Living a Broadway Dream in China

By ZHOU XIAOYAN

Living a Broadway Dream in China

By ZHOU XIAOYAN

“I still remember the feeling of standing on a stage for the first time, singing and dancing, when I was six,”said Shadow, the stage name of musical performer Zhang Aojia. “I felt so thrilled and happy. It was at that time I decided this was what I wanted to do for my whole life.”

Shadow has been called China’s musical queen. As the heroine of the Chinese version ofMama Mia!, she has impressed audiences with her professional interpretation of the musical’s leading role—Donna.

On August 12, the Chinese version ofMama Mia!, the smash hit musical based on songs from the band ABBA, started a new round of 80 performances in Beijing after ending its 32 performance run in Shanghai,where it had a box of fi ce total of 16 million yuan ($2,504,000).

After the Beijing tour,Mama Mia!will move to Guangzhou from October 28 to November 24, bringing the joy of the musical to China with more than 200 performances.

The musical holds the record in terms of performances in the world, with a total box of fi ce of more than $1.6 billion. It has been performed in 24 cities around the globe in 13 languages and attracted audiences of more than 42 million. The Chinese version is the 14th edition of the hit musical. Shadow is the youngest actress to play the role of Donna.

“I had a special connection with this mu-sical,” said Shadow. “Early in 2003 when I was a student of musical stage performance,I played the role of Sophie, Donna’s daughter, when we gave a performance in the school.”

She dreamed of performing it in her native language when she participated in the launching ceremony of the 2006 English version ofMama Mia!in China.

Now dream has come true and Shadow said she still fi nds it amazing that she is part of this great musical.

China’s musical queen sparkles in the Chinese version ofMama Mia!

MUSICAL QUEEN: Chinese actress Shadow(center in wedding gown) gets the role of a lifetime as Donna in the Chinese version of Mama Mia!

Broadway’s Chinese girl

Shadow’s success was not just a series of coincidences, but is the result of her longterm persistence.

She was born in Shanghai, and after graduating from Shanghai International Studies University, she went to the United States to study drama at the University of California, Berkley. On a Christmas Eve in New York in 1999, she saw her very first musical,Babes in Arms. Shadow was shocked by the direct, exaggerating and enthusiastic performance genre and realized that it’s the same as what she had dreamed of doing when she was six—singing and dancing on a large stage. That night changed Shadow’s life forever. She transferred to the Chicago College of Performing Arts because they have one of the top 10 musical performance theater majors in America.

After graduation in 2003, Shadow continued her love and determination in the industry. She was later called “Broadway’s Chinese girl” because of her Asian face.

“We usually say being a musical stage performer is a blue-collar job,” said Shadow.“Unless you have a deep love and dedication to what you are doing and are willing to sacri fi ce your youth, passion and talent for it,you could choose to sell hamburgers as that may make you richer.”

“Come back! The spring of China’s musical is approaching,” said Li. With her musical dream and 13 boxes of luggage,Shadow fl ew back to her hometown.

Realizing dreams at home

In 2005, Shadow took the lead in the large-scale homegrown musicalThe Gold Sand, which became a box of fi ce success. In 2006, she set up her own performance studio in Beijing’s 798 Art District, giving free performances every weekend to let more Chinese know what musical performance is.

In 2009, when the musical theater market was in depression, she continued her perseverance and acted in the homegrown musicalI Dreamed a Dream, a 90-minute solo show.

While singing and dancing for one and a half hours all by oneself may sound daunting to others, for Shadow, it’s a thrilling experience.

“I like it! The bigger the stage, the better, because every actor or actress wants to conquer the stage on their own. This time, I really ful fi lled this dream. The chance is rare because it is even rare for an actress to perform alone in a musical, either on Broadway or off Broadway.”

The story ofI Dreamed a Dreamwas based on Shadow’s personal experiences,telling a young actress’ dream, pursuits,struggles, sorrows and persistence. In Shadow’s 90-minute show the audience is treated to a feast of 18 Broadway’s most well-loved musical pieces, includingOverthe Rainbow,All That Jazz,Don’t Cry for Me ArgentinaandMemoryin both English and Chinese.

As part of the Seventh Beijing International Theater and Dance Festival,I Dreamed a Dreamwas staged at the Capital Theater from November 12-14, 2010, before touring major cities including Wuhan,Chongqing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou.

Shadow has been a guest lecturer at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts since 2005. She has published several albums, collecting classic songs of musicals, and some essay collections. She is also a TV hostess. But she never forgets her dream lies in musicals.

“Every time I am waiting for the start ofMama Mia!, I still can’t believe this is really happening,” said Shadow. “Mama Mia!marks a new start of China’s musical industry. I’m con fi dent in its future and will continue to stand on this stage for as long as I can.”

a phone call from her teacher and now musical producer Li Suyou.