Considering limited time and burdensome ticket prices, we looked at works that can be chosen according to age and taste, such as 'Al-satang', 'Elisabeth', 'Frozen', and 'Dracula' (from top left, clockwise). / Work Poster

[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] If you want to escape from everyday life even if you haven't planned a trip far away, why not take a step to the theater for just one day during the holiday?

Currently, various musicals of diverse genres and scales, from stages that bring popular animations and picture books loved by children to the stage, to spectacular masterpieces encountered in large performance halls, are transforming the familiar daily lives of the audience into special times. Of course, it would be great to enjoy all the performances, but considering the limited time and burdensome ticket prices, we looked at works that can be chosen according to age and taste.

'Princess Catch! Teenieping', based on Season 6 of the TV animation 'Catch! Teenieping', is returning to Seoul after touring 21 regions nationwide since its premiere in Seoul last January. / SAMG Entertainment

◆ Picture books and animations on stage?... This holiday is your last chance

'Princess Catch! Teenieping', based on the TV animation 'Catch! Teenieping' Season 6, and 'Al-satang', based on Baek Hee-na's best-selling picture book, will be performed until the last day of Chuseok holiday, the 27th, at Ticketlink 1957 Theater and Seoul Forest Theater, respectively.

First, 'Princess Catch! Teenieping' is returning to Seoul after touring 21 regions nationwide since its premiere in Seoul last January. The work is a family show musical that combines magic, musical, and puppets, with magician Lee Eun-gyeol as the general director and Hong Seung-hee as the director.

Previously, the domestic original IP 'Catch! Teenieping' expanded its territory with the movie 'Hatchu-ping of Love' series, drawing existing fandom to theaters. It is now expanding its reach to audiences with a show musical that realizes the world of the animation on a real stage, extending the fun of content from screen to stage and leading to a new viewing experience for fans.

The role of general director Lee Eun-gyeol cannot be overlooked. He completes a family show musical that can be enjoyed by children and parents by creating the characters' personalities on stage using puppet objects and the movements of puppeteers, and adding various show elements to the existing musical format. As it is a hit, ranking first in ticket sales by genre at major ticket reservation sites, it is a must-see performance for families who want to enjoy a special viewing experience together.

'Al-satang' tells the story that unfolds the moment the protagonist Dong-dong puts a mysterious candy he got at a stationery store into his mouth and can hear the voices of people and things he couldn't hear before. The charm of the original work is the deep empathy and lingering resonance left by delicately portraying the child's inner world with short and simple sentences.

And the stage faithfully reproduces the original sensibility with red maple trees, alleyway sets, and charming props, and is configured with a comfortable running time of 60 minutes so that child audiences can focus on the play without getting bored. As a result, the performance touches upon children's boundless imagination and sensitivity and offers adults a time to reflect on the meaning of family once again.

'Dracula' and 'Elisabeth' are steady-selling musicals that have been loved for a long time, and 'Frozen' (from left, clockwise) is the first performance to bring the globally loved animation to the Korean stage, attracting much attention. / OD Company, EMK Musical Company, S&Co.

◆ From spectacular visuals to powerful narratives... Hot popularity for a reason

If you are planning an outing with friends, lovers, or parents, large-scale musicals such as steady sellers that have been chosen by audiences for a long time or works boasting overwhelming stage scale would be a good choice.

First, 'Elisabeth' is a work that depicts the life of Empress Elisabeth, who longed for freedom, and her relationship with the transcendent being Death (Der Tod) who hovers around her, set against the backdrop of the Austrian Empire ruled by the Habsburg dynasty. Since its premiere in Vienna, Austria in 1992, it has been performed in various countries and has been consistently loved in Korea for the past five seasons.

This time, you can enjoy a new production that reconfigures the visual elements based on the original narrative and music that has continued since its premiere, including a grand stage set that fully captures the splendor and grandeur of the Habsburg dynasty, and objects symbolizing the characters, such as large picture frames and dresses inspired by Elisabeth's elaborate hairstyles.

In addition, with the addition of Rina, Lee Ji-soo, Kai, Seo Kyung-soo, Ko Eun-sung, and Noh Yoon for the first time, they are adding fresh vitality to the work by imbuing the characters with new colors through their own interpretations. Therefore, for those who have seen 'Elisabeth' before, finding the differentiated points of this season and enjoying it from a different perspective can be another viewing point.

If you want to enjoy a deeply romantic musical beyond simple fantasy or horror, 'Dracula' is perfect. Based on Bram Stoker's novel, the work is set in Europe at the end of the Victorian era and unfolds the conflicts of love, desire, and destiny surrounding Dracula, Mina, and Jonathan.

In particular, the performance captivates the audience with its unique stage devices, such as a quadruple turntable, 20 giant pillars, and Dracula's coffin, which magically disappears once entered, creating variations in space moment by moment. In addition, Frank Wildhorn's addictive numbers fully capture Dracula's intense charisma and his poignant love for Mina, allowing you to fully enjoy the musical resonance that lingers in your ears long after the play ends.

If you don't want to miss the first performance to bring the globally loved animation to the Korean stage, you should rush to 'Frozen'. The work, which unfolds around the story of Elsa and Anna, allows you to experience the magical moments you only saw on screen in a real performance hall by recreating the Arandelle Kingdom filled with snow and ice on stage, along with music that can only be heard in the musical, including 'Let It Go'.

Moreover, the process of Elsa and Anna, who experienced conflict due to their different personalities and abilities, resolving misunderstandings and understanding each other reawakens the forgotten world of fantasy for adults and firmly protects the precious innocence of children.

jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr
[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]