Chinese kungfu will be seen in New York next year, when "The Soul of Shaolin" transfers to Broadway. But locals can catch rehearsals this month in Shanghai.

The Chinese martial arts spectacle will run for 24 performances at Broadway's Marquis Theater from January 10 to February 1. The Shanghai rehearsals will be staged at the Shanghai Theatre Academy on December 8 and 9.

The Nederlander Worldwide Productions and The Eastern Shanghai Cultural Film and Television Group will jointly present the production. They first cooperated by bringing the musical "Aida" to China. "The Soul of Shaolin" is the first Chinese production to go to Broadway.

"The Soul of Shaolin," which has played in Lima, Peru; Sydney, Australia; and Macau, tells the story of a boy named Hui Guang who is separated from his mother by war, said Xue Weijun, the director of the show.

Hui Guang is found and taken in by the legendary monks of the Shaolin Temple and raised among them. As he grows into a man, Hui Guang becomes an accomplished master of Shaolin kungfu and embarks on an epic journey of self-discovery.

"The growth of Hui Guang is also an exhibition of Shaolin kungfu," said Xue. "All the conflicts in this show are presented through martial arts together with some drama and elements of local opera."

The actors and actresses featured in the show are members of Songshan Shaolin Temple Martial Arts in Henan Province.

All have between four and 12 years of martial arts experience.

(Shanghai Daily December 3, 2008)