--Shanghai Theatre Academy & Zhejiang Beijing Opera Company
Perform cutting-edge Beijing Opera based on famous Greek tragedy--
FLUSHING, N.Y., September 28, 2009—Experience Beijing Opera with an experimental twist when King Oedipus—based on the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex—is performed in the Goldstein Theatre at Queens College on Tuesday, October 6, at 7:30 pm.
Set in a mythical era, Prince Oedipus defies the fate of “killing his father and marrying his mother” and becomes king, only to face the most horrible test he could imagine. This extraordinary performance has garnered critical acclaim, both in China and during the company’s recent European tour.
Founded in 1969, Zhejiang Peking Opera Troupe is one seven provincial troupes in Zhejiang and the only professional Peking opera troupe. It became a First-class troupe in 1988, and was chosen as one of the nationally important provincial Beijing-opera troupes by the China Ministry of Culture in 2005.
Weng Guo Sheng, artistic director and head of the troupe, has won the China Opera Plum Blossom Prize, the Wen Hua Acting Prize, the White Yulan Magnolia Leading Actor Prize and the Outstanding Director Prize by China Ministry of Culture and has been chosen as the Five First Excellent Artist by the Zhejiang provincial propaganda department.
Zhejiang Peking Opera Troupe places great importance on the creation of new plays based on traditional plays and traditional classical operas. Since 2002, the troupe has searched for new scenic forms of Beijing opera and has created Youth-Beijing Opera. It has presented a number of successful plays such as The Date under the Plenilune, Love Song on the Internet, and Peacock Feather. Peacock Feather has been performed over 400 times across China and has won many prizes. Since 1987, Zhejiang Peking Opera Troupe has performed in the United States, Japan, Australia, Tunis, Morocco, Thailand, Germany, Vietnam, several Eastern European countries and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Today, with 90 members, the troupe’s goal is to develop and perform innovative works and to expand its reach.
To gain a deeper understanding of the Asian Theatre Arts as exemplified by the production of King Oedipus, the public is welcome to attend a free workshop and free symposium at Queens College on Monday, October 5:
Free InterCultural Performance Workshop
Monday, October 5, 2009 from 10:50 am – 12:05 pm
Rathaus Hall, Studio 101A
Led by Weng Guo Sheng, Principal of the Zhejiang Beijing Opera Company
Free InterCultural Performance Symposium
Monday, October 5, 2009 from 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Rosenthal Library, Conference Room 230
Host: Professor Yin Mei
Queens College Department of Drama, Theatre and
Dance
Moderators: Professors Dallas McCurley and Joseph Mills
Queens College Department of Drama Theatre and Dance
Speakers: Dr. William Huizhu Sun
Vice President and Professor Shanghai Theatre Academy
Dr. Claire Conceison, Professor of Asian Theater at Duke University
Rachel Cooper, Director of Cultural Programs
and Performing Arts, Asia Society
Media Note: For a complete list of Kupferberg Center Performances for 2009-2010, or for information about all the arts at Queens College, go to www.KupferbergCenterArts.org . For images, reviews, or to set up a phone interview with the artists, please contact Zahra Aziz at (718) 544-2996, or pprice@KupferbergCenter.org .
Tickets for King Oedipus are still available at $14; $12 seniors, QC alumni, and QCID; $7 student ID. Orders may be charged online at www.KupferbergCenterArts.org, by phone at (718) 793-8080, or purchased in advance at the Colden Auditorium Box Office. Tickets are also available at the Goldstein Box Office one hour before the performance.
Events at Kupferberg Center Performances are presented in Colden Auditorium, LeFrak Concert Hall and Goldstein Theatre. These venues are located on the Queens College campus, between exits 23 & 24 of the eastbound service road of the Long Island Expressway in Flushing. Free parking is available. Both Colden Auditorium and LeFrak Concert Hall are wheelchair accessible, have facilities for the hearing impaired, and are available for rental year round. For directions, visit http://www.qc.cuny.edu/welcome/directions/Pages/default.aspx .
