Discover Beijing Opera is a Chinese traditional theater show organized by Beijing Opera Flowers and sponsored by the Confucius Institute and the School of Theater of the George Mason University (GMU). It will be held at Harris Theater of GMU on October 12, 2013. We are delighted to announce that Dr. Weng Si-Zai, a renowned Beijing Opera scholar in China, will be our keynote speaker for a special workshop on October 11, 2013 to help interested audience gain deeper understanding of Beijing Opera.

    Dr. Weng Si-Zai, an adjunct professor at the East China Normal University, is a well-known journalist and respected Beijing(Peking) Opera scholar in China. His rich knowledge and understanding of Chinese traditional theatre is highly praised by both the professional Beijing Opera artists and critics in China. Dr. Weng has written many commentaries and several well publicized books on Beijing Opera. He is also a nationally recognized playwright whose recent works include “The Beauty of Tang Dynasty”, “The Adventure of Monk Xuan Zang”, and “A Love Story in a Taoist Temple”. His serial talks on the history of Beijing Opera in China’s Central TV are widely considered the most authoritative discussion on this topic and a remarkable success in introducing this traditional form of performing art to the younger generation of Chinese.

    Dr. Weng is also a well-trained Beijing Opera performer who understands the principles of Beijing Opera singing and acting, and the uniqueness of Chinese traditional theater in comparison with western styled opera and drama. His comprehensive study of Chinese traditional theater in general, and Beijing Opera in particular, is rooted in his deep understanding of Chinese history and culture, as well as western opera and drama, such as the theories of Bertolt Brecht and Constantin Stanislavski. In this upcoming workshop “Discover Beijing Opera” on October 11, he is going to discuss the rich characteristics of Beijing Opera and compare them to Brecht’s epic drama and elaborate the impact the former has on the latter. A demonstration of Beijing Opera singing and acting will be a part of his presentation. The audience will be welcomed to interact with the speaker and performers through imitating on-stage movement and trying costumes of Beijing Opera in order to have a personal experience of the four main roles—Sheng (main male role), Dan (main female role), Jing (painted face main role), Chou (male crown role)—in Beijing Opera.

    Mr. Ye Ding from the Georgetown University will be the interpreter for this workshop.

    The free workshop starts at 3pm on October 11, and will be followed by a featured show at 7pm on October 12, 2013. The tickets for the show will be ready for purchase after Labor Day weekend.