Staging a classic tale

The reception was overwhelming, with the average attendance rate hitting 99 percent.

From 2013 to 2015, the production again toured Shanghai; Guangzhou, Guangdong province; and Beijing and generated record box-office sales. For many people in China, it marked their maiden experience of musical theater.

In 2018, SMG Live and Webber's Really Useful Group jointly announced the Phantom China project, which would include a "grand tour" of the country in 2020, a reality show to identify musical talent in China, as well as production of the musical in Chinese.

Although the plan was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the tour of the original production had to be postponed, SMG Live recently decided to kick off the production of the Chinese version, as it says China's musical industry is more mature.

"We now feel we have the capability and confidence to create a top-notch show in Chinese," says Ma Chencheng, president of SMG Live.

"Over the past two decades, the musical has had three China tours. During that period, SMG Live took three big steps — first the introduction of original productions in China; second, the production of Chinese editions of established shows; and now we are making original Chinese productions."

Chinese productions of Broadway musicals such as Cats and Mamma Mia helped to nurture the first generation of professional musical performers, creative and production teams, and more importantly, the booming market cultivated large groups of musical lovers in China, he adds.

In mid-July, the Chinese production of the musical started casting actors and actresses and soon received more than 1,000 applicants.