Taiwan’s locally produced musical “Don’t Cry, Dancing Girls” has recently captured widespread attention in the country’s theater scene and is set to debut at New York City’s Theatre Row from January 23 to 25 next year. Radio Taiwan International spoke with Chris Tseng (曾慧誠), the artistic director of VMTheatre Company, in an exclusive interview.
“Don’t Cry, Dancing Girls” explores Taiwan’s soul-guiding rituals during traditional funerals, telling the story of three sisters in the rural town of Huwei, Yunlin County. The musical has toured the island, selling out 1,200 tickets in just 8 minutes, making waves and breaking box office records.
Tseng noted that the theater company has focused on building international connections in recent years. Given the strong emotional resonance the musical has generated in Taiwan, he believes it deserves the opportunity to enter the Off-Broadway scene and gain international exposure. While the venue's capacity is limited, he is eager to see how foreign audiences will receive this work.
He also revealed that the theater company has finalized contracts with its collaborators in New York City and has officially announced the performance details to the public. The musical will be adapted into a two-and-a-half-hour format, including an intermission, with the script and music tailored to suit this new structure.
Additionally, Tseng stated that they will hold preview performances at National Taiwan University’s University Players Theatre on January 15 and 16 next year, giving audiences a chance to experience the musical before its New York debut.