Theater
The Taipei Philharmonic Foundation teams up with National Literary Award winner Tu He (杜黑) to bring you a musical comedy called The Fabulous World of Otaku (宅男的異想世界). The story follows the life of a computer nerd who hasn't left home, spends his life online and is deeply in love with a woman who he can never have. He eventually meets the object of his desire and though he doesn't find love, he does find something more important: the ability to turn off his computer and face the real world.
*Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館), 505, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路四段505號)
*Today, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
*Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,200 and are available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
I Don't Want to Be King (我不要當國王了) is a children's story about a young man who is afraid to become king after his father passes away. After listening to the reasoning of a trusted advisor, the young prince relents and agrees to be crowned. However, the prosperity that results from his being crowned is overshadowed by the mass slaughter of birds to protect the country's fruit trees.
*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)
*Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
*Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Love is ... Bathroom (愛情說 - 浴室) by New Idea Theater (新點子劇展) tells the story of a young woman who often fantasizes in the bathroom with warm water and soap. One day, however, she brings home a male stranger who in odd ways changes her perspective on life.
*National Experimental Theater, Taipei
*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.artsticket.com.tw
While birds are slaughtered in I Don't Want to Be King, Morning Star Theater's (晨星劇團) The Happy Prince (快樂王子) tells the short tale of a metal statue that befriends a bird. Based on the Oscar Wilde short story of the same name, the friendship between bird and statute brings happiness to others in life and death.
*Taichung Corridor Cafe Theater (文英館迴廊咖啡劇場), 10-5, Shuangshih Rd Sec 1, Taichung City (台中市雙十路一段10-5號)
*Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
*Tickets are NT$250 to NT$350 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Italian Puppet Show: Sandrone (桑得羅尼) by Taiyuan Puppet Theater (台原偶戲團). The performance follows the humorous buffoonery and exploits of the tall and wickedly intelligent Fagiolino and his short, daft friend Sandrone, the Laurel and Hardy of the puppet theater.
*Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei (台北市西寧北路79號)
*Tomorrow at 3pm
*Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Those interested in beiguan (北管) or nanguan (南管) music could do no worse than check out the performances this weekend that are part of the Guandu Arts Festival (關渡藝術節). Tomorrow features a double nanguan performance starting off with To-hoe Takes the Ferry (桃花搭渡), the story of a maid who has to deliver an important letter to her mistress' lover. The second tale features a businessman from Fukien Province who comes to Taiwan to visit his lover but leaves after receiving a letter urging his return to China. Seeing Kuan Fu Off (管甫送) is a nanguan tale of love and the sorrows of departure. On Sunday, the music heads north with two beiguan performances based on one part of Journey to the West (西遊記), called Uproar in Heaven (大鬧天宮), the section of the work where Sun Wu-kong (孫悟空), or the Monkey King, declares himself equal to heaven and must then defeat many heavenly soldiers so he can be granted a seat at the heavenly court.
*All performances at Taipei National University of the Arts (國立臺北藝術大學音樂廳) 1 Xueyuen Rd, Beitou District, Taipei (北市北投區學園路1號)
*Nanguan performances tomorrow at 2pm and 4pm; beiguan performances Sunday at 2pm and 4pm
*Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical
Tang Muhai and the TSO (湯沐海與北市交) will perform with Suh Ju-hee (徐周希) on piano as part of the TSO music season. Tang, who began his career in 1982 after being noticed by Herbert von Karajan, has since established himself as one of the world's best Chinese conductors. The program will include Academy Festival Overture, Op. 80 by Brahms, Piano Concert No. 2 in A Major by Liszt, and Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 by Sibelius.
*Tuesday at 7:30pm
*National Concert Hall, Taipei
*Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing
2007 Traditional Chinese Percussion Virtuosi's Concert (傳統擊樂名家大賞 - 2007金石之聲音樂會) will feature "the King of Drums" with An Chih-shun (安志順) leading an ensemble of percussion specialists from Hong Kong and China. They will showcase a wide range of styles of percussion music in the Chinese musical repertoire.
*Wednesday at 7:30pm
*National Concert Hall, Taipei
*Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
The Horn of the Hero - First Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Gerd Seifert (英雄的號角 - 柏林愛樂法國號首席傑德席佛與高雄市交響管樂團音樂會). Gerd Seifert will perform with the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra (高雄市交響管樂團) under Yu Yen-cheng (庾燕誠). The program will include Serenade in E Flat Major Op. 7 by Richard Strauss, Horn Concerto No. 3 in E Flat and Serenade No.10 in B Flat Major "Gran Partita" by Mozart.
