| Source: www.zj.xinhuanet.com 2007-4-6 |
By staff reporter Wang Ting
Anna and the King will be debuted in the city of Hangzhou during the May 1st holiday season.
Seven Chinese children will be recruited to act as the seven children of the king. Children aged 5-11 can apply for the roles.
This reporter learnt from the provincial department of culture that from May 4 to 6, the audience can enjoy the authentic Broadway musical Anna and the King for only 80 yuan at Hangzhou Theater. This will be the first Broadway presentation in Zhejiang Province after Hangzhou Theater joined the Broadway China Network. In the future, the audience will have more chances to watch Broadway musicals “at their doorsteps”.
The Broadway China Network was established on March 23 this year. The network will be managed by the Beijing Oriental Broadway International Theater Management Company, a joint venture established by the Nederland Worldwide Entertainment in Broadway of the United States and the China New Century Media Co. The network is in charge of introducing Broadway musicals to the professional theaters in major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Guangzhou. Hangzhou Theater is the only theater in Zhejiang Province to become one of the first network members.
Anna and the King was an adaptation based on the memoir of a governess in the Court of Siam (now known as Thailand). The musical, winner of eight Tony Awards for best musical, has been staged more than 50,000 times around the world.
The Broadway China Network has taken all measures to ensure musicals are accepted by the Chinese audience. When Anna and the King is staged in Hangzhou, not only Chinese caption will be provided, but seven Chinese children will also be recruited to act as the seven children of the King. All children aged 5-11 may apply for the roles.
It is learnt that the Broadway China Network plans to offer training courses to the musical performance and management personnel in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and other networked cities. The courses will teach the basic performing techniques. In the second half of the year, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Mama Mia and other Broadway classics will be introduced.
URL: http://www.zj.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2007-04/06/content_9712291.htm |
