THE COMPLETE PERFORMANCE OF PANSORINational Theater of Korea, Haneul Round TheaterPansori (traditional narrative singing) master Ahn Sook-sun will stage the ″Complete Performance of Pansori.″ The performance has been a part of the National Theater of Korea's annual year-end concert series. [NATIONAL THEATER OF KOREA]Dec. 18: Pansori, or traditional narrative singing, master Ahn Sook-sun’s annual year-end concert is returning once again. For this year’s “Complete Performance of Pansori,” Ahn will be accompanied by other masters such as Cho Joo-seon, Song Jae-young and Kim So-hyang.The "Complete Performance of Pansori" is one of the permanent projects of the National Changgeuk Company of Korea with the aim of promoting the traditional music genre. The company says only the best can perform on stage.The concert begins at 3 p.m.Tickets cost 30,000 won ($25.30).Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6 THE NUTCRACKER*Korean National Ballet: Seoul Arts Center, Opera TheaterThrough Dec. 26Local ballet companies are presenting their versions of “The Nutcracker” as the holiday season is nearing. Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and first staged in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the ballet has become a holiday tradition that has been performed around the world for the past 127 years.The Korean National Ballet is staging “The Nutcracker” choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich, who is known as a living legend in the ballet world. The Russian dancer and choreographer worked as the art director for Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater from 1964 to 1995.What helps the Korean National Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” stand out among the rest is that a child will play the role of the nutcracker.A lot of divertissements, or dance sequences, have been added to maximize the fun of watching the performance for the audience.The performance will start at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends.There will be no performances on Mondays.The performance on Christmas Day will be broadcast live on KBS1. Tickets for that show are not available to the public.Ticket prices range from 5,000 won to 90,000 won.Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5*Universal Ballet: Sejong Center for the Performing ArtsDec. 18 – 30The Universal Ballet is presenting “The Nutcracker,” choreographed by Vasili Vainonen from Mariinsky Theatre.The ballet company premiered the Christmas classic back in 1986 on home soil and has been staging the show every year since then.Because “The Nutcracker” by Universal Ballet features budding performers, it is a good chance for audiences to learn more about young dancers. This year, the company will hold nine live orchestra performances, while the rest will be recorded versions. The live performances will only be held on weekends and on Dec. 24. Ticket prices vary.The performance starts at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends and Christmas Day.There are no performances on Dec. 20, 21 and 27.Ticket prices range from 10,000 won to 120,000 won.Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8RICHARD YONGJAE O’NEILLLotte Concert HallViolist Richard Yongjae O'Neill will stage a Christmas Concert titled ″Present: The Baroque Night″ on Dec. 25. [CREDIA]Dec. 25: Violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill will stage a concert on Dec. 25, which he called “a Christmas gift for people who love classical music.” The concert is titled “Present: The Baroque Night.”As the name hints, the violist will perform some of Baroque pieces. There’s also some pieces for the holiday season, like Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto.”Cellist Mun Tae-guk and tenor John Noh will accompany O’Neill for some of the pieces.Apart from pursuing his solo career, O’Neill is actively involved in performing as a member of the Korean classical group named Ensemble Ditto. He formed the group, which consists of young performers who play viola, violin, cello, clarinet and piano, in 2007.The concert starts at 2 p.m.Tickets are priced from 40,000 won to 120,000 won.Jamsil Station, .line No. 2, exit 1 or 2MUSICOVERYSejong Center for the Performing Arts, M TheaterDec. 