*Tuesday at 7:30pm
*Chih-teh Hall, Kaohsiung Cultural Center (高雄市文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung (高雄市五福一路67號)
*Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000, and are available through ERA ticketing
Christophe Boulier Violin Recital (法國國家文化騎士 - 浦利葉小提琴獨奏會). The renowned French violinist will perform with Sayat Zaman on piano and the Academy of Taiwan Strings (台灣絃樂團). The program will include Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata for Violin and Piano and arrangements of works by Chausson and Khatchaturian.
*Wednesday 7:30pm
*Sinjhuang Cultural Arts Center (新莊文化藝術中心), 133 Jhongping Rd, Sinjhuang, Taipei County (台北縣新莊市中平路133號)
*Tickets are NT$250 and NT$400 and are available through ERA ticketing
A Tribute to Great Master - In Memoriam Peng Xiuwen (向大師致敬 - 彭修文逝世10週年紀念音樂會) is a memorial concert of Chinese traditional music to celebrate the life of one of its foremost proponents and conductors. The Taipei Chinese Orchestra (臺北市立國樂團) will be conducted by Shao En (邵恩).
*Monday 7:30pm
*Taipei Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei (台北市延平南路98號)
*Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
Taipei Chill Art Center on Civil Boulevard hosts the 8-Bit Electronic Hardcore Masquerade Garage-Punk Low-Fi Halloween Party tonight. Featured performers include Swedish band Covox, Gameboy-wielding Japanese electronica artist Aonami, Russian group KTL, Golden Horse nominated indie-electronica collective KbN (凱比鳥), Nathan, Go Chic and Sonic Deadhorse. The pre-Halloween party then travels to Taichung tomorrow (see the Grooveyard listing in today's newspaper).
*From 7pm to 11pm tonight
*Cover is NT$100
*131, Civil Blvd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市市民大道四段131號). Call (02) 2678-8617
The Xue Xue Institute (學學文創志業) is holding a series of contemporary concerts through next month. There are two programs this week: Show, Show Me the Wah-Wah Sound (清新浪潮,席捲而來), with Natural Q (自然捲), Wa Wa (娃娃), Xiu Xiu (秀秀) from Ladybug (瓢蟲) and LTK Commune (濁水溪公社) and KbN's (凱比鳥) Cheer; and Everywhere Echo (回聲樂團 光復之日), featuring rock band Echo (回聲樂團).
*Show, Show Me the Wah-Wah Sound runs from 7pm to 8pm tonight and 12:20pm to 1pm on Wednesday. Everywhere Echo runs from 12:20pm to 1pm on Thursday
*Tickets are NT$350 for Friday's performance and NT$250 for the Wednesday and Thursday performances
*207, Tiding Blvd Sec 2, Neihu Dist, Taipei (台北市內湖區堤頂大道二段207號). Log on at www.xuexue.tw/events/pm/opening.html for more information and links to the online ticket vendor
Japanese combo AJIMS Latin Jazz Violin Quartet performs tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) with guest vocalists Akiko Sagawa and Utako Yamauchi. Pop singer Shino (林曉培) plays tomorrow afternoon, followed at night by distortion box-driven power chord band Assassin (刺客), which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and alt-rock band Monkey Pilot (猴子飛行員). Country-rock band Slimo (啾吉惦惦) and Rock Jam 45 (石頭果醬45) perform Sunday. Monday is open-jam night. On Tuesday, it's indie-rockers Freckle (雀斑) and folk-rock band What Mulan (花木蘭). Captain Peanut (花生隊長), which plays "bossa-nova rock," performs Wednesday, along with pop-rock act New Yorker (紐約客). Male singer No Name takes the stage on Thursday, followed by Bibi Chao (趙之璧) and her band.
*Shows start at 9:30pm, except for tomorrow's Shino performance, which starts at 3pm
*Entrance tonight, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is NT$350. Tomorrow's Shino show is NT$400. Tomorrow night's show is NT$350. Sunday is NT$300. Cover charge includes one drink. 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
Tonight at Underworld (地下社會), it's Hong Kong band Rice Magnet. Tomorrow features Brit-pop band Bitter and psychedelic alt-rock band Flat Club (假文藝青年俱樂部). Popular indie-pop band Tizzy Bac plays Wednesday.
*Bands start playing around 9pm. The bar is open from 8pm to 4am on weekdays, 8pm to 5am on weekends, and is closed on Mondays
*Entrance for shows is NT$300 and includes one free drink
*B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
The Wall (這牆) presents pop singer Alan Kuo (柯有綸) tonight. Tizzy Bac plays an unplugged set tomorrow. Aboriginal pop-rock band Totem (圖騰) performs Sunday. Wednesday features indie-rock band Yoz Tiger (包子虎), Twice a Week and Touming Magazine (透明雜誌). Indie-rock bands Veraqueen and Mrs This (這位太太) play Thursday.
*Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$300 Wednesday and Thursday, and includes one free drink
*The music starts at 8pm, except for Thursday's battle of the bands, which runs from 7pm to 11:30pm
*B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
The O-Brothaz sound system hosts Reggae Oasis every Thursday night at club Plan B. The weekly event features Caribbean food, drinks and roots reggae. (Note: Last Friday's Taipei Times incorrectly stated that yesterday's O-Brothaz party Reggae Crazy was a weekly event. The Taipei Times regrets the error. Reggae Oasis is held weekly.)
*Entrance is free and all drinks are NT$150
*9pm to 1am
*29-1, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市安和路一段29號之1). Call (02) 2775-5855 or visit www.obrothaz.com for more information
Tonight is Chicago House Night at Bliss with DJs Junior and Megan, Scotty Baller and G'Jones. After the headliners, the rest of the evening will be an open deck night, when any mixologist in the crowd can spin his or her beats on the turntables.
*The music starts at 10pm
*Entrance to the bar is free. On Fridays women wearing skirts get a free drink of their choice. Cover for the DJs, who perform upstairs, is NT$300
*148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市信義路四段148號). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com
Rebel rocker-turned-mainstream-folk idol Chen Min-chang and his Danshui Walking Band (陳明章與淡水走唱團) perform tomorrow at Witch House (女巫店).
*Entrance is NT$300 and includes one drink
*Tomorrow at 9:30pm
*7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Road Sec 3, Taipei (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org
At Grooveyard in Taichung, Friday night is Salsa Night, when professional instructors teach salsa and merengue to the tune of Cuban music. Afterwards, it's Dr Reniculous Lipz (白悟空), and guests. The 8-Bit Electronic Hardcore Masquerade Garage-Punk Low-Fi Halloween Party travels to Grooveyard tomorrow (see first Contemporary listing). There's an after-jam session for the Taichung Jazz Festival on Sunday. Guitarist Russel Rogers plays blues, jazz, Middle Eastern- and African-influenced music on Wednesday, which is ladies night with drink specials for women. Thursday is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night.
*Salsa Night runs from 8pm to 10pm. Dr Reniculous Lipz takes the stage at 10pm. Tomorrow's pre-Halloween extravaganza starts at 6pm. Sunday's jazz starts at 9:30pm. Wednesday's music starts at 10pm. Open-mic night starts at 9pm
*Grooveyard cover for the bands is NT$200 tonight. Tomorrow's party is NT$300. There's no cover Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday
*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
Exhibition
Plane and Dimension - A Solo Exhibition by Chiang Hsien-erh (平面與空間 - 江賢二個展). After studying and living in Paris and New York for 30 years, veteran artist Chiang returned to Taiwan in 1998 to begin a new phase of his artistic career. Turning to three-dimensional, space-oriented art forms, Chiang presents a series of steel sculptures as well as several large new paintings.
*Art Gallery at Taishin Tower (台新金控大樓), 2F, 118, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路四段118號2樓). Open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm. Call (02) 3703-6955
*Until Dec. 7
To Live (活畫展). The exhibition features oil paintings by five local artists who studied art in Russia.
*The Cathay United Bank Gallery (國泰世華藝術中心), 7F, 236 Dunhua N Rd, Taipei (台北市敦化北路236號7樓). Open Monday to Saturday form 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2717-0988
*From tomorrow through Nov. 10
Acid Tongue - Tseng Yu-chin Solo Exhibition (曾御欽錄像展). The series of video works by one of Taiwan's most promising and talented artists reveals the intimate moments of Tseng's life. The artist is noted for weaving together the sensual and ambiguous to reflect human sub-consciousness.
*Chi-Wen Gallery, 3F, 19, Ln 252, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市敦化南路一段252巷19號3樓). Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm. Call (02) 8771-3372
*Until Nov. 17
A Joint Exhibition by Lu Chun-chen and Chung Hsin-i (2007呂春蓁與莊馨怡雙個展). In the series of works entitled Kitchen Dream, Lu uses vegetables to present the inner imagery of her mind and illustrate how seemingly unrelated circumstances are united. The other female artist, Chung, turns her discerning eye to everyday life experiences by recording her personal memories in a sealed and hidden form in Memory Trace.
*Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (新樂園藝術空間), 15-2, Ln 11, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei (台北市中山北路二段11巷15-2號). Open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 8pm. Call (02) 2561-1548
*Until Nov. 4
Contemporary Chinese Artists Collection (當代華人收藏特展). Aiming to give a platform to new artists in Chinese-speaking world, the art center presents a joint exhibition on contemporary paintings and sculptures by artists from Taiwan and China.
*Fish Art Center (秋刀魚藝術中心), 137 Jihu Rd, Taipei (台北市基湖路137號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (02) 2532-3800
*Until Oct. 31
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