The 3rd Beijing International Drama Festival will kick off next week, with more than 50 top performances in 20 days.
The 3rd Beijing International Drama Festival will kick off next week, with more than 50 top performances in 20 days. Of the performances about to thrill the city are film-turned-musical Casablanca, Johann Strauss's classic light opera "The Bat" as well as a whole range of Chinese dramas and operas. Our reporter Shen Ting will take you through the Festival's highlights.
Over the past two years, the annual drama festival has opened with a big name. The Broadway musical Cats and the opera Aida have given the public a taste for big productions.
This year the tradition continues with a musical based on the 1942 movie "Casablanca", which will make its world debut in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on April 8.
The musical, with an investment of about 10 million US Dollars, was developed by the China Arts and Entertainment Group and Time Warner Inc.
Wang Chen is from China Performing Arts Agency, a company affiliated to the Group.
"The original film was well received in China. It's the favorite of many Chinese. Meanwhile, Time Warner regards China's stage entertainment market as a promising one and might want to find more business opportunities in China."
American John Clifford is the director of the musical and was once a famous dancer and choreographer for the New York Ballet. He believes that a wonderful story can be told in many forms and media. And he will try to recast the love story in a combination of forms, working with some of the best musical professionals in the US.
"I brought very good people... The name Casablanca is very important to Warner Brothers. They want it to be a first rate production..."
Various forms of performing arts including jazz, ballet, tap dance and ballroom dance will be performed side by side. Apart from the famous score to As Time Goes By, a lot of the music has been specially made for the musical which involves some of the best opera singers in the States. John Clifford says it is difficult to describe Casablanca, which may be better called a "musical dance entertainment". Here's John explaining how he uses dance to enhance the story telling.
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Musical: Golden Sand Date: April 8 - 10 Venue: Poly Theatre
Dance: Dunhuang My Dreamland Date: April 9 - 10 Venue: Tiaoqiao Theatre
Drama: Li Bai Date: April 12 - 22 Venue: Capital Theatre
Producer:
Gao Qian 
