Onstage: Kunqu Dramatizations of Chinese Beauties, Clowns, Heroes, and Villains

Professional performers from the most prestigious Kunqu opera theater company in China will star in a multi-part showcase of the history, richness, and wonders of this dynamic traditional theater. Featuring guest artists from Kun Opera Theatre of the Jiangsu Performing Arts Group of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

2:00-2:45 lecture-demonstration
3:00-5:00 performance
5:00-5:30 post performance Q&A

At the center of this event will be the performance of four short plays:

“The Drunken Clerk (‘Zuizao’)” from Story of the Velvet Pear Flower (Hongli ji)
“A Concubine’s Self-pitying (‘Tiqu’)” from A Cure of the Jealous (Liaodu geng)
“Flee by Night (‘Yeben’)” from Story of the Precious Sword (Baojian ji)
“Homeward Gaze (‘Wangxiang’)” from Shepherd’s Story (Muyang ji)

Kunqu is a UNESCO-recognized Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Mankind.

Presented by U-M Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies with support from U-M Arts Initiative; School of Music, Theatre & Dance; and Center for World Performance Studies.

Learn more:

University of Michigan to Host Chinese Kunqu Opera Performance