TV: Plans Announced for PEARL Musical; Set to Run at Lincoln Center in August

At a press conference held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel this morning, representatives from Legend River Entertainment (Beijing) announced that they will produce a theatrical show, entitled "Pearl", based on the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck. This show is also being co-produced by an American company, Studiomusica USA. This story, which is familiar to both the Chinese and Western audiences, will be brought to life through the art of dance, highlighting the blending of two cultures and "East meets West" in abstract form. The show will run from August 27-30, 2015 at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The show will be told in five symbolic stages - Spring, River, Flower, Moon, and Night - based on a famous poem written by Zhang Ruoxu about the passing human existence. Daniel Ezralow (Choreographer: Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony, Across the Universe) will choreograph and direct. The show will be produced by Angela Xiaolei Tang, CEO of Legend River Entertainment with set and costume design by Michael Cotten (Michael Jackson's "This Is It", Tours for Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus), lighting design by Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys, Tony Award), and music composed by Jun Miyake ("Pina"). Mirada ("Dark Horse" music video for Katy Perry, IBM Think Exhibit, promo video for Disney's New Fantasyland) will contribute the video design.

During the press conference, Ezralow spoke about the inspiration behind the pieces, and the message that he hopes the show will leave with audiences. "Pearl is about communication and the transformation of fear into curiosity. The creative collaborators that I have chosen have a worldly experience and minds that can be open to the marvelous possibilities of this show. Even the dancers we will choose, while being technically beautiful, must have the ability to be really expansive in their minds and grasp the feeling of being a foreigner."

"We want to produce a show which can help the international audience discover more about China," said Executive Producer Tang. "Pearl is the perfect subject when trying to demonstrate cross cultural understanding and communication."

Also present at the event were Mr. Wenbiao Tang, Vice President of the Zhenjiang Media and Culture Industrial Group, and Mrs. Shu Tong, Director of Zhenjiang Arts Theater, signifying the collaborative effort of the Chinese and Western cultures in creating this culturally significant production, in addition to Pamela Carroll, a spokesperson for Pearl S. Buck International.