At the Suzhou Shishan Grand Theater, audiences eager to watch The Phantom of the Opera lined up for photos in front of a sculpture of the show's famous mask.

"I learned about the show during music class in middle school and always dreamed of watching it live," said one young theatergoer, who was wearing a white dress in tribute to the musical's heroine, Christine.

Andrew Ahern, resident director of the musical, spoke highly of the enthusiasm of Chinese audiences. "They know the story very well and are incredibly supportive. The response to our last tour was so overwhelming that we decided to expand to more cities, and we've had some impressive sellouts."

According to the SMG's preliminary estimates, the cumulative receipts for the show's first three stops this year in China has already exceeded 135 million yuan.

Ahern adds that the introduction of international productions is now a hallmark of China's flourishing performance market. Beyond traditional West End and Broadway hits, and German and French musicals, stylish new productions are also gaining popularity, including the feminist-themed musical Six, which is slated for a domestic tour in 2025.

"Our collaboration with Chinese partners is excellent, and their technical teams are very professional and efficient," Ahern says.

Zhao believes that the aesthetic sensibilities of Chinese audiences will continue to improve as they gain more exposure to performances.

Reviews of The Phantom of the Opera abound on lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu, with many fans comparing the show's domestic tour to the original London production. Such discussions not only generate online buzz but also provide theaters with valuable insight into audience preferences.

This December, the Suzhou Shishan Grand Theater will host another Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, Cats. The move to feature famous musicals as part of its opening season reflects the growing local appetite for high-quality international performances.

The theater's partnership with the Shanghai Grand Theater also ensures a steady influx of international performing arts projects, spurring cultural consumption.

According to estimates by the China Association of Performing Arts, revenue from commercial performances in the third quarter of 2024 is expected to hit 20.81 billion yuan, a 41 percent increase year-on-year.

"If Shanghai is becoming China's 'Broadway', we aspire to be its 'off-Broadway'," says Hua Shuyun, general manager of the Shishan Grand Theater. "Our vision is to bolster regional collaboration, drawing the finest domestic productions to grace our stages and fostering an environment conducive to their creation. We are committed to not only presenting these masterpieces across the country, but also to propelling them to the international arena."

Xinhua