Spectacular Debuts in Atlanta, Drawing Audience From Near and Far

"Excellent. I loved it. Very beautiful" said Pedro Cardenax, of Venezuela. He and his wife Claudia heard about the show from brochures. Pablo Nimux drove all the way from Florida to see it. Why? "Well, because it's fantastic. It's really a spectacular," he said, smiling. He had seen last years' show on DVD.

Fourth District Congressman Hank Johnson spoke at a reception before the performance. "So happy to be here on this very festive occasion," he said. "I bring you greetings from the halls of Congress in Washington DC." When asked what he thought of the Communist regime's attempts to interfere with the show by discouraging sponsors and performers and other harassment, Johnson replied, "America is a country that people look to for the ideals that we are founded upon. Freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion, are part of the First Amendment of the Constitution. There's a reason they are first."

Atlanta hosted the Chinese New Year Spectacular for the first time this year. The show has grown remarkably since its birth in New York in 2004, expanding to 29 cities on four continents. Tonight's show was the only one in America's southeast, and people came from other states to attend: from Florida, Alabama, and the Carolinas. "I'm impressed, first time so many people—full house" said Erping Zhang, formerly of Atlanta, now of New York. One group drove 193 miles from Huntsville, Alabama.

The Spectacular crosses the Atlantic within days for February shows in Paris and Berlin, then March performances in Kansai and Kanto, Japan. The show heads south to Australia and concludes in spring, in April in Taiwan. It had a feeling of dawn and of spring. Soprano Bai Xue, in an emerald, pale green and sparkling gold gown, sang about peace of mind and hopefulness against a background of ocean which grew lighter and more glowing as her song progressed.

New Tang Dynasty Televisions' website speaks of spring, quoting legendary Song Dynasty poet Shao Yong:

Congressman Hank Johnson of Atlanta's Fourth District spoke at a reception for the Spectacular. (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)

Dots of plum blossoms herald the arrival of spring in Heaven and on Earth
If you want to know what will happen, ask Bo and Fu for the causes
Peaceful days will naturally come to this world
Making his home wherever he is, who is the host and who is the guest

Mr. Isaac Farris, President and CEO of the Martin Luther King Center. (Thai Ton/The Epoch Times)

Mr. and Mrs. Cardenax loved the Spectacular. (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)

Great show! said Mr. David Smith of Atlanta. He has lived in Japan and Korea, and loves Asian culture. His Korean wife recommended they get tickets to the Spectacular. His friend, who did not give his name, said "I've been inviting him, and he wouldn't go—all of a sudden he's like—You GOT to go!" (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)

Families of Adopted Chinese Children came to the show even though it was past some members' bedtimes. Twins Joy and Grace Witkowski, from left, just turned 5. Shannon Kessler shares their enthusiasm for blue lollipops. The group celebrates Chinese festivals and attends Chinese language school together so that the adoptees retain their heritage. (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)

Mrs. Lavinia Phillips, shown with her daughter Mary, said the pieces in the Atlanta Spectacular were "lovely productions." (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)

The Epoch Times is proud to join with New Tang Dynasty T.V. and Sound of Hope Radio in co-sponsoring NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular . This article is one of a series meant to introduce this unique and important event.