Graduates from the China Academy of Local Opera stage Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream tonight at the Academy's theater.

Playwright and lyricist Shao Hongchao has adapted the play into a version which consists of one act in the Shakespearean costumes (including the prologue and epilogue) and five acts in the approach of Peking Opera.

In the five acts, performers will take part in the Peking Opera routines, wearing traditional facial make-up and costumes.

It is another effort by Shao to combine Western drama with Chinese local opera, following two previous productions Othello and Odyssey.

In 1983, Shao adapted Shakespeare's Othello into a Peking Opera play and the China Academy of Local Opera staged it in June that year.

Two years ago, Odyssey was put on stage by China Pingju Opera Theater.

Warm up concerts

Starting December 26, the Beijing Enlight Media Co. and Samsung China Co. will jointly launch a "Samsung Yepp Digital Music Festival," one of a series of warm-up concerts for the Fifth Pepsi Music Chart Awards.

The concert will close on January 29, 2005,  and it will be held in at least five major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang, and will give Chinese singers a platform for more public and media spotlight, organizers say.

The Fifth Pepsi Music Chart Awards are scheduled for March 28, 2005, at Shenzhen Grand Theater in the city of Shenzhen.

Started in 2001, the influential Pepsi Music Chart Awards recognize artists on the Chinese music scene. They are organized by TV programmer Chinese Music Billboard, under the Beijing Enlight Media Co.

To ensure the openness, fairness and credibility, the final winners will be singled out by a panel of judges consisting of some of the most prestigious music critics and producers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Chinese mainland.

Movie masters' forum

As part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of China's motion picture industry next year, the Chinese Film Artists' Association, the All China Federation of the Literary and Arts Circles, and the Amer-Asian Hollywood Entertainment Group will jointly organize a Hollywood Movie Masters Forum in March 2005.

"At least 24 prominent American film producers, film makers, actors and actresses have signed intent contracts to attend the Beijing forum where people from the Chinese and American motion picture industries will get together and seek possible co-operation," said Kang Jianmin, deputy director of Chinese Film Artists' Association. Topping the invitation list are Oliver Stone, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Mike Medavoy, Jerry Zucker, Clint Green and Nabil Mechi.

Auspicious crafts

Sponsored by the Chinese Folk Artists' Association and Treasure magazine, the "Exhibition of Chinese Auspicious Crafts" opened on December 17 at Beijing Zhengyangmen Exhibition Hall.

The exhibits include prints, paintings, wax printing, facial makeup of Peking Opera, clay sculpture, papercut, embroidery and woodcarving which are produced by some 60 folk artists from over 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions all over China.

Lasting two and a half months, the exhibition will add to the festive atmosphere of the Chinese lunar new year, which starts on February 9, 2005.

(China Daily December 22, 2004)