29: Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra is holding a year end concert titled “Musicovery.” It’s a documentary-style concert, looking back on the year of the pandemic and is divided into five themes: “Everyday Life,” “Contrast,” “Coexistence,” “Family” and “Hope.”Hwang Sun-mi directed the documentary that will be played on the backdrop behind the orchestra. A total of five pieces will be played under each theme. Two of them have been commissioned to young gugak, or traditional Korean music, composers for the concert.The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.Tickets range from 30,000 won to 40,000 won, and can only be purchased via the Sejong Center’s ticketing site or by calling (02) 399-1000.Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8COUNTDOWN FANTASYKintex Hall 7-8Dec. 31 – Jan 1, 2022: With 2021 coming to a close, concert organizers are reviving their year-end countdown events following the government’s eased social distancing regulations.At the Kintex Hall in Gyeonggi, about 14 artists and groups will be holding a series of concerts to countdown to the New Year. According to the organizers, the event will be like a “fairytale,” so participants can finish the year on a magical note.Participating artists include Ateez, Jukjae, Adoy, Dreamcatcher, Jeong Se-woon, Lucy, Surl, 10cm, Daybreak, Soran, Epik High, pictured above, VMC, Huckleberry P and N.Flying.Only those who are fully vaccinated and have a negative PCR test result from the prior 48 hours can attend the event.The concert begins at 2 p.m.Tickets cost 99,000 won.Daehwa Station, line No. 3, exit 2BILLY ELLIOTD-Cube Arts CenterThrough Feb. 2, 2022: “Billy Elliot” is back.The story takes place in the 1980s, during a coal miners’ strike in Northern England. Billy happens to stumble across ballet during one of his boxing classes, and his life is changed forever after he discovers his love, and talent, for dance.“Billy Elliot” is a heartwarming and humorous story about a young boy and his family trying to fulfill their dreams through music and choreography.The kids who have been cast to alternate the role of Billy are, Kim Shi-hoon, Lee Woo-jin, Jeong Kang-hyuk and Joo Hyun-joon.Ticket prices range from 60,000 to 150,000 won.The show starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends.Sindorim Station, lines No. 1 and 2, exit 1 or 5FANTASY TALENational Theater of Korea, Daloreum TheaterThrough Feb. 12, 2022: Kim Dong-yeon, who has created a range of hits in diverse genres, wrote and directed “Fantasy Tale” and premiered it in 2003.Since then, the piece has matured through many runs over the past 17 years. In 2020, its first rerun in six years enjoyed immense success, leading the show to be part of this year’s National Repertory Season.The War Clown, Love Clown and Art Clown, compete with each other to tell their version of the story of Hans, a piano player who lost his hearing in the turmoil of war, and Marie, a dancer who lost her sight — fusing the themes of war, love and art.The performance features many elements coming together for a more lively and dynamic experience: dance, music, mime and magic.The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, weekends and public holidays.Tickets range from 55,000 won to 77,000 won.Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6REBECCAChungmu Art Center, Grand TheaterKorean production of a hit musical ″Rebecca″ is being staged at the Chungmu Art Center in central Seoul. Oak Joo-hyun, left, is playing Mrs. Danvers. [EMK MUSICAL]Through Feb. 27, 2022: The Korean production of a hit musical “Rebecca” is back in Seoul.The musical is based on a Gothic romance novel by Daphne du Maurier, but it is reportedly also inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film “Rebecca.”The musical, which combines romance and suspense, first hit the stage in Vienna in 2006.Set in a mansion called Manderley, "Rebecca" tells the story of Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widower who lost his wife Rebecca in a drowning accident and cannot get over the traumatic incident. Maxim marries another woman but his new wife learns a disturbing secret that Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper of the mansion, still worships the late Rebecca.When the musical was first staged in Seoul, it was the highest-selling musical for five consecutive weeks. It still attracts musical aficionados, who have already watched it multiple times.Musical director Robert Johanson has been at the helm of the production since its premiere.Four actors including Min Young-ki, Kim Jun-hyun, Enok and Lee Jang-woo will alternate the role of Mr. Winter, while actresses Shin Young-sook and Oak Joo-hyun will play Mrs. Danvers.The show begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays, and at 3 p.m. on Sundays.Tickets range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.Sindang Station, line No. 6, exit 9 *Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.