明華園天字戲劇團), one of the eight companies that form the Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group (明華園戲劇總團), tells of a romance between a courtesan and wealthy gentleman.
■ Da-Dong Cultural Center (大東文化藝術中心), 161 Guangyuan Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市光遠路161號), next to KMRT Dadong Station (高雄捷運大東站)
■ Saturday and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Chen Wu-kang (陳武康) and Su Wei-chia (蘇威嘉) from all-male dance collective Horse (驫舞劇場) teamed up with Hong Kong theater director Edward Lam (林奕華) to stage Relationship Between Two Men (兩男關係), a dance duet that explores emotions, friendship and sexuality.
■ Wei Wu Ying Center for the Arts (衛武營藝術文化中心), 449-1 Nanjing Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市南京路449-1號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Matthias Hoffs and the Wings of the Angles Symphony Band (夢幻之聲—馬諦斯.霍夫與天使之翼交響管樂團音樂會) presents the award-winning trumpet player Matthias Hoffs performing a program that includes Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No. 1, Alexander Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto in A Minor, Joseph Hellmesberger’s Dance Diabolique and other pieces.
■ Saturday at 7:30pm (Taichung) and Monday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Taichung Tun District Art Center (台中市立屯區藝文中心), 201 Dasing Rd, Taiping Dist, Greater Taichung (台中市太平區大興路201號) and National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 and NT$1,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
French Impressions (法國詩情) presents soprano Anee Rodier and tenor Wang Diang (王典) performing with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) conducted by guest conductor Yannick Paget. The program includes Paget’s Tears of Sakura, Debussy’s Prelude to “L’Apres-midi d’un faune,” and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2.
■ Tomorrow 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
Fusao Kajima and NTSO (間的音樂盛宴) sees the outstanding young German-born Korean violinist Clara Jumi Kang performing together with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立臺灣交響樂團) under guest conductor Fusao Kajima. The program includes the Taiwan premiere of Arvo Part’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op 64, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93.
■ Wednesday 7:30pm
■ National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Music Hall (國立台灣交響樂團演奏廳), 738-2 Chungcheng Rd, Wufeng Township, Taichung County (台中縣霧峰鄉中正路738之2號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800, 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), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. As part of its concert series focusing on female singers, Legacy Taipei will host a solo performance by Maggie Chiang (江美琪) tomorrow. Singer-songwriter Lala Hsu (徐佳瑩) performs on Saturday.
■ 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 tomorrow and Saturday
■ Tickets are NT$1,100 tomorrow and NT$700 Saturday. Tickets available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw and at ibon electronics kiosks at 7-Eleven stores
Finnish electronica band Husky Rescue plays at The Wall (這牆) tonight with Lily et Coco. Tokyo instrumental jazz trio Mouse on the Keys performs tomorrow with punk rockers Human Beings (人). Taiwan indie rock stars 1976 is on the bill for Saturday. Sunday’s show is called Metal Diva and features Ultraviolet (紫外線), Frost Tears (冰霜之淚), Crescent Lament (恆月三途) and Renascimento (文藝復興)
■ 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 8pm
■ Entrance fee is NT$1,200 tonight and tomorrow, NT$500 on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Indie rock duo Dandelion (蒲公英 ) and FiFi perform tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Singer-songwriter Allen appears tomorrow night, while twin indie pop singers Yi-cheng, Yi-ching (依錚依靜) are on Saturday’s bill with folk singer and guitarist Cheshire Cat (柴郡貓).
■ 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
■ Entrance fee for music shows is NT$300
Singer-songwriter Annie Hung (洪安妮) performs tonight at Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言). Jazz guitarist Eiji Kadota appears tomorrow with Tiny Step tomorrow. Saturday’s lineup is indie singer and actress Enno Cheng (鄭宜農), who will perform with Frande. Rockers Micro (莫可) and Stereo (畢業季) perform on Sunday.
■ 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 tonight, 9:30pm tomorrow night, 9pm Saturday and Sunday. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance fee is NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow night and Saturday, and NT$350 Sunday
Riverside Live House in Ximending hosts rock bands Dream Walker (夢行者) and Ground Zero (放射空間) tonight. Japanese indie rockers Canta perform tomorrow. Amis Aboriginal singer and television host Ado Kaliting Pacidal will appear on Saturday.
■ 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 8:30pm tonight, 7:30pm tomorrow night and 8:30pm Saturday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow night and NT$400 Saturday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse and tickets.books.com.tw
Electronic rockers Flux and Black Wolf (黑狼繞遠路那卡西) performs at Underworld (地下社會) tomorrow night. Indie rock group Posh Inverse (優雅 逆轉) is on Saturday’s lineup along with Selfkill.
■ 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. Sunday’s recording session runs from 3pm to 9pm. 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
James Kerridge and Friends performs tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge and jazz venue. Ash and Friends are on tomorrow’s bill and Blues Vibrations takes the stage on Saturday.
■ 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 10pm tonight, 10:30pm tomorrow night and 11pm Saturday night
■ Entrance is NT$200
Tonight’s Band Night at Revolver features No Order, Howyoufu and Northern Comfort. DJs Z (also known as Salamander (沙羅曼蛇), Mad Brain, Kolette and James Ho will spin tomorrow during Night Zoo (重低音逆襲). Saturday night’s Cliche Party features DJs JF Amadei, Disk’0’kidz and Visa.
■ 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 9:30pm tonight, 10pm tomorrow night and Saturday night
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight, NT$250 tomorrow night and NT$300 Saturday. All fees include one drink
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which 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 Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs on Wednesdays.
■ 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
Guitar duo Blurrs Bros performs American songbook tunes tonight at Italian restaurant Capone’s. On Fridays, Taipei Swing holds dance socials 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
■ 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 Mercury (水星酒館) an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live music every Saturday. Riot-punk-grrl band B.B.Bomb (BB彈) performs this week with U.TA (屋塔)
■ 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: visit mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$250, which 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). Rocker A-chau (阿超) performs tomorrow. Mouse on the Keys appears on Saturday.
■ 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 tomorrow and Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$400 tomorrow and NT$1,000 Saturday
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