Chinese Production Company Buys White House Theatre
BRANSON – A delegation of show producers from China cut the ribbon Monday on the 57,000-square-foot, 1,200-seat theater they recently purchased in Branson, Mo., where in May they will open Chun Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu with a cast of 60 Chinese performers, some of whom participated in the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. The show is a production of China Heaven Creation, founded in 1999 with the backing of the China Travel Service and approval from the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China as a national model for cultural export.
Jianing Shen, a reporter with Chinese Central Television in Washington D.C. was among the press gathered at the theater for a ribbon-cutting conducted by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Shen said the occasion is the first time a Chinese production has purchased a theater outside of China. “This is important and helpful for our country economically, and will be a great social influence for Chinese culture in America and for intercultural understanding,” said Shen. China Heaven Chief Executive Officer Cao Xiaoning told about 50 people at the ribbon-cutting he was happy to join the Branson entertainment community. “We are amazed by the rich history and abundance of business in this town,” Xiaoning said through translator Li Dazhong. “I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
China Heaven Creation means “harmony between heaven and humanity as well as creativity beyond the ordinary,” Xiaoning says in the company’s press packet. “What we want to show you is the vibrant spirit of modern China which is making great progress and heading for internationalization.” Onstage at the ribbon-cutting, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce President Ross Summers offered a warm welcome. “We congratulate our new business partners,” Summers said. “This just highlights the variety you can see in Branson, and we appreciate those who see Branson as a land of opportunity,” Summers said. A seven-minute video from “The Legend of Kung Fu” showed precision acrobatics, modern dance and original music telling the story of a young boy pursuing spiritual and physical harmony. Part of the preparation will be locating housing for the cast and crew of about 80. The show is not related to the “Acrobats of China” which has been performing in Branson for several years.
Katie Lynn, a broker with Century 21 Fridley Realtors, said China Heaven contacted them a year ago. China Heaven officials also researched other tourism destinations including Las Vegas, Wisconsin Dells and Pigeon Forge. Lynn said it may have been Branson’s demographics and eight million annual visitors that helped sell the destination. Realty owner Jerry Fridley declined to disclose the sale price. The theater was built in 1994 by investors for entertainer Charlie Pride. In 2002, the theater was purchased by Bob Wehr who renamed it the White House Theater. Marketing consultant Pam Critchfield said the theater will retain its White House Theatre name as well as a collection in the lobby of photographs of U.S. Presidents. For more information, contact Critchfield at 417-598-0662 or pamcritchfield@gmail.com.
Additional Information
Chinese company purchases first theater in U.S.
Chinese company purchases theater in U.S.
