Did you touch it?, Shanghai's "Red", Shanghai Library on July 1st | The Eternal Radio Wave | Shanghai
On the evening of July 1st, at the Shanghai Meiqi Grand Theater, the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe's popular dance drama "Eternal Waves" will welcome its 500th commemorative performance. In the past 1654 days, "The Eternal Radio" has traveled through 42 cities and 61 theaters, welcoming 610000 viewers. The 500 commemorative performances will be a grand gathering, where the creators and actors of "Radio Wave" will gather together. In the theater hall, the audience will also see a map, tracing the footsteps of "Radio Wave".
On July 1st, Shencheng Culture and performance institutions launched various forms of red themed dramas, exhibitions, and cultural experience activities. The stage plays "Awakening Era", acrobatics dramas "Battle of Shanghai", and modern Peking Opera "Raid on the White Tiger Troupe" look back at the turbulent times on stage. The "Red in Art - Major Historical Theme Art Creation Project" exhibition showcases the glorious history of the Communist Party of China with art works. The Shanghai Library also launched an original red immersive reading experience project on July 1st.
Resonate with people from different eras
In the darkness, above the ground, sparks flickered, and the four words "Awakening Age" were prominently projected onto the rusty iron plate. Two 7.5 meter high fully mechanical CNC turntables slowly unfolded, with hazy smoke surrounding them. A group of young actors revealed the confusing situation of China in the early 20th century through their tense body language. At the critical moment of national life and death, as well as the survival of the country, they ignited the passion and hope of a group of righteous people, influencing a large number of promising young people who are determined to save the country and the people.
On June 29th, the national tour of the stage play "Awakening Era" began at the Shanghai Theatre Art Center Art Theatre in Shanghai. All performances were sold out until July 2nd. Adapted from the TV series of the same name, "The Awakening Age" is a 43 episode phenomenal TV series that takes two and a half hours of theatrical time. The creative team has delved deeply into a large amount of historical materials and biographies, showcasing the magnificent picture of China's modern and contemporary history while making the historical figures seen in educational books fresh, vivid, and down-to-earth.
The Awakening Era will begin a two-month national tour in May, and after its performance in Shanghai, it will be invited to perform as a part of the 2023 National Theatre International Drama Season in Beijing from July 7th to 9th. Hangzhou, Suzhou, Hefei, Nanjing, Xi'an... Each tour attracts audiences of different age groups. Some viewers expressed that "I am fortunate to have caught up with this summer and have added another source of comfort in my spiritual world", "strongly recommend taking children to watch together", and "good works that can resonate with people from different eras".
From June 30th to July 1st, the red themed acrobatic drama "Battle of Shanghai" jointly created and arranged by Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe and Shanghai Circus School returned to Shanghai Cultural Square for the fifth time. This is the first time that "Battle of Shanghai" has met with the audience in the theater since winning the "Five One Project" Excellent Work Award from the Central Propaganda Department at the end of last year.
Since its premiere in 2019, "Battle of Shanghai" has undergone four major revisions over the course of three years, with the creative team meticulously crafting the show with a spirit of craftsmanship. Young actress Liu Shasha participated in the "Monument" performance of "Battle of Shanghai". She said, "Shanghai is a glorious city, a heroic city. Let us use a golden monument together to pay tribute to the predecessors who fought bravely for China's liberation cause." The performance at the Cultural Square was presented in the form of a cultural party class. Liang Hongjun, the head of the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, said that party organizations at all levels have come to make appointments for learning, and many party members have expressed that this theme education and learning form is novel and vivid. ".
In mid July, "Battle of Shanghai" will begin a month long national tour, landing in cities such as Langfang, Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Dalian, Jinan, and Dezhou. The red story from the birthplace of the original intention is equipped with innovative forms of expression, which is expected to infect more audiences across the country.
Received by young people today
"The 'Red Wave' travels through time and space and is received by young people today. This is the reflection of many viewers on the dance drama 'The Eternal Wave'.".
From winning the "Wenhua Award" and "Five One Project Award", to Wang Jiajun and Zhu Jiejing, the actors of "Li Xia" and "Lan Fen", winning the Shanghai Magnolia Drama Performance Art Award, and then to a round of national tours, the actors of the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe have continuously grown. The lead actors of "Eternal Radio Wave" have expanded into four production groups: "Wind", "Elegance", "Ode", and "Rhyme", with young people taking the lead. The on-site performances at Shanghai Meiqi Grand Theater and the tours across the country are running parallel, constantly breaking records for the number of performances.
