SHOWCASING ARTIST: ARTS MIDWEST, JURIED SHOWCASE 2009, PAE (PERFORMING ARTS EXCHANGE) 2008 JURIED SHOWCASE, ARTS NORTHWEST 2008 JURIED SHOWCASE, APAP SHOWCASE 2008, NACA CENTRAL SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE 2007, NACA SOUTH SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE 2007
"Kungfu Theatre: Tales from the Beijing Opera" is a selection of comic and dramatic scenes from some of China’s most popular stories. Drawn from Chinese history, mythology and folklore, and performed in both Chinese and English this colorful show is fun for audiences of all ages. In a full show, several 20 - 45 minute long stories are performed using English and Chinese dialogue, music, dance, mime, acrobatics, stage fighting, and singing. This show is as visual and exciting as it is cultural and educational.
In spite of the high art connotations of its name, Beijing Opera is loud and colorful. The performers are professionally trained Chinese Beijing Opera actors, most of whom began performing before the age of ten. Now living in the U.S. the ensemble is looking to create art that is relevant to American culture while remaining true to the rigorous standards of Chinese theatre.
Accessible and entertaining to non-Chinese speaking audiences, the current touring show is made up of four performers, a musician and a stage manager and has been a hit nationwide for multicultural events, performance arts series, Asian celebrations, and family and community events. Each program is followed by a “meet and greet” allowing the audience to engage with the actors. Larger ensembles as well as workshops, classes, and residencies are also available.
Some of the scenes include:
“Autumn River” is a romantic tale of a nun who escapes from her convent in order to pursue the young scholar whom she loves. This episode consists of comic dialogue and mime as an old boatman helps her across Autumn River.
“Fighting in the Dark” uses mime and stage combat to illustrate the comic episode of an innkeeper’s attempt to kill one of his guests in the darkened room.
“Fighting in the State of Ji” is an historical drama taken from an episode of the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This scene tells of a brave general who, in spite of his loyalty to the Han government, is being pursued and crushed by a corrupt official and his lackeys.
“Monkey and Pigsy” is a selection from China’s most beloved story, Journey to the West, about the naughty Monkey King, gluttonous Pigsy and their master, the monk Tang Sheng who leads them to enlightenment. In this scene Monkey and Pigsy’s crimes against Heaven lead them to banishment on earth where they continue to make trouble by stealing a magic weapon from a dragon.
“Farewell My Concubine” is the classic tale of tragic love between the General Xiang Yu and his concubine Yu Ji. The story takes place in the hours before the defeat of Xiang Yu’s army to his enemy Liu Bang of the Han dynasty. Yu Ji comforts her lover with a sword dance and as the invading army approaches, Xiang Yu fights gallantly, but to no avail.
Residencies, Workshops, and Outreach Programs
Acting in the Beijing Opera
Characters in the Chinese theatre are categorized according to types based on the age, gender, and personality. Each role category has its own unique way of walking, speaking, moving and singing. With an emphasis on movement as an expression of personality, we will take you through each of the role types with examples and anecdotes. We bring costumes and props to demonstrate how these elements affect characterization and invite participants to try out a role in a fun, non-threatening atmosphere.
Music of the Beijing Opera
This lecture/demonstration provides an overview of the unique role of music in the Beijing Opera. Students will go away with an understanding of how music is constructed, the basic melodies and rhythms of the Beijing Opera, how these relate to other elements in the play, such as movement and costuming, and how Chinese Opera music differs from Western opera and musical theatre. Through live demonstrations of singing, music and movement we will bring the music of the Beijing Opera to life.
The World of Beijing Opera
Where did Beijing Opera come from? Why did it become so popular and what are the stories about? What do the painted faces mean? How do students train to become actors and what is their life like? These and other questions will be answered with an overview of the music, role categories, historical background and culture of the Beijing Opera. We will discuss the world of Beijing Opera both past and present and how current changes in Chinese society are affecting it.
Movement/Acting Workshop
The movement and exaggerated acting technique of the Beijing Opera are inseparable from its costumes, props and makeup. Throughout the workshop students will become acquainted with using these important elements as we practice the movement style of specific character types. We start with simple walking and hand movements and work towards bringing a character to life through the external expression of his/her inner nature. Series of 10 or more only.
