OSF to Present SECRET LOVE IN PEACH BLOSSOM LAND, Begin. 4/19

Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land by acclaimed Taiwanese playwright Stan Lai will have its U.S. premiere as one of 11 plays running in repertory during the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2015 season. Mr. Lai will also direct Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, which opens April 19 and runs through October 31 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. Preview performances are April 15, 17 and 18.

"For a theatre with Shakespeare at its very core, presenting great texts from around the globe represents a logical and profound extension of our mission," said OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch. "I am particularly excited by Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land because it is the first world classic OSF has programmed where both playwright and director (the same artist in this case) originate from the same country as the story. The resulting authenticity of the production and deep connection to the originating culture will both challenge and enrich our efforts-and bring OSF's commitment to global classics to an entirely new level."

A hugely popular play in China and Taiwan, Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land tells the tale of two drama troupes who happen to reserve the same rehearsal space at the same time. One group is rehearsing a 20th-century romantic tragedy, Secret Love, while the other company is rehearsing a period comedy, The Peach Blossom Land. The juxtaposition of the two worlds creates innumerable opportunities for comedic and enchanting theatre.

"It's become a very iconic work in the Chinese world-perhaps the most well-known modern Chinese play," Lai said in his director interview. "We started in Taiwan and it's been performing many, many places since its inception in 1986."

Lai added, "Many people now are asking me, 'Why has it taken so long for this play, or any of your plays, to come to America in a professional production?' I say, 'I don't know-everything has its time, I guess.' Finally, we're doing a professional production, the American, English-Language premiere of Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, and I'm very excited."

Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land has garnered high levels of support and enthusiasm among donors and sponsors. Among them are the show's Producing Sponsors, Judy Shih and Joel Axelrod, who have played a key role in bringing Mr. Lai and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and whose financial support of the play represents the largest gift OSF has ever received for a single production. Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land is also the recipient of a $125,000 Creative Heights grant from the Fred W. Fields Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, as well as an $80,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to help fund all 73 performances as well as surrounding education and audience engagement events.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival kicked off its 80th anniversary season February 27-March 1 with the openings of Much Ado about Nothing, Guys and Dolls, Fingersmith and Pericles. Long Day's Journey into Night and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land open in the spring before Antony and Cleopatra, Head Over Heels, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Happiest Song Plays Last and Sweat round out the season this summer. OSF's 2015 season is sponsored by U.S. Bank.

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