US director resurrects work based on countryman's childhood dreams

Ten years ago, Joey McKneely, two-time Tony-nominated Broadway choreographer and international director, came to China to work with a Chinese team on the musical, Ah! Kuliang, which is based on a real story set in Guling (Kuliang), an ancient town nestled in the mountainous area in Fuzhou, Fujian province.

The musical, which is set against the backdrop of the tranquil and beautiful town nicknamed the "village in the clouds", intrigued McKneely because it is about Milton Gardner (1901-86), an American professor of physics at the University of California, who was born in Guling and spent 10 years there before moving back to the United States in 1911. Gardner dreamed of returning and revisiting childhood friends but between wars and poor health, he died before being able to make the trip.

McKneely recently revived the musical, which was performed at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center on Nov 16 and 17. Now a faculty member in the musical department at the Beijing Dance Academy, McKneely was director and the show featured his students from the academy.

"It's a wonderful, heartfelt story about the relationship of three friends — one is an American and two are Chinese. It's a lifelong friendship. What is wonderful about the show is that it artistically portrays the relationship between China and the US, and how long a history we have together, and how much we care about and support each other," McKneely said in an interview on Nov 16.

He also says that the musical is important to him because of his own relationship with China.

"Now I have a closer relationship with China. I understand what living here means and the value of it. I am able to present that in the show. There is really a wonderful balance. Now I can introduce Chinese art to what I know about musicals," he adds.

Twenty-nine students he has been training for the past three years took part in the performances. McKneely says that he has been working with them, training them in techniques and international performance skills. Rehearsals lasted six weeks and the students were put through the same regimen as professional actors.

According to Huang Kai, director of the musical department at the Beijing Dance Academy, the school is keen to train students not only in performance skills, but also to help them overcome stage fright. In addition to shows at the school, students are also provided with opportunities to perform onstage in front of real audiences.

"Their career-related thoughts and confidence are crucial to their futures. We want to prepare them for careers after graduation with more opportunities to appear onstage," Huang says.