Heroes bloom and start a new journey. Adapted from the phenomenal Guoman movie IP of the same name, continuing the wonderful content and high reputation of the Mandarin version, the Cantonese version of the musical "Lion Boy" starring more outstanding creators in the Bay Area will be presented as a special presentation for the 14th anniversary of the Guangzhou Grand Theatre, premiering in the mainland of the Guangzhou Grand Theatre from May 9th to 12th, and tickets are now officially open.
Poster of the Cantonese version of the musical "Lion Boy".
The play is directed by Bauhinia Culture Group Co., Ltd., the Propaganda Department of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Propaganda Department of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China. Co-produced by Guangzhou Song and Dance Theater Co., Ltd., co-produced by Beijing Wonderful Time Culture Media Co., Ltd., and supported by the special fund for the support of literary and artistic products (literary and artistic talents) in Guangdong Province and the special fund for literary and artistic masterpieces in Guangzhou in 2022.
The Hong Kong premiere received rave reviews
The charm of Lingnan culture resonates strongly
Cantonese and lion dancing have a thousand-year-old history in the Cantonese area, with profound cultural heritage, carrying the common cultural memory of the people of the Greater Bay Area and giving birth to common cultural feelings.
Invited by the 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Cantonese version of the musical Lion Boy premiered at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 8 to 10 March this year. As the first musical from mainland China to be invited to participate in the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the show has attracted much attention since its announcement, with tickets for five performances sold out two weeks before their Hong Kong premiere.
Focusing on the Lingnan lion dance culture and customs, with vivid language and moving musical melodies, the Cantonese version of the musical "Lion Boy" leads the audience to experience the extraordinary charm of Bay Area culture, conveying the profound connotation of Cantonese culture in the form of stage art, which has aroused strong cultural resonance among local audiences.
The play tells the story of an ordinary teenager who has gone through ups and downs to learn from his teacher, dance his lion head, and participate in the lion dance competition. Nearly 20 original songs integrate diverse musical styles, including traditional drumming, pop, rock, lyrical, local opera, mountain songs, flamenco and other musical elements are all lions to help the lion and ignite the flame of teenage dreams.
In addition to using music to promote the development of the plot and stir up emotions, the Cantonese version also uses a lot of Cantonese colloquialisms in the lyrics and lines to show a strong Lingnan style. A live band of keyboards, guitars, bass, drums, percussion, violin, cello, flute and other instruments plays infectious music, bringing the audience both auditory and visual enjoyment.
The play was well received when it premiered in Hong Kong, with many audience members praising the actors' superb performances, beautiful music melodies and touching lyrics. The scene was thunderous with applause and laughter, and after the performance, many fans waited at the actor's exit and were reluctant to leave for a long time.
The powerful starring lineup is strong
Gather outstanding literary and artistic forces in the Greater Bay Area to join forces
The Cantonese version of the musical "Lion Boy" gathers outstanding literary and artistic forces in the Greater Bay Area, and welcomes more outstanding creators to join, integrating new perspectives into the creation and injecting vitality into it.
Gao Shizhang and Shum Weizong, who have created many excellent works in the musical theater industry such as "The Good Man of Sichuan", "Head Hammer" and "The Great King", have teamed up again to serve as composer & arranger & music director and lyricist respectively. Zhang Feifan, the famous screenwriter who created three critically acclaimed musicals, "The Great King", "A Water in the South Sky" and "A House of Babies", wrote and adapted it.
Renowned stage director Sin Chun-tung is the director, Cheung Yuet-ying, who has more than 10 years of experience in the arts and entertainment industry, is the co-director, choreographer and stage designer of this tour in the Greater Bay Area, and Chu Pak-him, who has extensive experience in performance and creation, is the executive director, co-choreographer Lau Tsz-ho, arranger Lo Kin-pong, co-music director Tong Daqin, lighting design and stage aesthetics Yeung Tsz-yan, sound designer Xia Enbei, and costume designer Demon Zhang and other artists participated in the creation, and invited Zhao Weibin, the provincial intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Guangdong Lion Dance and the fifth-generation descendant of "Zhao Jiashi", to serve as the lion dance instructor.
A group of people who are good at the show are even more enthusiastic to join. The 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards Best Actor (Tragedy/Drama), musical actor Cheng Chun-chi, who has been active in Hong Kong and Macau theatres all year round, and Chen Keming, a young actor who is active on the musical theatre stage, jointly interpret the role of Ah Juan. The winner of the 23rd Hong Kong Drama Awards for Best Actor (Comedy/Farce) Chu Pak-hime and powerful musical actor Xu Le co-play the role of Salted Yuqiang. Singapore's national treasure singer and famous stage actress Chen Jieyi plays Ah Zhen. Outstanding young actor Qin Yifan plays Juan Ran, musical actor Tang Xiaofeng, who has rich experience in stage performances, and Liu Zhaokang, a cappella troupe Yipu Singing Constant Cooperative Artist, play A Cat and A Dog respectively, jointly presenting a journey of chasing dreams.
"This musical is jointly created by outstanding artists and performance and production teams in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and it is an in-depth cooperation in the Greater Bay Area from creation to front and back of the stage. Chen Rui, the producer of the Cantonese version of the musical "Lion Boy" and deputy general manager of the Guangzhou Grand Theatre, said that lion dancing is a common cultural symbol and cultural gene in the Bay Area, and the spiritual core of "giving up even if there are all kinds of reasons and insisting on only one is enough" conveyed by the play will lead the spiritual and cultural atmosphere of the Bay Area and enhance the cultural identity of the people in the Greater Bay Area.
Performance Information:
Time: May 9-11, 2024 (Thursday-Saturday) 19:30, May 12, 2024 (Sunday) 14:30 19:30
Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Grand Theatre
Price: 100 yuan, 180 yuan, 380 yuan, 480 yuan, 580 yuan, 780 yuan (original price: 180 yuan, 280 yuan, 480 yuan, 680 yuan, 780 yuan, 980 yuan)
Duration: 150 mins (including a 15-minute intermission)
*Performed in Cantonese with Chinese subtitles
*One ticket per person, children under 1.2 meters are not allowed to enter
【Text】Southern + reporter Wang Hanqi
【Correspondent】Yao Hui
Photo courtesy of Guangzhou Grand Theatre (taken by Xia Dong)
【Author】 Wang Hanqi
[Source] Southern Press Media Group Southern + client