China Musical Tour of 42nd Street: Broadway China
| Publication: | ChangJiang Daily |
| Date: | March 26, 2005 |
| Translated Extract: | US Entertainment Leader Wants Wuhan City. Broadway Producer Toby Simkin is looking at the city as a possibility for a 10 year plan of touring Broadway shows in future, such as 42nd Street. |
美国娱乐巨头相中武汉
(Wuhan City)
著名音乐剧《第42街》有望登陆
长江日报（记者王娟）
百老汇音乐剧是无数音乐爱好者心中的音乐圣殿。昨日，来自尼德兰德环球娱乐公司的高级制作主管TobySimkin先生宣布，该公司将和武汉市武演文化艺术有限公司合作，在10年内陆续将该公司制作的百老汇音乐剧引进到武汉演出。著名音乐剧《第42街》将作为首部引进作品，有望在下半年登陆江城。
武汉是十年规划的重要部分
早在4年前，尼德兰德公司就开始了将百老汇音乐剧引进中国的计划。TobySimkin称，将纯正的百老汇音乐剧引入中国，并不仅仅是一个剧目、几场巡演，而是一项长期的计划。除演出外，这个计划还包括投资参与剧院建设，以及餐饮、酒店等经营活动。目前，这个规划初步确定是10年，武汉是整个计划的重要部分，同样的努力也在北京、上海、广州等5个城市进行。Toby每到一处，都会对各城市的政府、合作伙伴、经济文化发展状况以及剧院、观众等情况进行了解。
据介绍，尼德兰德公司在百老汇经营着9家剧院，有着百年悠久历史，不仅是百老汇最负盛名的演出制作大本营，还涉猎演唱会、体育、电视、网络等领域的经营。该公司曾经制作或参与制作了《俄克拉荷马》、《西区故事》、《芝加哥》、《日落大道》、《美女与野兽》、《阿伊达》等多部著名音乐剧，《狮子王》还在该公司旗下的剧院首演。《第42街》打头炮目前可以敲定的是，著名音乐剧《第42街》将作为10年计划的“第一炮”，于下半年来华演出。为什么会选择《第42街》，而没有选择在中国广为人知的《猫》、《剧院魅影》、《悲惨世界》等剧呢？Toby表示，音乐剧的制作较大，要靠长期的演出才能收回成本，而《猫》、《剧院魅影》在京沪等地已经多次上演，在近期再度来华大规模演出不太现实，选择《第42街》亮相，反而会给人一种新鲜感。
原汁原味保证质量
百老汇音乐剧久负盛名，许多剧目不仅有着深厚的艺术魅力，也带着浓郁的西方文化色彩。中国有句古话叫“橘逾淮则为枳”，尼德兰德公司如何保证远道而来的音乐剧在汉的演出也能“原汁原味”呢？
TobySimkin解释说，作为有着丰富制作经验的经营者，该公司将把“原汁原味”作为终极目标。除演员外，公司还将派出阵容强大的制作班底，随剧目一起来中国演出。届时，灯光、舞美等设备以及亲自制作它们的工作人员都将一起来华。“如果台上有50个演员，我们的工作人员就一定超过了50个，加上策划、管理等随行人员，我们可能会派出三四百人的队伍为演出服务。”
Toby风趣地表示，他相信通过工作人员的努力，会让中国的观众觉得和坐在百老汇剧场里没什么区别。“如果实在要找出什么区别的话，那就是中国的剧场与百老汇相比，都大得多。”相信武汉观众能接受此前，当上海传出《猫》驻沪演出近百场的消息时，不少人都对此表示质疑，认为中国的音乐剧观众群尚不成熟。不过，Toby却相当乐观，表示不担心中国观众的文化素养。“具体到武汉来讲，武汉是工业及高校的集中地，还吸引着相当数量的旅游者，因此武汉观众应该不难接受音乐剧。”
在Toby看来，语言并不是欣赏音乐剧的障碍。他介绍说，在纽约观看百老汇演出的观众中，有11％的人来自非英语国家，他们通过一种名为“ShowTrans”的设备领会音乐剧的神韵。这种红外技术设备并不是同声传译，而是一种对剧情的提示和说明，告诉观众他面临的是何种情境。“这种技术已经非常成熟，也已经被广大观众接受，相信中国、尤其是武汉的观众也能从中获得享受。再者，音乐剧的重点在于音乐的魅力，这一点是共通的。”
尽管如此，Toby还是非常谨慎地表示，观众的培育是避免不了的环节，这个工作尼德兰德公司做了一百多年，现在还在继续努力。届时，演出方也会根据各方的反映做些调整，让中国观众逐步养成音乐剧的观赏习惯。
至于观众关心的票价问题，也是Toby考虑最多的问题。他表示，在保证演出质量的前提下，该公司将通过减少管理成本等办法，把票价控制在武汉观众可以接受的范围内。
US Entertainment Leader Wants Wuhan City
ChangJiang Daily
(Reporter Wang Juan)
Broadway musical is every music lover’s most wanted. Yesterday, Toby Simkin, Vice President and Executive Producer of Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, announced its partnership with Wuhan Arts and Cultural Organization. Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment will introduce a series of Broadway musicals in Wuhan over the next 10 years and starting with the musical 42ndStreet.
