China Musical Tour of 42nd Street: Broadway China PRESS

China Musical Tour of 42nd Street: Broadway China

Publication: Netease – Hangzhou
Date: March 6, 2005
Translated Extract: Hangzhou Theatre Attracts Foreign Producers.  Mr. Toby Simkin, Broadway Producer from New York, comes to Hangzhou to scout a suitable theatre for forthcoming musical of 42nd Street and looks to build an ongoing partnership with the Hangzhou Theatre.

China Musical Press regarding 42nd Street China Tour bringing Broadway to China

国际娱乐巨头试水杭州舞台

剧院吸引境外演出商

(Hangzhou City)

2005-03-06 07:56:00    来源: 今日早报

百老汇音乐剧《第42街》下半年有望登陆杭州剧院本报记者

昨天下午,杭州剧院里迎来了几位重要的客人:美国百老汇倪德伦环球娱乐公司的高级制作主管TobySimkin,以及曾引进世界三大男高音紫禁城广场音乐会的北京时代新纪元文化传播有限公司的几位工作人员。此行,他们将与杭州剧院的负责人开始商谈一个重要的计划,计划中涉及了参股杭州剧院、参与杭州剧院的管理经营或者为剧院提供演出咨询业务等多个合作方案。双方一旦敲定合作方案,“倪德伦”公司在杭州的“头一炮”就是让百老汇经典音乐剧《第42街》于今年下半年在杭州剧院举行公演。

杭州剧院环境吸引境外演出商

作为美国百老汇最大剧院的所有人和经营者之一,“倪德伦”公司在百老汇拥有9家剧院,拥有百年的经营历史。早在4年前,该公司就开始了将百老汇音乐剧引进中国的计划。

“中国市场令人激动,我们正在寻找另一个100年的发展机会。”昨天,“倪德伦”公司的高级制作主管TobySimkin这样描述他的此次中国之行: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。Toby  Simkin还给自己取了一个中国名字——沈途彬。

对剧院和媒体拥有丰富营销经验的TobySimkin曾参与了《西贡小姐》、《音乐之声》、《西区故事》、《屋顶上的小提琴手》等百老汇经典剧目的全球市场推广和销售计划。

谈到“倪德伦”公司为何将投资目光投向杭州时,TobySimkin说该公司选择的合作城市将符合以下几个条件: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。

在TobySimkin看来,杭州有好的剧院、好的合作者,而且这座城市“如此美丽,如此富有”,他很希望能得到杭州政府部门的支持,与杭州的旅游、文化部门展开一系列的合作。

对于百老汇娱乐巨头将目光投向杭州舞台,杭州剧院的总经理王加兴高兴地对记者表示,双方的合作将是一个契机,对于剧院引进先进的经营管理经验、进行文化体制改革都将是一个好的开始。杭州剧院的总经理助理陆湘汉说,这是杭州剧院第一次和境外的管理公司进行实质性的接触,相信将开启本地剧院发展的新篇章。

另悉,杭州剧院这几天还将与另一家国际娱乐公司——韦伯旗下的真正好音乐剧制作公司商讨合作事宜。

《第42街》下半年有望在杭公演“倪德伦”公司今年引进中国的第一个项目就是百老汇著名的音乐剧《第42街》。这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,作为百老汇十大“长寿剧”之一,《第42街》构思独特、舞步精妙、音乐动听。其中多首曲子都是百老汇流传的经典,如《Lullaby  Of Broadway》、《42ndStreet》等。一旦杭州剧院与“倪德伦”公司敲定合作方案,该剧就将于今年下半年在杭州剧院公演。

TobySimkin对《第42街》的杭州之行充满信心:“杭州的剧院够大、观众够多,我们完全可以在这里连演8场。”当然,演出前强大的宣传攻势必不可少。在TobySimkin看来,《第42街》在杭州首演前至少要展开长达8至10个月、针对不同观众群的宣传战,同时,一些剧中的经典曲目还要在杭州的娱乐场所中率先开唱。

