Listings

SHOW

Vocaloid Opera The End

Date: Oct 17－7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Grand Stage

Price: 280-680 yuan

Its use of 10.2 multichannel sound, through dual-layered 5.1 channels, as well as a cleverly constructed space formed from seven high-luminosity high-resolution projectors and four giant screens, creates unique 3D acoustic and visual effects within the theater space. In the midst of this concert hall turned electronic fortress, the virtual character Hatsune Miku begins her journey by asking herself 'will I die?'. The only performers who appear on stage are Hatsune Miku, an animal character, and Keiichiro Shibuya, a musician constantly pushing the frontiers of music through his cross-genre work in pop, electronic sounds, experimental music, and sound installations. The End is one of the answers Shibuya has reached through various explorations in his exciting pursuit of the extreme limits of new trends in the world art scene. Using the universal theme of 'endings', this piece takes a look at the realities and illusions of 'life and death' for people living in modern society. The visual direction for this piece, one of the most important elements, was undertaken by digital visual artist YKBX, world-renowned for his expressive animations. He and Shibuya worked together to produce the entire opera. The script was drafted by producer, playwright, and novelist Toshiki Okada, who has constructed a new methodology based on a thorough knowledge of traditional theatrical techniques. The stage aesthetics were headed by New York-based architect Shohei Shigematsu, while the surround sound program that envelops the theater was the work of sound artist evala. Meanwhile, top creators such as Pinocchio P, popular for their individualistic melodies and lyrics, participated in the Vocaloid programming process.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Shalom Shanghai, A Music Drama

Date: Oct 25－7:15 pm

Venue: Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

Price: 120-200 yuan

A Chinese Casablanca, a difficult moral dilemma. 1943, in a Café run by a Jewish father and his daughter, came Jewish refugees escaping the Holocaust, Japanese officers in love with western food and beauty, and underground Chinese fighters getting medicine for their comrades. Suzuki pursued Shana, who couldn't afford to offend him but had in her heart only Songyao, a Chinese resistance fighter. She had to decide whether to follow her heart or sacrifice herself to save her father. Songyaowas drawn to Shana, but he had a mission he could never overlook. And there was also Ying, a childhood friend and comrade... The story unfolds in English and Chinese, integrating popular Jewish, Hollywood and Chinese melodies from the period.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Burn the Floor in Shanghai

Date: Oct 20-Nov 1－7:15 pm

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Price: 80-680 yuan

Burn the Floor is the ultimate high-voltage theatrical dance experience exploding with jaw-dropping choreography, heart-pounding music and breath-taking moves. From seriously sexy to irresistibly charming, the talented ensemble of dancers joins forces with two sensational singers and a live band in an electrifying production that 'will have you leaping out of your seat to join in' Heat Magazine. Breathing new life into traditional dances such as the Viennese Waltz and Foxtrot, Burn the Floor sears with the passion of the Tango and Pasa Doble, and revels in the sheer energy of the Cha Cha, the Samba, Rumba and Jive. Not just a feel-good but a feel-fantastic show－don't miss your chance to experience it.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Original Broadway Musical: Sister Act

Date: Oct 17-25－7:30 pm

Venue: Beijing Exhibition Center Theater

Price: 180-1,080 yuan

A newly revised adaptation of the show opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on April 20, 2011, after previews beginning March 24, 2011. Jerry Zaks was the new director with Douglas Carter Beane rewriting the book. Patina Miller, who originated the role of Deloris in the West End production, reprised the role on Broadway, making her Broadway debut. The original cast featured Victoria Clark (Mother Superior), Fred Applegate (Monsignor), Sarah Bolt (Sister Mary Patrick), Chester Gregory (Eddie), Kingsley Leggs (Curtis), Marla Mindelle (Sister Mary Robert) and Audrie Neenan (Sister Mary Lazarus). Sister Act is a musical written by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and music by Alan Menken. It is based on the hit 1992 film comedy of the same name. The 2009 West End production was produced by Stage Entertainment, Whoopi Goldberg, and Michael Reno for Sis Acts LLC. Goldberg is also a producer of the 2011 Broadway adaptation.

Contact: 400-610-3721

ACTIVITIES

Shout! Rock Choir

Date: Oct 17-Nov 5－10:30 am

Venue: Beijing Riviera, No 1 Xiang Jiang Bei Road

Price: Phone for prices

Love to sing? Get together with other music lovers and sing your heart out with the new season of Shout! Rock Choir. We take pop and rock songs and arrange them into multi-section pieces ready for all abilities. Our professional singing coaches from Ukraine and USA guide the group in a friendly and supportive way, giving technique tips and using a teaching method that allows participants to choose whether to follow sheet music or simply follow by ear. It's never too late to come along for a free trial session! After this, you can join the rest of the course, which ends in an exciting performance opportunity. Your first try is always free.