Wuhan is part of the 10-year plan
Over the past four years, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment has been developing plans to introduce Broadway musicals to China. According to Mr. Simkin, a long-term plan is needed for the success of Broadway musicals in china. Other than focusing on the performances, this plan should include theater renovation as well as expanding lodging and restaurant industry in the surrounding areas. Currently, this plan is set for 10 years and Wuhan is an important part of the proposal. Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, a total of 5 cities are also being considered. Mr. Simkin has been studying the politics, local partners, arts and cultural program, venues and the audience at every city that he visited. Report says Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment has a great reputation over the years and currently manages 9 theatres on Broadway. Not only the hub for producing famous Broadway musicals, but Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment also involves in many other projects like concerts, sports events, television, cable…etc. The company has produced or co-produced Oklahoma, West Side Story, Chicago, Sunset Boulevard, Beauty and the Beast, Aida, and many, many more. The Lion King also premiered at one of Nederlander’s theatres.
42nd Street will be the first musical being introduced in this 10-year plan. But why 42nd Street instead of the musicals that people in China are already familiar with, like Cats, Les Miserables, or The Phantom of the Opera? Mr. Simkin describes, musicals are expensive to produce and they take an extensive run to make profits. Cats and The Phantom of the Opera have been performed in China and it’s probably not the best idea to bring back shows that people have already seen. Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment wants to provide something new and exciting for people to look forward to.
Originality equals good quality
Broadway musicals are legendary. Shows are not only attractive, but also full with western ethnicity. How can Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment guarantee to provide true Broadway performances when shows are from across the globe?
Mr. Simkin explains, “From our many years of producing experience, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment targets nothing but true Broadway style musicals. Other than performers, the company will also have a large team of producing and managing personnel traveling with the show, as well as production, artistic staff, and crewmembers.” There will be around three or four hundred people to work on the production including all the planning and coordinating personnel.
Mr. Simkin says, “If there are 50 performers on stage, then there are definitely more than 50 people backstage running the show. Mr. Simkin also says the audience shouldn’t be feeling any difference seeing the show in Wuhan with Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment’s team of cast and crew. The only difference might be that the theaters in China are much larger than on Broadway.
Most people don’t believe the Chinese audiences are ready for musicals. When “Cats” announced its nearly 100 performances in Shanghai, a lot people had doubts. But Mr. Simkin is quite optimistic and believes in Chinese audiences’ interest in arts. “Wuhan attracts a high volume of tourists because of the central location for great schools and various businesses. It shouldn’t be too difficult to introduce musicals here”, Mr. Simkin says.
In his opinions, language is not a barrier for appreciating musicals. He explains that 11% of audiences on Broadway are from non-English speaking countries. People appreciate musicals through this “ShowTrans” equipment. This infrared equipment is not doing simultaneous interpretation, but providing a brief explanation of the current scene. “The technology is well-developed and widely accepted. We believe people in China can benefit from this technology as well. Furthermore, musicals are about the music and music is an international language.”
Mr. Simkin also indicates the importance of cultivating audiences. It is something that Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment is still focusing on after being in the industry for nearly a hundred years. In order to help the Chinese developing a habit of seeing musicals, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment will adjust the program accordingly.
Audiences in Wuhan are concerned about the ticket price. Mr. Simkin also has the same concern. He indicates, in order to maintain the performance level and to create a reasonable price range in Wuhan, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment will create different approaches to reduce the managing cost.
