Beijing This Month | Business Beijing | Beijing Official Guide | Map of Beijing | Beijing - The Magnificent City | Beijing Investment Guide | Beijing Fact File
Article featured in Beijing This Month, May 2003
Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government,  Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism

Photo Contest: Beijing in the Eyes of Foreigners

'Charming Beijing' Tourism Photo Contest

Beijing 2008 Olympics

Arts & Culture
Beijing Basics
Business
Dining
Editorial
Health & Wellness
Love & Life
Nightlife
Shopping
Sport
Classifieds
Get by in Beijing
English 1000, Chinese 1000

Smash-hit Musical Cats On Hold

2003/05/01
 The cast and producers of the record-breaking stage show Cats are bitterly disappoited that they have been forced to postpone the smash-hit musical's planned long run in Beijing until late this year or early 2004. The acclaimed Andrew Lloyd-Webber extravaganza, which had broken box-office records in New York

London, Shanghai and elsewhere had been scheduled to run in the Chinese capital for many weeks, despite the SARS crisis.

Now it has fallen victim to Beijing Municipal Government's decree to temporarily ban all public entertainments, concerts and movies as part of precautions against the further spread of SARS. The order became effective on April 26, and the postponement was announced by the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA) two days later

From May 12, patrons who have already bought tickets for Cats can obtain reimbursement or re-dating from outlets where they bought them. The tickets had been on sale since March, and such was the aura surrounding the show that sales revenues often reached 100,000 yuan each day.

In anticipation of public reaction to the postponement, CPAA project manager Cao Wei said: "We had been strongly confident and persistent in bringing this world classic to Beijing because we believed it would have a very positive social influence in the shadow of the grim SARS.

"But we are fully aware of the current situation, and we respect the government decision to maintain public health and social order. The decision to postpone does not mean cancellation. A later staging will be welcomed with even more enthusiasm [by theatergoers). Let's wait."

Ticket Hotline: 64068888



 
*