Amanda had provided us with a backstage tour of Jones Hall when we visited Houston a couple of weeks earlier, but this was our first time seeing a show here. Jessie H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts is a 2,900+ seat performance venue and permanent home to the Houston Symphony and Society of the Performing Arts. (www.houstonfirsttheaters.com/Jones-Hall).
There is great underground parking for the theatre district that has recently re-opened after damage from Hurricane Harvey was remediate. The theatre opens about an hour before show time, and food and drink are available in the large, multi-level lobby.
Chinese artists from around the world came together around 2006 with a common goal to revive the 5,000 year-old, authentic, Chinese culture (pre-communism). They formed Shen Yun in New York and the show is performed around the world, except China where it is not allowed. Those associated with Shen Yun have been (and are) persecuted, jailed, and have lost their lives as the Communist Party continues to attempt to exterminate Falun Dafa (aka Falun Gong). It is a practice of spiritual inspiration from meditation and self-improvement. The performers of Shen Yun live by the principles it represents: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.
The performance showcases Classical Chinese Dance and the Shen Yun Orchestra delivers beautiful Chinese melodies. Two ancient instruments (the erhu and pipa) are included in the full Western orchestra of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. One segment features a vocal performance singing bel canto with Chinese diction. All of it is spellbinding and exceedingly beautiful.
The program provides a summary of each of the segments of the show (21 in all with intermission after the first ten). Each segment was unique and mesmerizing. Every year, the artistic director and his team create a new show based on traditional Chinese dance and music. Therefore, it is something you can see annually.
One of the very unique aspects of the stage performance is the way the company has integrated the background (on a huge screen) with the stage performance. It is really unique and significantly adds to the “magic” of the show. The invention has been patented.
After the show Amanda met us for a few minutes before returning to work.
Amanda walked us down to the parking garage. This is a pretty cool photo of opening night at Jones Hall in 1966 (that covers a huge wall on the lower level).
We were so impressed, not only with the show, but also the theatre. What a great time! If you ever have the opportunity to see this performance, it is a beautiful, graceful, and powerful story of Chinese culture performed by amazingly disciplined and talented dancers and musicians (www.shenyun.com). Loved it!
We’re looking forward to seeing Kinky Boots, a Broadway tour show, at Jones Hall on January 19, 2018.
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