Considered China’s foremost playwright, Cao Yu is credited with setting the direction of theater in 20th century China. His first play, Thunderstorm (1934), produced two years later, propelled spoken drama to unprecedented popularity among Chinese audiences who were accustomed to the traditional lyrical style. Further, Cao’s incisive critique on modern Chinese society brought to light China’s many social issues. His later works, Sunrise (1936), Wilderness (1937), Peking Man (1940), Bright Skies (1956), The Gall and the Sword (1961) and Wang Zhaojun (1978), also received wide acclaim in China. Cao Yu’s daughter, Wan Fang, will be one of the featured speakers at this special event.
Saturday, November 13, 2010