Supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Taiwan Academy of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles is partnering with University of California campuses to host a lecture tour featuring the renowned VMTheatre Company. From April 29 to May 1, the creative team behind the hit Taiwanese musical Don't Cry, Dancing Girls will visit UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine. These sessions aim to explore the English translation and adaptation of the production, laying the groundwork for a full-scale commercial debut in North America.
Titled Singing Between Life and Death — A Contemporary Translation of Taiwan’s Spirit-Guiding Ritual and Western Musical Theatre Storytelling, the lectures feature CEO Tsung-Jen Hou, Artistic Director Chris Tseng, Producer Evan Lin, and Lead Actress Chang Ching-Chia. The team will discuss how they reinterpreted "khan-bông-kua" (a form of Taiwan’s traditional funeral parade rituals) through a Western musical lens. By focusing on universal human emotions, the production transforms traditional rituals into a powerful dramatic language, allowing audiences to connect with themes of memory, loss, and reconciliation.
Founded in 2007, VMTheatre Company is dedicated to developing original Mandarin musicals. By blending New York musical theater structures with Taiwanese cultural experiences, the company collaborates with a new generation of artists to create a distinct local identity. Following Don't Cry, Dancing Girls’ phenomenal hit since its 2023 premiere in Taiwan and a successful developmental workshop in New York in early 2025, the company is now focused on localizing the script for North American markets, aiming to become Taiwan's first commercial musical production in the region.
The Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles notes that successful international musical adaptations require precise translation of text, movement, and music to resonate with local audiences. As a leader in the industry, VMTheatre Company’s investment in producing an English version represents a significant step for Taiwanese performing arts. This lecture tour serves as a vital bridge to Southern California’s academic and artistic communities, building the networks necessary for Taiwanese musical theater to take root in the North American market.
Tour Schedule & Event Information
University of California, Santa Barbara
Time: April 29, 2026, (Wed) 14:00–15:15; 17:00–18:15
Location: McCune Conference Room, 6020 HSSB
Event Link: https://taiwancenter.eastasian.ucsb.edu/taiwan-talks/
University of California, San Diego
Time: April 30, 2026, (Thu) 13:00–15:00
Location: Taiwanese American Community Center (7838 Wilkerson Ct, San Diego, CA 92111)
Event Link: https://taiwan.ucsd.edu/events/forthcoming-events.html
University of California, Irvine
Time: May 1, 2026, (Fri) 13:00–14:30
Location: Humanities Gateway (HG) 1010
Event Link: https://zotspot.uci.edu/illuminations/rsvp_boot?id=1946312
Liaison:
Tingchao Chang, Cultural Officer of Taiwan Academy
EMAIL：tcchang@moc.gov.tw
PHONE：+1 (213) 389-1215 ext. 315
Don't Cry, Dancing Girls sparking a musical theater craze in Taiwan. (Provided by VMTheatre Company)
Don't Cry, Dancing Girls heading to New York for a showcase in early 2025
VMTheatre Company's Artistic Director, Chris Tseng will lead the lecture on campus. (Provided by VMTheatre Company)
Schedule for VMTheatre Company's lecture tour. (Provided by Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles)
