From January 11th to 14th, the Mandarin version of the musical "I Am What I Am" had its global premiere at the Guangzhou Opera House, where it performed six shows and harvested great acclaim. According to reports, the musical has already achieved an attendance rate exceeding 80% during its initial run.

The Mandarin version of the musical "I Am What I Am" is adapted from the immensely popular Chinese animated film IP of the same name. It brings together outstanding artistic talents from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and is meticulously crafted by a team of experienced Chinese musical theater professionals.

On January 14th, the Yangcheng Evening News also learned that the Cantonese version of the musical "I Am What I Am" will make its debut at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in March this year, presenting a different style of lion dance for the Hong Kong audience.

The lion dance, with a history spanning thousands of years, is an important symbol of the Cantonese culture's spiritual heritage. With a focus on the lion dance culture and local customs of Lingnan, the musical "I Am What I Am" presents the intangible cultural heritage in a form of stage art that resonates with the audience. It has also attracted more attention from the younger generation towards intangible cultural heritage.

The story of the musical "I Am What I Am" pays tribute to every dream chaser in the Greater Bay Area. Through a portrayal of ordinary life and the protagonist Juan's journey in Guangzhou, it brings to the stage a unique blend of the spirit of our era and the distinctive characteristics of Lingnan and the Greater Bay Area.

Director He Nian has cared more for the contemporary context and humanity in the process of creating the musical "I Am What I Am". He strives to integrate dance, music, and lion dance elements into the story, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the plot and resonate with the characters.

Chen Keming, the actor who plays Juan, the male lead in the Mandarin version of the musical "I Am What I Am", expressed in an interview his hope to convey the spirit of Guangdong people, who are known for their perseverance and refusal to give in. He added that although Guangdong people are familiar with the lion dance, it is a different story when he came into contact with it. It presented a significant challenge. "Starting with the basics, I have spent a lot of effort contemplating how to perform the lion dance. Whether it's the horse steps or the waving movements of the lion head and the lion tail, I have taken every aspect seriously."

Chen Rui, the Deputy General Manager of the Guangzhou Opera House and producer of the musical, said, "There could be numerous reasons to throw in the towel, but a single reason to persist is all that's required. I think this quote embodies the essence of 'I Am What I Am,' the pursuit of one's dreams without ever giving up, and it's also a reflection of the Cantonese spirit."

On the evening of January 14th, the final show of the Mandarin version of the musical "I Am What I Am" concluded with enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience, demonstrating the affirmation and love the production received.

During the interview, Chen Rui revealed that preparations for the Cantonese version of the musical "I Am What I Am" are currently underway, with plans to stage it at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in March this year. The Cantonese version of the musical will present a completely different interpretation and showcase a distinct style.

Source:Yangcheng Evening News

音乐剧《雄狮少年》上座率逾80%

1月11日-14日，音乐剧《雄狮少年》普通话版在广州大剧院迎来全球首演，并连演6场，收获了不错的口碑。据介绍，音乐剧《雄狮少年》普通话版首轮演出的上座率已超过80%。

音乐剧《雄狮少年》普通话版改编自现象级同名国漫电影IP，集结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。

1月14日，羊城晚报记者获悉，音乐剧《雄狮少年》粤语版将于今年3月率先亮相香港艺术节，为香港观众呈现另一种风格的“雄狮少年”。

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，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，同时也吸引了更多年轻人关注非遗。

音乐剧《雄狮少年》的故事致敬每一个拼搏奋斗的湾区追梦人。该剧通过市井生活的群像打造和男主角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、又独具岭南和湾区特色的生活气息。

导演何念在创作音乐剧《雄狮少年》的过程中，背负上了更多的时代背景和人文关怀，力求把舞蹈、音乐和舞狮这些元素融合到故事中，推动观众融入剧情与角色“同呼吸共命运”。

音乐剧《雄狮少年》普通话版男主角阿娟扮演者、音乐剧演员陈科铭在接受采访时表示，饰演“阿娟”这个角色，他希望可以传递广东人“顶硬上、唔认命”的精神。

陈科铭说，虽然广东人对舞狮很熟悉，但当他真正去接触舞狮时，又是另一回事，非常具有挑战性。“花了很多心思去琢磨如何舞狮，从基本功做起，无论是扎马步，还是练习举狮头、与狮尾的配合，各方面都要认真去练好。”

广州大剧院副总经理、音乐剧《雄狮少年》制作人陈睿表示：“放弃纵有万般理由，坚持只需一个就够——我认为这句话就是‘雄狮少年’追求梦想、永不放弃的精神，也是广府精神的一个代表。”

1月14日晚，音乐剧《雄狮少年》普通话版首轮演出的最后一场结束。现场观众热烈的掌声、欢呼声，体现出该剧受到观众的肯定和喜爱。

陈睿在采访中透露，“音乐剧《雄狮少年》粤语版正在加紧筹备当中，计划今年3月在香港艺术节上演出。该剧的粤语版本，是完全不同的呈现，是另外一种风格。”

文 | 记者 黄宙辉 通讯员 姚惠 李婉仪
译 | 陈萱
图 | 夏冬