42ND STREET
Broadway to Storm Seven Cities
08-11-2007
Written by Zou Huilin and Chen Jie
SHANGHAI: In the
post-Lloyd-Webber period for the Chinese musical market, the
classic Broadway musical 42nd Street will take the stage in seven
major theaters.
The musical will have its Chinese premiere at Shanghai Majestic
Theater on September 5. Then it will tour around the country,
visiting cities such as Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Hefei and
Beijing.
Robert Nederlander Jr., from the world's leading theater management
group Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, says that the reason
that they decided to bring 42nd Street to China was because he
regards it as the ultimate Broadway musical, with big scenes and
simple English, which will be easy to Chinese audiences to
follow.
At the beginning of the show, the curtain rises for only a couple
inches, and as the music begins, scores of colorful dancing shoes
click on the wooden floor. As the curtain rises, dancing legs and
skirts are revealed to the audience.
Mark Bramble, the director and playwright of the production, says
that each performance features 30-plus performers and hundreds of
light bulbs creating a multi-step stage set.
According to Bramble, "behind the spectacle, you will see this is a
typical 'American Dream Come True Story'."
The musical tells the story of a young actress named Peggy Sawyer,
a country girl, who rises from a chorus girl to become a Broadway
star.
Bramble adds: "I think everyone will like the story. After seeing
the musical, everyone will learn something inspiring from the show.
They will feel like it is a good day to be alive."
Bramble, who scored two Tony Award Nominations for 42nd Street,
handpicked the entire cast. Insiders say that not many touring
musicals can claim to have the playwright participating in the
casting process, let alone directing it.
Rauol Zhou, a musical-lover who has seen the musical many times,
says: "The performers try everything they can to show their skills
and energy."
The production is presented by Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment
and its Chinese partners include Beijing Time New Century
Entertainment and Shanghai Media Entertainment Group.
It is produced by Troika Entertainment and Broadway Asia
Entertainment, two foreign-funded producing companies specializing
in musical productions.
Meanwhile, as a warm-up event, the joint-venture Nederlander New
Century International Theater Management Company recently held a
beneficiary banquet at the residence of Madame Soong Ching Ling in
Beijing.
Bob Nederlander, president & CEO of Nederlander Worldwide
Entertainment, and Chen Jixin, president of Beijing Time New
Century Entertainment, introduced the playwright, director and the
lead players of the musical to the guests.
The joint-venture announced that they will donate 1 yuan $0.13 from
every ticket of the China tour they sold to the Soong Ching Ling
Music Fund to launch a musical camp next summer for Chinese kids
who love musicals.
--
Source Press Article: (webpage)
Broadway to
Storm Seven Cities
<< back