Stomp:

Creators Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas have created a theatrical experience. This play is a unique combination of percussion, action and comedy.

Stomp Date: Sept 26-Oct 5 — 7:30 pm Venue: Beijing Polly Theater Creators and co-directors Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas have created a theatrical experience, and it is playful, thrilling and charged with energy. Stomp, a unique combination of percussion, action and comedy, has hammered out a universal theatrical language of rhythm, movement, comedy and dance, bringing everyday objects like Zippo lighters, plastic bags, bin lids, even the kitchen sink to life along the way. This Broadway musical shows the globe that even the most ordinary objects can do extraordinary things when put in the right hands. The show is the result of a 10-year collaboration between its creators.

The Musical Mamma Mia! in Guangzhou Date: Nov 16-25 — 2:30 pm/7:30 pm Venue: Guangzhou Opera House Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother’s past back to the island they visited 20 years ago. The storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this interesting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives! The musical is full of women empowerment spirit which celebrates the theme of friendship and love, which are beautifully expressed from ABBA’s songs like, “Super Trouper”, “Lay All Your Love on Me”, “Dancing Queen”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Thank You for the Music”, “Money, Money, Money”, “The Winner Takes It All”, “Voulez-Vous”, “SOS” and the title track. Over 60 million people have seen the show, which has grossed $2 billion worldwide since its 1999 debut. A film adaptation starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Stellan Skarsgard and Julie Walters was released in July 2008.

Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet Theater Swan Lake & La Bayadere Date: Sept 20-23 — 7:30 pm Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts Tchaikovsky’s four-act ballet Swan Lake is recognized as the most famed ballet, which premiered in 1877. As Tchaikovsky’s best-known masterpiece, Swan Lake is the first ballet to be performed with two people dancing together. Today, Swan Lake remains a model for dancers and a paragon of realist ballets. La Bayadere is a classic work created when classical ballet was at its heyday, a period earlier than the composition of Swan Lake and it was based on this work that many classics were produced. The music in La Bayadere sets a precedent for ballets based on its symphonic structure, which is also considered the hardest-to-perform ballet in the circle, that reflects a ballet ensemble’s comprehensive strength. Well-designed are both the solo and group dances, of which the “Specter Kingdom” is a rare pas. Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet Theater is one of the oldest musical theaters in former USSR and Ukraine. Performance have been staged in Kharkiv for more than 200 years.

Zhao Liang Dance Studio: Martial Art in Dance Date: Sept 17-18 — 7:30 pm Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts Zhao Liang says “martial arts” and “dance” in Chinese are phonetically similar, with distinct presentations but the same root. They both follow the law of the universe and are also deeply connected with the human body and spirituality. With the theme of “intoxication, exaltation and simplification,” Zhao chose a simple stage setting of only black, gray and white for the work. Crossover music with elements such as minimalism, cello and Chinese pipa (Chinese lute) is used to portray the clash between contemporary and traditional features. Zhao Liang is highly open to new inspirations and ideas and then weave them into his well-designed storyline. Besides, he has attracted a team of outstanding artists. Through literary allusions, seamless emotional connection and flowing performances, he blends fragments of classical stories into a multisensory cultural innovation. Surreal as they are, the dance shows contain layers of meanings and use metaphors to present universal truths. As a result, they resonate with the essence of our being, leading to spiritual insights beyond perception.

Chicago the Musical Date: Nov 1 — 7:30 pm Venue: Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center Based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s, nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with Cell Block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, they fight to keep from death row with the help of smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn. Created by the musical theater talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, Chicago’s sexy, sassy score includes “All That Jazz” and “Razzle Dazzle”. It won six Tony, two Olivier, one Grammy, two Bafta and six Academy Awards. A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell block of sin: it would be a crime to miss it.

Everlasting Four Seasons-Daniel Hope & Zurich Chamber Orchestra Shanghai Concert Date: Sept 15 — 7:30 pm Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center British violinist Daniel Hope has toured the world as a virtuoso soloist for more than twenty years. He is renowned for his musical versatility and creativity, and for his dedication to humanitarian causes. Hope performs as soloist with the world’s major orchestras and conductors, directs many ensembles from the violin, and plays chamber music in a wide variety of traditional and new venues. He was also the youngest ever member of the Beaux Arts Trio during its last six seasons. Raised in England and educated at Highgate School in London, Hope earned degrees at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with Russian pedagogue Zakhar Bron. Called “adventurous and brilliant” by The New York Times, Hope was named “the most exciting British string player since Jacqueline du Pre,” by the London Observer. He has performed in all of the world’s most prestigious venues and with the greatest orchestras including the Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras, and so on. The Zurich Chamber Orchestra was founded shortly after the World War II and since then has enjoyed an excellent reputation all over the word. Its repertoire encompasses pieces from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras, as well as contemporary music. The orchestra is particularly renowned for its out-of-the-ordinary productions — such as its performances with musicians from other music genres, such as jazz or pop.