Photo Flash: First Look at Dance-Theatre Spectacular PEARL at Lincoln Center

Pearl, a new American-Chinese dance-theatre spectacular, inspired by the life of Pearl S. Buck, the first woman to win both the Nobel and the Pulitzer Prizes, will have its world premiere at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for four performances only, August 27-30th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the dancers in action below!

The story, focusing on the substantial influence Pearl had on both Chinese and Western cultures, will be brought to life through new choreography by Daniel Ezralow (Ezralow Dance Company, MOMIX, Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony, Academy Awards), a new score composed by Jun Miyake (collaborations with Robert Wilson, Pina Bausch, David Byrne and Oliver Stone), dazzling visuals and a company of 30 American and Chinese dancers.

Pearl invites audiences to explore one of the most fascinating and emotion filled stories of the 20th century. Pearl, which delivers messages of hope, strength, and understanding, will be told in five symbolic stages: Spring, River, Flower, Moon, and Night, based on the influential poem of all poems written centuries ago by Zhang Ruoxu. The production will feature five different aged dancers portraying different stages of Pearl's life.

The physical production of Pearl is enormous, more like a movie set than a theatrical one. New York's temple of dance will be transformed. Pearl will feature a real 150' long x 6' wide river that snakes around the entire stage. Representing the actual shape of Yangtze in China, dancers will perform around and in the river. A substantial element of the stage production will feature a state-of-the-art multi media presentation on 30 flying panels that are 40' tall x 6' wide each. The entire Koch Theatre stage space (70" wide x 80" deep) will be filled with design from wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling.

Produced by Angela Xiaolei Tang, CEO of Legend River Entertainment along with Zhenjiang Media Group and American producer Steven Ship, The set design by Michael Cotten (Michael Jackson, Bette Midler, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Disney's "High School Musical", Olympics), costume design by Oana Botez (BAM Next Wave, Mikhail Baryshnikov) and lighting design byChristopher Akerlind (Broadway: The Light In The Piazza, The Last Ship, Rocky). Mirada ("Dark Horse" music video for Katy Perry) will contribute the video design.

Tickets, priced from $27 to $162 are currently available at The David H. Koch Theater Box Office, at www.PearlTheShow.com or by calling 212-496-0600.

Photo Credit: Jim Cox