The first authorized English production of Yasmina Reza’s Art begins its four-day Beijing run from tonight, May 11. Since the London premiere of Christopher Hampton’s translation, with Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott as the three principals, Marc, Serge and Yvan, Art has raked in over $250 million worldwide, showcased innumerable all-star lineups, stunt... Read more »
Brad Little and Claire Lyon, the two pointing foreigners, are in Shanghai to promote Phantom of the Opera, which is coming to Shanghai Culture Square in December and January. The two play the Phantom and Christine Daaé.
On Friday, the opening night of Cirque du Soleil's three-night performance of Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour in Beijing, a highly sensitive image was displayed on the giant big-screens above the stage in Wukesong MasterCard Arena: the Tiananmen Tank Man. As first reported by a local magazine, then excerpted by Shanghaiist:
You know what's equally impressive as a Peking Opera adaptation of Les Mis? This South Korean adaptation. It's been on the Internet for a little over two weeks now and has more than 4 million views, so there's a good chance you've already seen it. Just in case you haven't though, please watch.
Tom Hooper's adaptation is getting all the press -- it's Oscar season, after all, and Les Misérables is up for Best Picture -- but years before, there was another, one might say bolder, attempt to adapt this musical classic.
In 2006, students at the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts actually wrote a Peking Opera version of Les Mis, which you can watch in its entirety on Youku (split into two parts, both embedded here). The video was posted three years ago, but Tea Leaf Nation flagged it just now, and since Les Mis is fresh on our minds, what better time to revisit this masterpiece?
Did you know the musical Cats has a Mandarin version, and is currently in Beijing? It debuted in Shanghai in August before swinging by Guangzhou and Chongqing, and 100 shows later, is now playing at Century Theater in this city.
We visit the folks at Beijing Improv, where you should always expect the unexpected.
Notes: Beijing Improv holds free, bilingual workshops every Wednesday night at the Hot Cat Club, as well as a theater show on the last Saturday of every month.
