The Red Shoes, hailing from France, made its debut on stage in western China. From the evening of Aug. 28 to Aug. 30, the original French musical The Red Shoes, adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, was staged at the China Arts Performing Group Chengdu Grand Theatre, marking its premiere in Chengdu.

Continuing the recent surge in popularity of original French musicals in China, the production embarked on its first Chinese tour this summer, with Chengdu serving as the sole stop in the western region. Based on Andersen's eponymous work, the musical adopts a more mature and tragic tone than the original innocent fairy tale. It follows a young girl driven by an artistic obsession and stage ambitions who, upon encountering a pair of enchanted and cursed red shoes, experiences a series of fantastical and suspenseful events on her journey to becoming a prima ballerina.

Passionate and lyrical French songs, combined with dynamic and diverse choreography, are major highlights of the production. On stage, delicate melodies woven by piano, guitar, and strings interlace with woodwind and brass sections, blending classical choral elements with electronic sound effects to create a distinctive musical texture. The choreography fuses ballet and contemporary dance, complemented by dramatic set design and lighting, to produce a striking visual aesthetic.

Notably, the premiere featured a familiar face to Chengdu audiences. Lead actor David Dax, who starred in the hit French musical Molière during its Chengdu premiere earlier this year, returned to Sichuan province after a seven-month hiatus.

Several other internationally acclaimed original musicals are set to arrive in Chengdu, sparking a wave of theater-going enthusiasm in the second half of the year. The globally renowned original English musical The Phantom of the Opera will be performed eight times in Chengdu from Sept. 15 to 20, marking its only stop in western China. Chicago, one of the longest-running musicals in Broadway history, will return to the city from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, presenting its vibrant jazz-infused production. The original English musical SIX is scheduled for 14 performances in Chengdu from Nov. 19 to 29, also serving as its premiere and sole engagement in the western region.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】