The Mandarin version of the musical "I Am What I Am" is set to premiere at the Guangzhou Opera House from January 11th to 14th, 2024.

The story revolves around Juan, a left-behind teenager who wants to become a lion dancer. Through a fortuitous encounter, he forms a lion dance troupe with his friends and becomes a student of the renowned lion dance master Qiang. Together, they undergo rigorous training day and night with their sights set on the "National Lion Dance Championship". Despite numerous obstacles and prejudices along the way, Juan eventually stages a comeback through sheer determination and fiery spirit.

Lion dance, with thousands of years of history, is a significant representative of the cultural heritage of Guangzhou. It was included in the first batch of the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in 2006. The musical "I Am What I Am" with the lion dance culture and local customs of the Lingnan area as the focus, intends to invigorate the intangible cultural heritage in the popular form of stage art.

It is not only an inspirational story about a teenager's struggle, but also an ode to every striving individual. The characters never treat their dreams as the end of the story or the only spiritual pillar. Instead, they face the true essence of life head-on just like most of us do.

Director He Nian attaches significance to the characterization of the characters, striving to portray their passion for life. Through a tableau of the street life in Ah Juan's hometown and the ordinary story of his struggles in Guangzhou, the musical manages to recreate the strong flavor of our contemporary life.

"'Lingnan style' is an element deeply embedded in this musical." When asked about the style of the musical, director He Nian emphasized that the story of "I Am What I Am" takes place in the Guangdong region, thus incorporating various Lingnan styles and elements in the stage design and visual presentation. One must believe that localization is crucial for the musical to be successfully recognized by the country and the world.

It is reported that the Mandarin version of the musical "I Am What I Am" has brought together outstanding artistic talents from the GBA, with the joint efforts of seasoned professionals in Mandarin musicals. Popular artists such as Jordan Chan and Kit Chan will join forces with professional actors Fang Shujian, Guo Hongxu, and Chen Keming to deliver a mesmerizing performance.

Source:Yangcheng Evening News

音乐剧《雄狮少年》国语版将在广州首演

音乐剧《雄狮少年》（普通话版）将于2024年1月11日-14日在广州大剧院迎来首演。

该剧讲述了留守少年阿娟心怀一颗舞狮梦，在机缘巧合之下与好友组成舞狮队，拜入舞狮高手咸鱼强的门下，师徒四人一往无前，日夜接受艰苦特训，向着“全国醒狮大赛”的目标昂然踏步。一路跌跌撞撞历经挫折打破偏见，最终阿娟凭借满腔热血和冲劲，逆风翻盘的故事。

有着千年历史的醒狮是广府文化精神传承的重要代表之一，在2006年就被列入首批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。音乐剧《雄狮少年》聚焦岭南醒狮文化和风土人情，以人民群众喜闻乐见的舞台艺术形式，让“非遗”焕发时代光彩。

音乐剧《雄狮少年》不仅仅着眼于少年成长的励志故事，更是写给每一个努力奋斗的小人物的歌。剧中的人物角色没有将梦想作为故事结尾和唯一寄托，而是像大部分普普通通的人一样，直面生活的真实面目。

导演何念着眼于人物的塑造，在剧中展现每一个角色人物对生活的热爱，通过家乡市井生活的群像打造和演员阿娟在广州打拼的平凡故事，在舞台上展现出属于我们这个时代的生活气息与人生百味。

“‘岭南风’是植入这部剧基因里面的一个元素。”谈到该剧的风格时，导演何念表示，音乐剧《雄狮少年》故事发生地设在广东地区，其舞台、影像等有很多是岭南风格、广东元素。这部剧要成功，就一定要坚信：坚持本地化，才有全国化、国际化。

据介绍，音乐剧《雄狮少年》（普通话版）集结了大湾区优秀文艺力量，由华语音乐剧实力派主创团队倾力打造，陈小春、陈洁仪重磅加盟，方书剑、郭虹旭、陈科铭、李秋盟等实力派演员共同演绎。

文 | 记者 黄宙辉 艾修煜 实习生 张舒曼 通讯员 姚惠
翻译 | 洪婷
图 | 记者 刘颖颖