Publication:	XinHua News Agency
Date:	March 26, 2005
Translated Extract:	Shenyang City Has the Potential for Broadway.  Broadway Producer Toby Simkin is looking at the city as a possibility for touring Broadway shows in future, such as 42nd Street.

百老汇看好沈阳演出市场 

(Shenyang City)
访百老汇高级制作主管沈途彬 

2005-3-16 6:10:43

 

百老汇音乐剧《剧院魅影》刚刚在上海落下百场演出的帷幕，名震美国百老汇的倪德伦全球娱乐公司便瞄准了东北文化名城沈阳，并派出该公司高级制作主管沈途彬（Toby·Simkin）来沈考察演出市场。在沈途彬抵达沈阳桃仙国际机场的第一时间里，记者用英语采访了他。

沈途彬负责澳大利亚、美国、英国和加拿大的120多个剧目的相关工作，成功完成了《西贡小姐》、《屋顶上的小提琴手》、《西区故事》、《音乐之声》等百老汇名剧的市场推广工作。沈途彬曾获得5项托尼奖（美国最具影响力的戏剧奖）。他参与推广的剧目还获得过243项托尼奖提名并赢得96个奖项。沈途彬还热衷于中美文化交流，曾制作过三大男高音北京演唱会，组织过上海芭蕾舞团国际巡演。

在中国选择五个合作伙伴

记者：听说您是首次来沈考察演出市场，请您谈谈此行的目的好吗？沈途彬：沈阳是我此次中国之行的第11站，之前我已去过杭州、宁波、深圳、广州、厦门、长沙、武汉、上海、北京等城市。中国之行的目的在于在中国举办一系列百老汇经典音乐剧的演出，寻找好的合作伙伴，并找到进行投资、管理的机会。首次来沈主要是探讨在沈演出音乐剧的可行性；考察辽宁大剧院是否具有国际水准的设备；是否拥有强有力的合作团队；同时也要考察沈阳的GDP、人口数量以及旅游经济是否达到一定水平。音乐剧的成本很高，综合因素共同决定音乐剧在某一个城市能否成行。

记者：您选择合作城市的标准是什么？来沈之前，您已去过10个中国城市进行考察，感觉如何？

沈途彬：标准是人口适当；经济环境好；能支持上座率；城市内有足够大的剧院上演百老汇剧目以及当地的合作者是否有大局观念。我比较看好上海、杭州和北京，我对沈阳也非常期待，因为来沈阳之前，我已搜集了有关沈阳经济文化发展的大量资料，资料显示，沈阳的环境很好。通过考察，我们将与5家中国的剧院结成剧院联盟，建立长期合作。并适当地对一些剧院进行投资，以便使音乐剧演出更加精彩。

音乐剧《第42街》《狮子王》有望来沈

记者：去年百老汇音乐剧《音乐之声》曾在沈阳上演过八场，效果还不错，这次如果沈阳有机会与倪德伦公司合作，那么观众能够欣赏到什么剧目？

沈途彬：倪德伦公司今年引进中国的第一个项目就是百老汇著名音乐剧《第42街》，明年将引进《狮子王》。

记者：为什么选择这两部音乐剧？

沈途彬：我觉得《音乐之声》并不能代表百老汇音乐剧的最高水平，《剧院魅影》倒是一部长演不衰的音乐剧。我们将根据中国观众的需要，首先选择能被中国观众接受和喜爱的音乐剧，《第42街》是以歌舞为主的音乐剧，对白比较少，同时我们会印制详细的节目单，介绍剧情及艺术特色。《第42街》是百老汇十大“长寿剧”之一，演员阵容几乎是最庞大的。《第42街》构思独特、舞步精妙、音乐动听，是一部洋溢着欢快情绪的喜剧，讲述一名很有才华的乡下女孩一夜成名的故事，其中多首曲子都是百老汇流传的经典。当然，我们会在培育市场的同时，适当调整演出剧目，以便与市场需求相适应。

记者：“百老汇”几乎成为美国现代歌舞艺术的代名词，近年来，《猫》、《芝加哥》、《剧院魅影》、《音乐之声》等百老汇音乐剧纷纷登陆中国，中国观众了解百老汇音乐剧需要一个过程。您作为专家，怎样概括百老汇音乐剧的艺术特色？

