Wubai Yuhsi (巫白玉璽) will sing baritone under DuHei's direction, and the Taipei Philharmonic Children's Chorus will chime in on a selection of Christmas carols.
The theatrical aspects of the evening will come under the direction of Lee Chien-chang (李建常), the 34-year-old playwright, director, performer and co-founder of Off Performance Workshop (外表演實驗團) who has been a driving force in Taiwan's experimental "little theater" movement. His major writing credits number close to a dozen and the shows he's directed have been among the most well-received of recent experimental theater productions.
"My family didn't really celebrate Christmas when I was growing up," he said. "But my mother would hang stockings for us and stuff small gifts into them on Christmas Eve.
It was this experience, Lee said, which has provided him with an emotional connection to the stories he's directed in this weekend's production.
"We didn't celebrate the meaning of Christmas, but I have the sprit of Santa Claus in my heart," he said. "I'm like the boy in Polar Express, I still hear the bell."
For your information:
WHO: The New Philharmonic Orchestra in conjunction with The Taipei Philharmonic Choir and the Taipei Philharmonic Children's Choir.
WHAT: What Happened the Night Before Christmas? (
WHEN: Tonight and Tomorrow, 7:30pm.
WHERE: The National Concert Hall.
TICKETS: NT$300 to NT$1,500; available at the door, by calling 02 3393-9888, or at http://www.artsticket.com.tw.
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