Seattle — By Mary Jo Manzanares on February 6, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Filed under: dance, featuredarticle, performing arts, theater

The Butterfly Lovers Comes to Seattle Paramount Theatre

The beauty and artistry of the Beijing Dance Academy comes to Seattle in The Butterfly Lovers, the story of a forbidden marriage that’s been hailed as China’s Romeo & Juliet.

The story tells of Zhu Yingtai, a beautiful and intelligent woman, who is the only daughter in a wealthy family. She convinces her father to allow her to attend school, but since this is a tradition only permitted boys, she must disguise herself so that she might be allowed to study. She meets a handsome young man named Liang Shanbo, and they become best friends as they share a love of learning. Zhu’s secret, that she is a woman, is undiscovered.

Even though Zhu realizes that she has fallen in love with Liang, she cannot reveal her identity as to do so would disqualify her from further study. But, after studies are completed, she devises a convoluted plan where she will introduce her “sister” to Liang if he will come to visit their home. Years pass, but eventually Liang comes to visit, and discovers that Zhu is a woman. They fall in love, and commit to one another till death.

Unfortunately, Zhu’s father has already arranged a marriage for his daughter, and to a very wealthy man. Liang is devastated, and eventually dies of a broken heart. Zhu is equally heartbroken, but cannot stop the arranged marriage. On the day of her wedding, as the procession approaches the grave of her beloved Liang, a bolt of lightning strikes Liang’s grave, splitting it open. Zhu throws herself in the grave, the two are magically transformed into butterflies, reuniting them for all eternity.

The lead roles will be performed by Wang Zihan and Shao Junting, supported by a corps of dancers 19-26 years old.