Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Internationally known opera and film director Chen Shi-Zheng is visiting the University this week to interact with students and talk about some of his recent work.
Chen has worked with celebrities such as Meryl Streep and the rock band Gorillaz. He will also screen his award-winning 2007 film “Dark Matter” during his week-long residency at the University.
“I’m curious to see the students and what they see in the future and how they get their inspiration,” Chen said.
Internationally known film and opera diector Shi-Zheng Chen practices an acting exercise with students in John Staniunas' Creative Campus class Monday morning in Murphy Hall. Chen, who is visiting the University for the week, will be giving lectures and working with several master classes throughout the week.
Chen’s visit is part of the University’s Chinese Artists and Professionals in Residence Program, said William Tsutsui, associate dean for international studies. The visit is funded by a grant from the Freeman Foundation to the Center for East Asian Studies.
“The goal is to expose KU students and faculty, as well as the larger community, to some of the most imaginative and dynamic people from China,” Tsutsui said.
During his time at the University, Chen will participate in directing, acting and scenography classes with the department of theatre and film.
On Monday, Chen worked with students in associate professor John Staniunas’ acting classes. Chen focused on movement and gesture control during the classes, Spencer Holdren, Topeka senior, said.
“It was awesome because we got to explore certain exercises in Japanese Noh theater, which requires extreme physical control and is a genre of theater we don’t usually get to use,” Holdren said.
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Chen Shi-Zheng
Two events this week will feature opera and film work by director Chen Shi-Zheng. The events are free and open to the public.
“Dark Matter”
What: A screening of Chen’s 2007 award-winning film. Chen will lead a discussion following the film.
When: Today at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Room 110, Budig Hall
“Beyond Boundaries: The Contemporary Works of Director Chen Shi-Zheng”
What: Chen will give a lecture about his work as an opera and film director.
When: Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall
Chen will screen his film “Dark Matter” on Tuesday and give a lecture about his work as a director on Thursday. These two events are free and open to the public.
“One of the reasons that we bring people here is for our community to experience more about what the artist thinks about their own work,” Staniunas said. “It’s nice to have the artist there to talk about the work.”
Chen said one of the goals of his work was to get young people involved in theater and to help opera become part of their lives.
He is known for his creation of the circus opera, which Chen said integrated animation, circus characters and martial arts.
“It tends to be more popular than any of my other work in the opera,” Chen said. “It has turned into something new and it happened because people like it.”
Chen worked with the virtual rock band Gorillaz on his most recent production, “Monkey: Journey to the West,” the story of the Monkey King’s journey to enlightenment.
Chen’s film “Dark Matter” stars Meryl Streep, who Chen said was influential in helping the film get started. Chen said he directed the film to present the struggles and cultural differences that Chinese students face in America.
“I wanted people to know what life is like to be a student from another country,” Chen said.
Tsutsui said Chen was one of many leading Chinese artists to work in the West and enrich American culture with her creativity. Chen moved to the United States in 1987 and lives in New York City.
“He takes the traditions of Chinese culture, especially traditional Beijing opera, and infuses them into Western opera, theatre, film and now rock opera,” Tsutsui said.
— — Edited by Casey Miles
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