The Washington Chu Shan Chinese Opera Institute's Executive Director, Mr. Zhu Chu Shan, a renowned Peking Opera playwright and director originally from Shanghai, China, has invigorated the practice of the Chinese performing arts in the Washington, DC metro area over the past 17 years through outstanding Chinese opera education and performance. Mr. Zhu endeavors to present Chinese opera to new and diverse audiences, innovating old genres to make Chinese o pera accessible and enjoyable to people of all backgrounds. From the director who brought you the beloved "Monkey King", Chu Shan Opera will present a serial of new programs in the comming months.

Mr. Huang Guiqiu was one of the Chinese Opera female impersonator masters during the 1930s through the 1970s. After many years of extensive schooling and on-stage experience in singing, dancing and acting in Chinese Opera, enlightened by his own natural artistic talent, Huang Guiqiu embellished the traditional Chinese Opera with his own creativities, shaped a new style of female role performances, and created a well-known genre of Huang, termed Huang Pai. Huang Pai has gained popularity by its delicate acting technique and beautiful voice in order to reveal the inner world of female figures. Huang Guiqiu was followed by a large fanbase during his time. The art of Huang Pai has since been passed on to newer generations.

In memory of Mr. Huang Guiqi and Huang Pai, Chu Shan Chinese Opera Institute has invited Ms. Liu Wei, an accomplished Huang Pai artist from Wuhan Chinese Opera Theatre in China to present several quintessential pieces of Huang Pai.

The forthcoming The Arts of Huang Pai from Chu Shan showcase is being produced by the Chu Shan Chinese Opera Institute and directed by Mr. Chu Shan Zhu. The projected show-time will be in January 2009.

In addition to The Arts of Huang Pai, Chu Shan will also introduce a brand new Chinese Opera premier Hua Mu Lan to Maryland theatre in Feb 2009. It is with great honor that we invite a top Chinese Opera artist, the highly acclaimed actress (Qing Yi) Ms. Shi Ming from Shang Hai Chinese Opera Theatre in China, to act as the leading character Mu Lan in the show.

This comprehensive production will also include various showpieces performed by adult students from the Chu Shan Institute. Each student will present their favorite pieces taught to them in the opera classes. It is the first time the students will present in public of what they have learnt over the past 2 years.Mr. Chu Shan Zhu is the playwright and director of this production. Chu Shan institute staff members and students are actively preparing for this program.

Monkey King, one of the most beloved Chinese Opera programs that have been produced by Chu Shan Institute, has been in public for over 17 years in Washington DC metropolitan area. Its popularity reaches new heights as more and more people become familiar with the performance and fall in love with the acting. As a consistently successful showpiece of Chu Shan, Monkey King will continue to be seen on many different stages in DC area.

To find out more about Mr. Zhu Chu Shan's area of interests, to view a collection of his past work, and to learn about his planning for future productions, please go to Chu Shan's personal website at ChuShanChineseOpera.com