In the eyes of industry insiders, the transcript of "Eternal Waves" proves that audiences are willing to pay for good shows. Following this red journey, there are young people who have entered the theater for the first time, loyal fans who have had two or three screenings, and even 50 screenings, as well as audiences who came specifically to Shanghai for a play. After 500 shows, the red journey of "Eternal Radio" will continue, and it will return to the Meiqi Grand Theater at the end of September.
Compared to the 500 consecutive performances of "Eternal Waves", the new version of modern Peking Opera "Raid on the White Tigers" that premiered on the Shanghai Tianchan Yifu stage is the "little brother". Zhao Hongyun and Li Tongsheng, outstanding young actors born in the 1990s and 1995 at the Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre, play the protagonist Yan Weicai, and the members of the Sharp Knife Troupe are also the younger generation who take the lead. Zhao Hongyun said, "The revolutionary martyrs are not afraid of sacrifice, and their spirit of hard work and struggle is conveyed to young audiences through our performances, allowing everyone to have a deeper understanding of the story of the Korean War." On the program list, Li Tongsheng also hung a "special invitation". He graduated from Peking Opera this year and has not yet officially joined the Beijing Opera House. Upon receiving the task to play Yan Weicai, he felt both pressure and motivation.
Famous Peking Opera performer Shang Changrong, as the artistic consultant for the rehearsal of the play in Beijing, appeared on site almost every afternoon during rehearsals. He said, "The difficulty of 'Raid on the White Tigers' is very high, but everyone is working hard. This is the best opportunity for young people to learn and practice, and we look forward to them performing the spirit, backbone, and prestige of the volunteer army."
"This powerful play is enough to stimulate the business potential and sense of responsibility and mission of young actors," said Zhang Fan, the director of Shanghai Peking Opera Theater. After the first three performances of "Raid on the White Tigers" in Shanghai, the production team will fully collect market feedback and plan to launch a nationwide tour next year.
Seeing and hearing "red in art"
Entering the first exhibition hall of the Huaihai Road Museum in Shanghai Library, the "Red in Art - Major Historical Theme Art Creation Project" exhibition transforms "red" into artistic language. In front of a sculpture called "The Power of Faith", visitors carefully examine it.
In February last year, the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China launched the "Red in Art - Major Historical Theme Art Creation Project". This was the first time that the museum had collected works from artists across the country under the title of key figures and events in the hundred year history of the Communist Party of China. The first batch of over 20 excellent themed works were collected, and this exhibition is a concentrated display of these outstanding achievements. The Lights of Shudelhi, the Opening Eyes to the World, the Shouting Nation, and the Enlightenment... Following the footsteps of the birth of the CPC and along the path of a single spark, visitors feel the original intention and destiny of the CPC in the process of revolutionary struggle in the historical trace.
At the Manuscript Theme Hall on the fourth floor of the East Building of the Shanghai Library, "The Glory of the Party Shines to My Heart - Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Creation of" Sing a Mountain Song for the Party to Listen to "and" Take the Gun of Lei Feng "by Zhu Jian'er Manuscript Exhibition," we met with readers on July 1st. The red classic songs "Sing a Mountain Song for the Party" and "Take the Gun from Lei Feng" composed by Zhu Jian'er are well-known to the audience. The exhibition selects the manuscripts of "Singing a Mountain Song for the Party" and "Taking the Gun from Lei Feng", as well as the orchestral piece "Silk Road Dream" by Zhu Jian'er, as well as physical exhibits such as medals and furniture, to restore the composer's creative environment and artistic atmosphere during his lifetime, and to recall the origin of the red melody.
On the seventh floor of the East Hall in the picture, this year's brand new and original immersive reading experience project with a red theme welcomes student party members from the "Hundred Graduate Model Party Branches" of the School of Psychology and Cognitive Science of East China Normal University. Through role-playing, script reading, sharing and communication, everyone can enjoy "Red Rock" more deeply; Readers who make online reservations can experience immersive reading of any book, including "Song of Youth" and "Forest Sea Snow Plain".
A number of new books, such as Huangpu · Red Starting Point, Red Gene, Spark Zhao Lane, red culture Paper Cuttings atlas, One Hundred Years' Journey and so on, which explore red resources in different regions of Shanghai, also debuted around the "July 1st" holiday to meet readers.