Contact: 010-5739-4933

Mentor Walks at Ritan Park

Date: Oct 17-Nov 13－8 am

Venue: Ritan Park

Price: Free

Capital M, Ellevate, AustCham, AmCham, and Viva bring together established and emerging women leaders in our community to connect, learn, mentor and share experiences. As they walk, they discuss their professional and personal challenges, successes, aspirations, and lessons learned. Mentees will have the opportunity to select a mentor based on preferences and their availability. Mentor and mentee groups are typically three people. You will have the incredible opportunity to seek advice from seasoned professionals who will provide an open ear, honest feedback, and meaningful guidance. Mentoring is proven to be one of the most important components to a successful career. It creates an effective support system to help women overcome professional and personal challenges. Mentors come from a diverse variety of backgrounds including, international development, foreign affairs, law, finance and banking, business development, marketing, public relations, humanitarian and non-profit work, corporate social responsibility, academia, entrepreneurship, hospitality, healthcare, technology and media, sustainability, energy, international trade, and more. Mentees are emerging professionals from an equally diverse array of fields. Nearly two-third of women who have been mentored go on to become mentors themselves.

E-mail: michelle@m-restaurantgroup.com

NIGHTLIFE

Country Live At The Pearl Saloon

Date: Nov 12－9 pm

Venue: Salud Beijing

Price: 100 yuan

Dust off your boots and cowboy hat for Country Live presented by The Pearl. Live music from Shanghai's only country rock band, the Hongkou Tonks, playing covers of your favorite country legends. Learn to line dance with free lesion from professional instructors at 8 pm so you all can cut up the dance floor when the band kicks off at 9 pm. It is free for girls with daisy dukes. Happy hour from 5 pm to 8 pm, band plays at 9 pm until late.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Swing Night: Nanci & The Delicatessen Band

Date: Oct 21－9:30 pm

Venue: Modernista European Style Cafe

Price: Phone for prices

Nanci & The Delicatessen, the last swing kids in town, are bringing the rhythms of a bygone era to the endless dance of Beijing vintage fans. The only golden swing era band in Beijing, Nanci and her guys are taking over the residency of Modernista's well-established Wednesday Swing night. An international combo of four passionate musicians, they are sure to keep you sipping Manhattans while your feet tip tap the old chest floor all night."

Contact: 136-9142-5744

David Binney Group-feat Joshua White, Hite, Eivind Opsvik

Date: Oct 18－9 pm

Venue: Yugong Yishan

Price: 70-100 yuan

Saxophonist, composer and producer Dave is one of the most innovative composers and musicians in jazz today. Known for playing with big bands such as Gil Evans and Maria Schneider, as well as with Jim Hall, Uri Caine, Vinicius Cantuaria, Norah Jones, Bobby Previte, Cecil McBee quintet and countless others, his music is advanced yet accessible and draws upon musical sources of all types (jazz, electronic, classical, rock/pop). Some characteristics of his music are strong, singable melodies, rhythmic vamps and use of unconventional harmonies. The musicians in his band－Eivind Opsvik, Joshua White, and Dan Weiss－are some of the top young musicians in the jazz scene today and all have distinct musical personalities. Binney's previous records Soith, Afinidad, Anacapa, Cities and Desire and Greylon's Epicenter were all well received internationally.

Contact: 010-64042711

Halloween heavy metal party

Date: Oct 30－6:30 pm

Venue: Yugong Yishan

Price: 100-180 yuan

The Metal Music Festival is the largest indoor metal festival in China. But come Halloween, don't expect the music to stop. On Oct 31, Yugong Yishan will have a line-up of China's best up-and-coming metal bands and the venue itself will be decked out in creepy Halloween decor. Bands include Scare the Children, Crack and Bloody woods, performing everything from old-school thrash metal to vocal neofolk.

Contact: 010-6404-2711

Nature Flavor

Date: Oct 17－10 pm

Venue: The bar at Migas

Price: 40 yuan

Nasty Ray brings his rhythmic beats and passion for hip-hop culture along with crew to the weekend this time, so it'll be turned up...way up! Come catch some dope beats and fresh rhymes, as the Flavor takes hold and makes you shake what your mama gave ya all over the Migas dance floor.

Contact: 010-5208-6061

Lantern Club presents Spooked Halloween

Date: Oct 31－10 pm

Venue: Lantern Club

Price: 60-100 yuan

Beijing traditional Halloween party Spooked will be at the legendary underground eletronic music club Lantern. Escape from your straight-jacket and release your inner-insanity, alongside a super-freaky line-up they'll be some super special Halloween decor. Enter the lair of all the party animals in town, where the supernatural beings can freak, slash and grind to an audio/visual bloodbath until dawn. Get ready to get Spooked. DJs on rotation are QQ, Eric Lee, Juliana Lima, BB Deng, Gee-E, and OuYang. Get involved with the free body paint and hair styling too.

Contact: 135-0134-8785

SPORTS

2015 China Speed Weekend

Date: Oct 17-18－All day

Venue: Shanghai International Circuit

Price: 48-3,888 yuan

China Speed Weekend brings its star members, which are Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche and Volkswagen, become a super luxury racing matrix to welcome sports car fans from all over the world. Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the fastest single brand series racing competition in the world. This time are semifinals in Asia and the last stop before the world finals in America. Moreover, in order to support China even Asia racing drivers' development, Volkswagen Group introduces Formula Masters China Series to build Chinese racing stars experience "China Speed".

Contact: 400-610-3721