'Holiday Wonders' Show Delivers a Feast for the Senses

At this time of year, Manhattan comes alive with tree lightings, fancy department store windows, and shopping everywhere. But the stress level also shoots up, with the streets and subway cars swelling with people-New Yorkers and the holiday influx of tourists-and their shopping bags.

For those who took time away from the crowds on Thursday night, the show playing at the Beacon Theatre, Holiday Wonders, offered a feast for the senses and a respite from the world of the New York streets.

The verdict about the show from 9-year-old Vivan Li: "Pretty cool!" (Dayin Chen/The Epoch Times)

Audience members fresh out of the theater that evening described a great range of feelings throughout the show-feeling sometimes at peace, sometimes moved, and sometimes excited by the powerful performances.

Simon Thomas, a marketing consultant from LA who was in the city for business, said, "It was like being transported to a divine land. The worries I had during the day kind of washed away. It was a place of peace and harmony, compared to the hubbub of the streets of New York earlier."

Brian Shaheen, a violinist from Manhattan: "It was awesome. I loved the costumes, I loved the diversity of the music." (Dayin Chen/The Epoch Times)

Many also commented feeling excited during the show, like Vivian Li, 9, and her brother Brian Li, from Towako, N.J. She was beaming while jumping in place. "It was pretty cool!" she exclaimed.

The show, performed by Divine Performing Arts, celebrates the arts from different cultural groups and dynasties of China, and takes the audience on a journey through time and space, in effect encapsulating highlights from 5,000 years of culture and arts.

Vincent Forras brought his wife and daughters to see Holiday Wonders. Forras said he and his wife were very moved by the show. (Dayin Chen/The Epoch Times)

"It was awesome," said Brian Shaheen, a violinist from Manhattan. "I loved the costumes, the diversity of the music," adding that the use of both Western and Eastern instruments together was harmonious.

Vincent Forras, a firefighter who was buried alive at Ground Zero during a search-and-rescue mission, said he and his wife were in tears during one of the acts, and compared each act to a chapter, like a piece of the whole story. And the show, he added, "was a beautiful story."

Eduardo Acevedo, an engineer originally from Lima, Peru shares his thoughts on the show (Dayin Chen / The Epoch Times)

Eduardo Acevedo, an engineer originally from Lima, Peru and now living in New Jersey, liked the Tang Drummers: "I found them very moving." He went on to say, "It's different than other shows. It's hard to describe. The dancers' postures and detailed hand movements are very precise, yet also very soft and delicate. I love it!"

Many audience members came because their loved ones had decided to buy tickets as holiday gifts for them.

Gaston and Andrea Giler, who are siblings originally from Ecuador, share their feelings about the show. (Dayin Chen/The Epoch Times)

Harry Poster of Fairlawn, N.J., surprised Anna Dinardo in the morning with tickets to Thursday night's performance for her birthday. She said she liked the costumes. "It was exciting. The drummers are fabulous."

Steve from Manhattan brought his wife and daughter as a Chanukah gift. In response to the erhu player's instrumental performance, he beamed "I felt like I knew exactly what she was saying [through her playing]." The erhu is a two-stringed Chinese instrument. His daughter Michelle went on to describe the show: "It was stunning and wonderful."

Holiday Wonders runs at the Beacon Theatre until Dec. 26. The Divine Performing Arts company then embarks on their global world tour, to include over 50 cities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. For more information, see http://www.holidaywonders.net.

Additional reporting by Cary Dunst