Hangzhou to stage folk tale on Broadway

A scene of the Legend of the White Snake theater. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The Legend of the White Snake, a renowned Chinese folk tale based in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, will be staged as a musical on Broadway, the United States, according to a cooperation agreement signed between Hangzhou Culture Radio Television Performing Art Group and Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment on Dec 17.

The tale, which reflects the city's long history and profound culture, is a love story about a white snake and a scholar in ancient Hangzhou. Listed into China's first group of national intangible cultural heritages, it has been presented to the public in different art forms including theaters and film and television works.

The Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, founded in 1912, is one of the largest theater organizations on Broadway, the United States. It is anticipated that the cooperation on the Legend of the White Snake would be an inspiring beginning for cultural exchanges between Hangzhou and the North American country's theater and musical center.

Don Frantz, a renowned Broadway producer whose past works included The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, will be the director of the white snake musical. He spoke highly of Hangzhou's beautiful natural scenery and showed strong interest in the traditional love tale based beside the West Lake at the signing ceremony. Frantz said he would visit places related to the Legend of the White Snake in the following days, trying to find creative inspiration.