中文
By Xia Fangting
An international dialogue on Chinese musical theater opened Tuesday at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, highlighting the genre's growing role as a cultural bridge between China and the world.
The two-day Beijing Tianqiao Musical Annual Ceremony Summit Forum, held Dec. 16-17, underscored the vital role of performing arts collaboration in China's global cultural engagement.
During a roundtable discussion held Wednesday, seven musical theater practitioners from around the world exchanged views on the theme "Original Incubation — From Oriental Aesthetics to Global Resonance."
Speakers discussed how to tell Chinese stories that resonate internationally and how to bring Eastern artistic values to mainstream Western audiences on Broadway and the West End.
Musical theater practitioners pose for a group photo after a roundtable discussion at the Beijing Tianqiao Musical Annual Ceremony Summit Forum in Beijing, Dec. 17, 2025. [Photo by Xia Fangting/Chinadiplomacy.org.cn]
Jin Shengquan, a musical theater actor and lecturer at the Central Academy of Drama in China, said the development of the country's musical theater industry mirrors a process of inner growth and cultural self-discovery.
Having evolved from importing foreign shows to creating original works, Chinese artists are now confident enough to tackle stories from any cultural background, Jin said.
"Cultural confidence is reflected in the ability to take any story — Chinese or foreign — as a vehicle to express the inner logic and emotions of Chinese thinking," he said.
Jin added that establishing a true global presence will require "timeless classics" that embody the spirit of contemporary Chinese artists.
Jin Shengquan, lecturerat the Central Academy of Drama in China and a musical theater actor, speaks at the Beijing Tianqiao Musical Annual Ceremony Summit Forum in Beijing, Dec. 17, 2025. [Photo by Xia Fangting/Chinadiplomacy.org.cn]
Kenneth Dingledine, international executive producer at RTS Entertainment, observed that Western audiences are showing rising interest in Asian productions.
"Importantly for today, we are now bringing shows out of Asia into markets such as Broadway and the West End," he said. "There is now an increased awareness of content coming out of Asia on Broadway and an increased interest in finding what the next 'happy ending' might be," he added, referencing the hit South Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending."
Kenneth Dingledine, international executive producer at RTS Entertainment, speaks at the Beijing Tianqiao Musical Annual Ceremony Summit Forum in Beijing, Dec. 17, 2025. [Photo by Xia Fangting/Chinadiplomacy.org.cn]
Yang Donglin, chief costume designer at the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, noted that applying Oriental aesthetics to costumes helps fuse traditional and modern design.
Having worked with international directors, Yang highlighted the need to "seek common ground while reserving differences," given the cultural distinctions between East and West.
"Tradition should not be a specimen for worship — it is a living culture to be continuously reinterpreted," he said, noting that through forms such as musical and dance drama, Chinese traditional culture can move out of museums and take on new life on stage.
Yang Donglin, chief costume designer at the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, speaks at the Beijing Tianqiao Musical Annual Ceremony Summit Forum in Beijing, Dec. 17, 2025. [Photo by Xia Fangting/Chinadiplomacy.org.cn]
The forum featured an opening ceremony, two roundtable discussions and case-sharing sessions on international productions.
The event brought together dozens of musical theater creators, scholars and industry experts from China and abroad to explore pathways for the high-quality development of China's musical theater industry.
