CHINA'S YU OPERA MAKES BROADWAY DEBUT

PRESS RELEASE:
USA - February 7, 2013
Written by Clarissa Sun

The Maeya Culture Exchange Group LLC, in conjunction with ST Culture Advocacy and Henan Culture Department, is proud to announce the Broadway debut of China's Henan Yu Opera No. 2 Troupe (Henan Opera Troupe). The troupe will be performing a much beloved work titled Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan. The event will take place at 7 PM on February 18th 2013 at Studio 54 Theatre in New York.

The Henan Opera Troupe is no stranger to international stages. In 2008 the troupe was invited to Italy for the Rome CinaVicina Festival before touring in France, and in 2011 they made their critically acclaimed US debut in Los Angeles.

"We are very excited to be bringing Yu Opera to the Broadway stage for the first time," says Maeya's Vice Chairwoman, Ms. Lynn Tang. She adds, "It's a great opportunity to introduce this beautiful art form for new audiences to experience and enjoy."

Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan follows the life of Cheng Ying, an imperial physician, who rescues an orphaned infant and the tragic events surrounding both of their families and pasts. The opera is based on The Orphan of Zhao, a well known Chinese play from the Yuan era.

The Orphan of Zhao is has been adapted and re-imagined in a variety of art forms; the most notable of which are, Cheng Kaige's 2010 film, "Zhao Shi Gu Er" (Sacrifice) and the recent Royal Shakespeare Company's play, The Orphan of Zhao.

The Henan Yu Opera No.2 Troupe was founded in 1956 and is currently led by the talented Li Shujian. Under Li's guidance the troupe has flourished and has received numerous national and international awards. The troupe is passionate about bringing Yu Opera to a wider audience and is dedicated to the preservation of this incredible art form.

Studio 54 Theatre is one of the forty theaters in the Broadway League and is a permanent home for the Roundabout Theater Company. Since 1965, the Roundabout Theatre Company has been honored with many prestigious awards, including 29 Tony Awards, 40 Drama Desk Awards and 50 Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Tickets sales and information can be found on the production's official website: http://chineseopera.us/. The website will also provide detailed information on the cast and a synopsis of the story.