Musical extravaganza will shine a spotlight on culture of Xiamen

The 2nd National Excellent Musical Showcase is scheduled to take place in Xiamen, Fujian province, between Nov 10 and 25, during which musical productions, seminars and public performances will be hosted throughout the city.

Cohosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Fujian province, 18 musicals from around China will be staged in Xiamen's five major theater venues.

According to Huang Xiaoju, deputy director of the ministry's art department, this year's event received a total of 96 submissions from 25 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, three art troupes directly affiliated to the ministry, and two music conservatories.

These numbers mark a significant increase compared to the first edition of the musical event, hosted in 2018 in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, which received 36 submissions and showcased six musicals.

To make the musicals accessible to a broader audience, this year's performances will be livestreamed on multiple platforms, and the ticket prices range between 80 yuan ($10.93) and 680 yuan.

Along with the theater performances, around 40 activities will be hosted, including 15 seminars, where experts will critically appraise these productions, discuss theories pertaining to musicals, and provide references for future musical creation.

Some of the crew members of the musicals and experts in the genre will give master classes at several universities, including Xiamen University and Jimei University.

A conference centered on the development of the musical theater industry will provide a platform for exchange and collaboration.

At Xiamen's urban landmarks and sightseeing spots, flash mob performances and mini-concerts will provide the citizens and tourists with immersive experiences and an artistic ambiance.

Musical lovers are also encouraged to post their reviews, creations and photos on social media.

"Fujian province, especially Xiamen, has a long-standing foundation in the field of music and theater, with sufficient facilities, a high-quality audience and a potentially significant market," says Wu Xinbin, deputy director of the Fujian provincial department of culture and tourism.

"This show provides a rare opportunity and a high-end platform for the development of Fujian's cultural and tourism economy as well as musical theater industry. This will drive Fujian to produce more outstanding works and creative talent."

In recent years, Fujian province has produced a number of theater productions that feature regional folk music elements and tell stories based in the province. Three Fujian productions are featured in this year's program.

One of the local musicals, Qu Qiubai, tells of the namesake revolutionary and writer, who was arrested and killed by the Kuomintang forces in Changting county, Fujian province's Longyan, in 1935.

The production made its premiere in 2021 and was selected by the ministry as a key stage art project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Another musical from Fujian province, I Love Shapowei, tells a fictional story centered on a young woman growing up in Xiamen's Shapowei harbor area, who wishes to preserve the local characteristics and present them in a stage production.

With characters such as senior shipbuilders and young residents, the musical also incorporates local culture and history, such as the fishing tradition, the ritual paying homage to the ocean, as well as the area's modern outlook.

Lian Gengsheng, deputy secretary-general of Xiamen municipal government, says that Xiamen has a broad market for musical theater. Since 2012, the city has been collaborating with CPAA Theaters and the Poly Theater Network in running venues, such as the Banlam Grand Theater and Xiamen Poly Theater.

These two theater management companies stage around 300 performances in Xiamen each year, while the city sees an annual total of more than 1,000 performances.

"In recent years, Xiamen has been deepening the integration of culture and tourism, with a focus on building itself as a 'cultural hub, artistic city and musical island', as well as a world-class city of tourism and leisure," Lian says.

"Xiamen with its coastal scenery, coupled with high-quality performances, will attract more tourists to come and visit. Tourists will not only be treated to a rich cultural feast, but also be able to immerse themselves in Xiamen's abundant tourism resources and truly feel the city's beauty."