沈途彬：百老汇歌舞艺术的特点是通俗易懂、娱乐性强，舞台布景富丽堂皇，加上各种现代化的科技手段，配合音响、灯光，使舞台表演变幻莫测。台上演员载歌载舞，台下观众气氛热烈，使演员和观众的交流融为一体。百老汇音乐剧的表演形式融舞蹈、音乐、戏剧于一体，有些剧目更是融艺术与大众品位于一体，具有很强的观赏性和娱乐性。百老汇音乐剧起源于19世纪中叶，对于推动美国戏剧、歌舞表演艺术起到了巨大作用。百老汇音乐剧已成为纽约市文化支柱产业之一，每年都有几百万来自世界各地的游客到纽约欣赏百老汇音乐剧。

记者：百老汇还培养了很多好莱坞明星，而中国也有一些优秀的演员活跃在百老汇的舞台上。

沈途彬：是的，比如王洛勇、费翔等等。而许多好莱坞明星大腕都是从百老汇的舞台艺术表演起家后，走上电影之路的，著名的好莱坞音乐故事片《音乐之声》的女主角朱莉亚·安德鲁丝就是从百老汇的同名音乐剧中的表演开始，被导演发现后走上银幕，成为美国上世纪60年代的银幕偶像。现在安德鲁丝虽已年过六十，但仍在音乐剧《维克多与维克多利亚》里担任女主角。另外，好莱坞的明星也以能在百老汇的舞台上一展歌喉而感到荣幸，比如：中国观众比较熟悉的好莱坞影星波姬·小丝就曾在百老汇的舞台上精彩亮相。

愿尽力把中国艺术推向世界

记者：请问您喜爱中国戏剧吗？比如京剧。

沈途彬：我喜爱中国戏剧中的一部分，但不是京剧。除戏剧之外，我还很喜欢中国的其他艺术门类。但目前，在美国的大城市中，欣赏中国艺术的机会还不是很多。

记者：您在中国寻找合作伙伴，推广百老汇音乐剧演出的同时，是否也打算把中国的文化艺术介绍到美国，或者其他国家？沈途彬：我们是有这样的计划。我们认为，2008年是一个很好的契机，届时，世界的目光将聚焦中国，我们希望做更多的推广工作。把美国的艺术介绍到中国，同时也把中国的文化艺术推向世界。

记者昨日从辽宁大剧院获悉，沈途彬对剧院的设施十分满意，认为具备国际标准，同时认为沈阳是一座美丽的都市、一座很有魅力的文化古城。因此，百老汇倪德伦公司很有可能选择沈阳作为合作伙伴。而辽宁大剧院方面表示，一旦合作成功，将会学到百老汇先进的经营理念以及项目运作经验。

Shenyang City Has the Potential for Broadway

The Broadway musical The Phantom of the Opera recently closed its curtain in Shanghai after one hundred performances. Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, the famous Broadway leader, is now aiming toward the prominent northeast cultural city of Shenyang. Toby Simkin, Vice President and Executive Producer of Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, was interviewed by the reporter as he arrived at the Shenyang International Airport.

Toby Simkin has worked on over 120 productions in Australia, The United States, Canada, and England. He has completed successful marketing campaigns for musicals including Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, and The Sound of Music. Mr.Simkin’s produced shows have won 5 Tony Awards and the shows that he has contributed to hold a total of 243 Tony nominations and 96 Tony awards. Mr. Simkin is also extremely interested in fostering the cultural exchange between the east and west. He co-produced the “Three Tenors” in Vancouver and managed an international tour for the Shanghai Ballet Company.

Selecting Five Partners in China

Reporter: This is your first time in Shenyang. Can you please tell us what the goal of your trip is?

Toby: Shenyang is my eleventh stop in China. I’ve already visited Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Changsha, Wuhan, Shanghai, and Beijing. My goal this time is to introduce a series of Broadway musicals, while searching for potential partners and the opportunities to invest and manage different venues. I will dedicate my time here to discussing the possibility of performing musicals in Shenyang, inspecting the features of the Liaoning Theater and deciding whether the two are compatible. I will also inspect Shenyang DFP and population capacity, as well as the strength of the tourism economy. Since musicals can be extremely costly to produce, we have to consider all of the factors before selecting a city.

