ESCONDIDO, CA—Not long after dawn on Tuesday trucks began to arrive at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Workers quickly began to unload theatrical equipment, stage risers, props, and hundreds of costumes in preparation for the California debut of the Chinese New Year Spectacular.
By 8 p.m. all preparations were completed and the curtain opened before an excited audience who soon found themselves transported to another realm.
"It's very moving. The feeling is really heavenly," said Janet Lee, a student at SDSU. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before."
Located in northern San Diego County, the California Center for the Arts is hosting the Spectacular for the second time in three years. Audience members came from all over Southern California to see the Spectacular on opening night. The show will run in Escondido through Thursday night before heading to Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre.
San Diegan David Allen of Toastmasters International was quite moved. "I love the beauty and the richness of the culture that was portrayed there. The costumes, the music… I really liked the variety, the different backgrounds."
Allen continued to explain why the show was more than mere entertainment, saying he was intrigued by "The way it also addresses some of the issues that China is facing today. The dominance and the oppression of the communist party… I see why the communist party is trying to discourage people from showing something that tells the truth. The truth will set the people free in the end. Good will triumph over evil."
Illustrating the grandeur of 5000 years of Chinese culture with performances of Chinese classical dance, a unique and broad art form that places great emphasis on both the technique and "inner spirit" of the dancers, the Spectacular re-enacts traditional myths and legends.
"I really like the Mongolian numbers. I'm a dancer myself and I love music. It's a perfect combination of art, color, dance, music, and different cultures. It was a very nice mix," said Carmen DeBello of San Diego's Chamber Music Ensemble Camarada. "The skills that are required are amazing. It's amazing what they do artistically and acrobatically."
Leslie Truong said, "I think that it was really elaborate, yet very beautiful at the same time. It was very well put together, and I think that the artistry of it really captures the audience's attention." Truong added excitedly, "I feel like I'm not blinking when I'm watching it!"
The Spectacular, presented by the New York-based Divine Performing Arts, kicked off its world tour at Philadelphia's University of the Arts Merriam Theater on Jan. 5 to rave revues. The show has since delighted audiences in Atlanta, Dallas, Boston, Denver, Ottawa, and Phoenix. Two complete touring companies are staging the Spectacular in eight North American cities, wrapping up with a Chinese New Year Splendor show at Radio City Music Hall in New York from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9 before heading overseas.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts shows that will perform in over 60 cities worldwide in 2008. To find a show near you, please visit www.bestchineseshows.com.
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