Photo Flash: Mandarin-Language Love/Perfect/Change

For the first time in American theatre history, a foreign production of an American musical will play in the United States, when the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and Broadway Asia Entertainment co-production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change opens at New York's Westside Theatre (407 W. 43rd St.) on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 for a limited 23-performance engagement through Sunday, June 3.  The Chinese company will perform the show entirely in Mandarin, with English supertitles projected above the stage.

The show recently concluded a highly successful run at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre directed by Joel Bishoff, who helmed the original New York production, as well as productions in 17 cities worldwide.  This groundbreaking Chinese/American co-production was the first Western musical to be performed there in Mandarin Chinese.  Not just a recreation of the New York show, Joel Bishoff worked with translator Nick Rongjun Yu to incorporate local Chinese attitudes and references, allowing the material to resonate with Shanghai audiences.

This production premiered in Shanghai in December 2006 and has been selected as the special opening ceremony attraction at the prestigious 2007 Beijing Theater Festival on Tuesday, April 17 before the entire company (cast and musicians) makes the move to New York City.  Immediately after their New York engagement, the company will return to Beijing to launch an extended multi-city tour throughout China.  Featured in the talented cast of four is Lin Yilun – one of China's most popular singing stars and the winner of the 2006 Best Male Singer of China Award at the CCTV & MTV Music Awards – along with Yu Yi, Wen Yang and Ma Qingli.

Visit www.iloveyoumandarin.com and www.loveperfectchange.com for more information.

Photos courtesy of Broadway Asia

 
Mandarin-language cast of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change