Reporter: What are the requirements you are looking for in a city? How do you feel after having visited ten other cities?

Toby: The criteria that I am looking for in a city include suitable population, good economic environment, the ability to fill the house,and a venue of appropriate size. The local collaborators that I will be working with closely must possess a global view. Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Beijing have great potential and I hold high expectations for Shenyang as well. I did some research on the cultural and economic development of Shenyang before I arrived here and Shenyang has the right environment. Through this assessment, we will form a theater alliance with five of China’s theaters to establish long-term cooperation. Additionally, we will invest in some theater renovations to make the audience experience more enjoyable.

42nd Street and The Lion King Might Be Coming to Shenyang

Reporter: The Sound of Music was in Shanghai for 8 shows and was very well received. If Shenyang has the privilege of working with Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, what productions can we expect to see?

Toby: 42nd Street will be the first musical that we introduce, followed by The Lion King next year.

Reporter: Why these two shows?

Toby: I feel that The Sound of Music does not have the ability torepresent the intensity typical of Broadway musicals. The Phantom of the Opera will remain popular forever. We choose the production according to Chinese audiences’ needs and something that they can accept and enjoy. The main focus of 42nd Street is music and dancing, with minimal dialogue. To compensate, we will have a very detailed printed program that describes the story and each scene. 42nd Street is one of the top 10 shows on Broadway and has one of the largest casts. It’s a very satisfying and enjoyable production with great music, beautiful choreography, and an overall beautiful design. It is the story of young actress who gains fame overnight. Many musical numbers are Broadway classics. Of course we will adjust the number of shows to reflect the needs of the market.

Reporter: “Broadway” has become synonymous with modern American music. In recent years, Cats, Chicago, The Phantom of theOpera, and The Sound of Music all have been introduced in China. Chinese audiences understand that musicals need a process to come together. How do you summarize the artistic beauty and features of Broadway musicals?

Toby: Broadway musicals are easy to understand and extremely entertaining with beautiful scenery and costumes. Today’s technology, combined with sound and lighting, creates magnificent show effects. Performers who sing and dance on stage stimulate the audience. Musicals are a combination of dancing, singing, and acting. It is extremely entertaining and attractive. Broadway musicals originated in the mid 19th century and have a strong influence on American theater and performing arts. The Broadway musical has become one of the pillars of New York’s culture. Every year, millions of people from all over the world come to New YorkCity to appreciate Broadway musicals.

Reporter: Broadway musicals have trained many famous Hollywood stars. Some outstanding Chinese actors have appeared on the Broadway stage as well.

Toby: Yes, Wang Luoyong, and Fei Xiang, among others. Many major Hollywood stars began with Broadway training and then moved onto the big screen. For example, Hollywood leading lady Ms. Julie Andrews began with The Sound of Music on Broadway,then the director brought it to the big screen and made her an idol of the 1960s. Even though she is over 60 years old, she played the lead role in Victor/Victoria on Broadway. Many Hollywood celebrities also feel honored to perform on Broadway.

Introducing Chinese Arts To the World

Reporter: Do you like Chinese theater? For instance, PekingOpera?

Toby: I like some of it, but I can’t say Peking Opera is one of myfavorites. Other than theater, I enjoy many other Chinese art forms.Unfortunately, the opportunities to appreciate Chinese art are fairly rare in major US cities.

Reporter: The mission of your trip is to find partners who will bring musicals to China. Are you also looking for ways to bring Chinese cultural art forms to the United States or other countries?

Toby: We do have a plan for this and we think 2008 will be a great turning point. At that time, the world vision will focus on China for the Olympics and we hope to import more American art forms toChina while simultaneously exporting Chinese art to the world.

Yesterday, the Liaoning Theatre reported that Mr. Simkin is extremely satisfied with the theater facility. He believes the venuemeets the standard and Shenyang has the charm of an ancient city.Therefore, there is a great possibility that Nederlander WorldwideEntertainment will choose Shenyang to be one of its partners inChina. Liaoning Theatre has indicated that if both companies decide to work together, it will incorporate the Broadway advanced management style as well as the theatre operation experience