What's on

Interview

When: Dec 24-Jan 12, time varies

Where: Shanghai Art Theater

The megahit psycho musical thriller made its world premiere in Seoul in 2016, then went on to have sold out shows in Kyoto and Tokyo.

It tells the story of a psychologist, a criminal defendant and a legal system that would stop at nothing to gain an alleged killer's confession, even if it means driving the accused to the brink of insanity.

When the psychologist calls a temp agency for a worker, the perfect candidate appears at his door. Witty, studious, and eager to please, Matt Sinclair quickly makes an impression. All is not as it appears, however, and what starts as an interview quickly turns sinister as the true motives are revealed.

Japanese New Media Artist Ryoichi Kurokawa China Tour

When: Dec 28, 8 pm

Where: Tango Live Beijing

Japanese artist Ryoichi Kurokawa uses various media－video, installation, recording and live performances－to produce exceptional audiovisual sound pieces, which he has been pioneering and presenting internationally since 1999. He describes his works as time-based sculptures and considers sound and image as a single unit.

His works are a composition of symphonies, both imagined and produced, as well as recorded. This, with the combination of video material and computer-generated aesthetics, changes how the spectator views the familiar.

A Passage to Bollywood

When: Dec 30, 7:30 pm

Where: Wuxi Grand Theater, Jiangsu province

A Passage to Bollywood is a stage musical with foot-tapping music, colorful costumes and a gripping plot. Covering various aspects of the Indian Bollywood culture, Ashley Lobo's smash hit performance comprises old classics as well as the latest Bollywood songs.

The Stage

When: Jan 8-11, 7:30 pm

Where: Beijing Comedy Theater

The Stage tells the story of Peking Opera artists from the 1930s. Comedian Chen Peisi plays the role of troupe owner, Hou Xiting, and Yang Lixin portrays Da Sang'er, a Peking Opera amateur performer. Faced with the dilemma of dealing with difficult government officials on the one hand and with warlords on the other, Hou has to compromise to survive.

February

When: Jan 15-22, 7:30 pm

Where: National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing

February is based on novelist Rou Shi's 1929 novel, and tells the tragic love triangle story between primary schoolteacher Xiao Jianqiu, his lover Tao Lan and widow Wen Sao.

Created by the National Center for the Performing Arts, the play plunges the audiences into the bedlam of the May Fourth Movement, a patriotic campaign launched in 1919 by young Chinese to fight imperialism and feudalism. In its story about Xiao sent to the countryside, whose courtship of Wen sparks the lurid disapproval of the townspeople, the melodrama champions New China while walking the tightrope between schmaltz and political allegory.

Makoto Ozone Jazz Concert

When: Jan 19, 7:30 pm

Where: National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing

The Japanese jazz pianist made his first television appearance at the age of 6, began performing regularly on Osaka Mainichi Broadcasting, and, after attending an Oscar Peterson concert at 12, turned his attention toward jazz piano.

He moved to the United States in 1980 to study at Boston's Berklee College of Music; in 1983 he graduated at the top of his class and gave a solo recital at Carnegie Hall. He became the first Japanese musician to sign an exclusive contract with CBS.

Me and The Flea

When: Jan 27-30, 2:30 pm

Where: Jiangsu Center for the Performing Arts, Nanjing

Immerse yourself in the fantasy world of light and shadow as Lichtbende takes the stage with a dog-against-flea story by storm－and laughter. Since its founding in 2010, Lichtbende, from the Netherlands, has created light art performances which make a multilayered reality visible and tangible through the mesmerizing merging of light, shadows and music.

The hilarious slapstick depicts the story of an adorable stray dog which finds itself a caring family. Little does the household realize that it has brought in a family of fleas hidden in its fur. The bizarre story unfolds, as the family tries all sorts of ways to tackle the flea invasion. In addition to the witty plot, another highlight of the performance is the combination of antique magic lanterns and live music in the portrayal of the story.

Come From Away

When: May 8-10 and 12-17, 7;30 pm; May 10, 16 and 17, 2 pm

Where: Shanghai Culture Square

Come From Away is a breathtaking musical written by Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein and produced by Tony-nominated director Christopher Ashley.

It is set in the week following the Sept 11 attacks and tells the true story of what transpired when 38 planes were ordered to land unexpectedly in the small town of Gander in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon.

The characters in the musical are based on real Gander residents as well as some of the 7,000 stranded travelers they housed and fed.

First Date

When: June 4 and 5, 7:30 pm

Where: Shenzhen Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center

First Date is a funny musical about an uptight man named Aaron, who goes out on a blind date with sociable Casey after being set up by their mutual friends.

The date includes imaginary visits by their future bouncing baby boy, their parents, his ex-girlfriend, and her snooty sister. Enjoy the humor that falls from the online background checks, the bailouts, and more disasters.