A brave enterprise(2)

Yang Jiamin has a dream to present the best musical works to Chinese theatergoers. [Photo provided to China Daily]

An impossible dream?

As a student of English language and literature at Peking University, Yang had two passions: Taking an interest in the appreciation of musicals, learning of classics like Show Boat and Oklahoma through arts courses, and starting her own business. She did not realize the two could be combined when she graduated in 2009.

She stepped into the roller coaster world of finance in the United States and Japan, but she was invariably lured to the Great White Way or its equivalent in Japan, where a company called Four Seasons produced localized versions of Western musicals.

With no professional expertise, Yang launched her musical production company Seven Ages Production in Beijing at the end of 2011.

Half a year later, Man of la Mancha opened in Beijing. Not a Chinese version though, but in its English original and directed by Joseph Graves, who was her professor sowing the seeds of the wonder of the musical in Yang. He had directed the show on Broadway. The repertory was a difficult choice for Yang because Chinese were not familiar with it, except the original novel.

It turned out that the tale of Don Quixote embodies the dream of many young Chinese, who are predominantly urban white-collar professionals holding onto their ideals and accidentally form the backbone of theater patrons. Their response was so positive that, even with a minimal marketing budget, word got out and a total of 60 shows, including a revival in 2013, were sold, recouping the initial investment of 2 million yuan.

"I wondered whether this musical illuminated my dream, or whether my dream facilitated its fruition in China. It is a subtle and magical dynamic. But I do believe the pursuit of life goals exhibited in this work is prodding me to go forward," says Yang.