Stage Fighting Workshop
This workshop is taught over a number of days and introduces students to skills and basic fighting routines using spears and swords. We begin with stance and handling and then continue with a series of individual “flower” movements (one-person twirling and tossing skills) and two-person fighting routines. Series of 10 or more only.
The Art of Beijing Opera Face Painting and Design
This workshop is designed for adult students interested in learning about Beijing Opera painted face designs and how to apply them. It begins with a look at the aesthetic principles and categories of designs. Students then paint their own faces with a traditional design and try out basic movements and expressions.
Actor Bios
Merrianne Moore
Merrianne studied and toured with the Beijing Opera School from 1991 -1995. She performed the leading roles in Autumn River, Farewell My Concubine, Hu Family Village, Jade Bracelet and Sister Thirteen. As a performance artist her solo works include Through the Head, an exploration of memory loss and the effects of Alzheimer's disease, which premiered at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in 1999. Her short solo works include We are Not Afraid, Ambiguous Relations and Voices. As a writer and performer of ensemble works her most resent production, The Queen Says Farewell to Her Favorite premiered at the Connelly Theater in 2005 and AbacusParts, a collaborative multimedia work premiered at Galapagos Arts Space in 1999. Merrianne founded StrangeCandy in 1999. She has a B.A. in Theatre from UCLA and a M.A. in individualized studies with a concentration in performance composition and writing from NYU.
Li, Wentao
Li, Wentao is a performer of warrior characters and a martial arts expert. The majority of his professional career has been spent acting for film and television; most recently in the Jacky Chan film Myth. “Being an actor and stunt man in China is different than in the US. In China, there is always time to sit around and talk. Here everyone is busy. There is a lot to learn here. It is exciting and scary at the same time. I’ve learned a lot since I came to New York, but I want to learn more. English is the most difficult thing, but also I want to learn to drive.”
Su, Genshu
Su, Genshu began his career as an actor of painted face characters in the Hubei Clapper opera. Later he became the director of the Hubei Opera Company. “My family was very, very poor. There was no rice, only enough clothes to cover our bodies and all day long my parents worked in the fields. Everyone was always full of stress. One day my father decided I should be an actor. I suppose he wanted me to learn something useful so I would have a better life. So I went to the audition. Luckily, I liked it and was pretty good. Now I have a very different life than my parents did, but sometimes I dream of having a farm and a place that is quiet like my village at night.”
Tang, Jirong
Tang Jirong, formerly the lead drummer for the Chinese National Beijing Opera Troupe, has toured all over Europe and the United States. He was among the first group of artists invited to the US after the opening of US-China relations by President Nixon. He currently divides his time between Beijing, Shanghai and New York. In addition to countless productions of Beijing opera both in China and the US, Mr. Tang was the musical director for the Academy Award Nominated film Farewell My Concubine and the conductor/lead drummer for the Lincoln Center’s production of Peony Pavilion.
Xie, Dong
Xie, Dong began learning Beijing opera from his father at the age of five and was a professional actor at seven with the Shandong Province Beijing Opera Company. “I lived with the opera company in the capital. I rarely saw my family. After I had been a professional actor for several years the troupe leaders decided I was too young and sent me to the Beijing Opera School. At that time, I didn’t understand why they did this. I was already a better acrobat than the graduating students. Then I started to realize that there was more to Beijing opera than just acrobatics. I was lucky to have some great teachers and soon I was playing leading roles. Then one year I won a big national competition and the government put on a show with all the winners. My father came all the way from my hometown to see me.” Xie, Dong’s American credits include the Lincoln Center’s production of Peony Pavilion.
Zhang, Hui
Mr. Zhang entered the Jiangshu Province Drama School with a major in Beijing Opera performance in 1992. He specialized in the warrior clown and male warrior roles. In 1997 he began performing with the Zhejiang Province Beijing Opera Company. He is most well known for leading roles in Blocking Horses, The Crossroads, and Making Havoc in Heaven. In 1996, he won first prize at the National Arts Festival. Zhang Hui is also an accomplished martial artist. When he is not touring with StrangeCandy, he teaches Tai Chi and Shao Lin style kung fu in New York City. “I came to the US because I fell in love with an American girl. That didn’t work out, but I have no regrets. Like everyone else, I have to make my own way in the world. I have a lot of ideas and want to do many things in my life.”
Some of the scenes include:
Acting in the Beijing Opera