TobySimkin说,《第42街》只是“倪德伦”公司今年第一个演出项目,如果和杭州剧院敲定正式的合作方案,该公司的正式计划是每年向杭州舞台输送5至6个演出项目。

“倪德伦”公司来到中国的第一个合作伙伴是北京时代新纪元文化传播有限公司,该公司的董事长就是曾操作世界三大男高音紫禁城广场音乐会的陈纪新。据了解,今年“倪德伦”公司和北京时代新纪元共同出资注册一个合资公司,联合杭州、深圳、广州、厦门、长沙、武汉、沈阳、上海、北京等10个城市的剧院,结成剧院联盟。杭州作为这个发展计划中的重要城市之一,杭州的观众将有更多的机会欣赏到纯正的百老汇音乐剧。

Hangzhou Theatre Attracts Foreign Producers

3/6/05

Broadway musical “42nd Street” might arrive at Hangzhou later this year

Toby Simkin, Executive Producer of Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment and staff from New Era Broadcasting that produced the “Three Tenors Concert” in Beijing, arrived at the Hangzhou Theatre yesterday. They met with the Hangzhou Theatre manager and discussed the possibility of partnering. Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment will introduce Broadway musical 42nd Street to Hangzhou later this year if both companies decide to work together

Producers are attracted by Hangzhou Theatre surroundings

Being one of the largest and most experienced operators of live theatre in the world, Nederlander’s nearly 100 years of live entertainment expertise currently manages 9 theatres on Broadway. Over the past four years, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment has been developing plans to introduce Broadway musicals to China.

“The Chinese market is extremely exciting, we are looking for another 100 year of developing opportunity,” says Executive Producer, Toby Simkin. He explains the reason for this trip is to introduce a series of Broadway musicals, while searching for potential partners and the opportunities to invest and manage different venues.

Mr. Simkin, whose extremely experienced in theatre managing has participated in musicals including Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, and Sound of Music, has a Chinese name, Shen Tu bin.

When asked what makes Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment interested in Hangzhou, Mr. Simkin explains the criteria that he is looking for in a city should include suitable population, good economic environment, the ability to fill the house, and a venue of appropriate size. The local collaborators that he will be working with closely must possess a global view. Mr. Simkin believes Hangzhou is rich, beautiful and has a great theatre. He hopes to gain the support from the Hangzhou government to start a series of development plans for tourism and arts organizations.

Hangzhou Theater manager, Mr. Wangs says it would be fantastic if both companies decide to work together. Hangzhou Theater will incorporate the Broadway advanced management style as well as the theatre operation experience. It’d also be a good start towards the reformation of current cultural structure. Mr. Wang’s assistant, Ms. Chen says this is the first time that the theatre has ever had a genuine meeting with a foreign producing company. She believes this will begin the new chapter for this theatre.

According to other sources, Hangzhou Theatre is meeting with another international entertainment company to discuss the planning of Broadway musicals.

42nd Street will be the first musical that Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment introduced to Hangzhou later this year. 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, like Lullaby of Broadway, 42nd Street and many more.

Mr. Simkin has strong confidence in introducing 42nd Street to Hangzhou. In his opinion, Hangzhou Theatre is large and is often filled its capacity. 8 continuous performances here shouldn’t be a problem. According to Mr. Simkin, at least 8 to 10 months of focused promotion to a diverse patron base is needed prior to opening. Hangzhou should simultaneously promote some of the more famous songs from the show to different media outlets.

42nd Street will be the just one musical that Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment brings this year. If Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment and Hangzhou Theatre decide to work together, the plan is to bring in 5 to 6 shows each year.

Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment’s first partner in China is New Era Broadcasting. Mr. Chen Gensin, CEO of New Era, is the person who initiated the “Three Tenors Concert” in Beijing. New Era Broadcasting and the Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment will coown a company that will form a theater alliance with ten of China’s theaters to establish long-term cooperation, like Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Changsha, Wuhan, Shanghai, Beijing…etc. Hangzhou is an important part of this developing plan, and the people in Hangzhou will have more opportunities to see true Broadway musicals.

PRESS 2005 03 NetEase hangzhou CN

42nd St China Musical Tour

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