Try 'A Taste of Paradise'

Actresses of "Night at The Paradise" pose together in this file photo. The show will be performed in Itaewon, Seoul next month.

By Alan Green

As anyone who has ever been involved with community theater knows, putting on a production is a challenge, especially in terms of finance. "Night at The Paradise" is preparing for an October run but to help stage the ambitious project, there will be a fundraiser at Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon, Seoul on Sept. 22 from 10 p.m.

The original concept for "Night at The Paradise" was simply a revue of Broadway songs with minimal staging. But as the idea developed, it blossomed into a complete show in its own right, with a full story line and script, a cast of 28, costumes, sets, an actual theater, and live music.

Even though everyone connected with the show is doing it for their love of musical theater, all this is expensive, hence the event "A Taste of Paradise" this weekend. Two of the show's performers, Demola Davies and Kahlid Tapia, will be the emcees for the night featuring seven bands and a prize draw. As well as numbers from the show, the Total @ssholes, Red Hot Kimchi Peppers, Naughty Ajeossi, Kite Flying Robot, The Hunger Tree, Just Friends and David Bowie tribute act Damnear David and the Reality Tourists will make the event a truly rocking one.

Admission is 10,000 won and comes with a free raffle ticket. The growing list of prizes includes an E-book reader, two pairs of tickets to see the musical Wicked at the Blue Square theater, French wine courtesy of Maloney's, a local bar, plus gift certificates from popular eateries like Zelen Bao, Indigo, and the Baker's Table. Prize draws will be made throughout the night.

Many of the performers from "Night at The Paradise" are in bands playing this night, which led to the idea of putting on a fundraiser mini-festival featuring musicians connected with the show, plus other bands willing to perform at the benefit. It's also a chance to give people a sneak preview of the play.

"'Night at The Paradise' will bring the very best of Broadway to life. The high-energy cast sings and dances its way through the colorful story of Owen Morgan, the retiring manager of New York's venerable Paradise Theatre. It delivers 22 show-stoppers from Broadway blockbusters including Rent, Wicked, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Cabaret, A Chorus Line, The Book of Mormon and The Producers.

The Pitfire Orchestra will provide live musical backing. Musical theater orchestras are usually large, so they have few opportunities to rehearse, especially with the cast. During performances, their focus is on the sheet music rather than the show. A totally different approach to music has been taken for this production. The five musicians have developed their own arrangements for the 24 numbers, and will play much of the music from memory, in order to remain more connected to the performers on stage. The result is a level of energy and excitement that's hard to get from larger orchestras.

There will only be five performances at the theater of Spazio Luce, also in Itaewon, on October 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20. For more information and to buy tickets in advance at 20,000 won, please visit nightattheparadise.org.

To get to Rocky Mountain Tavern for Saturday's fundraiser, leave Itaewon Station on subway line 6 via exit 3. Walk straight past the fire station and a gas station, and the bar is situated after some large steps to your right on the second floor.