A three-week-long trial shows period at China's newly-built
National Grand Theater had brought in 3.5 million yuan (US$466,045)
by the end of Friday, Qianlong.com reported.
The trial run, starting on September 25, has offered 23 shows at
the theater, known as "Egg," including seven classic performances
such as the ballets The Red Detachment of Women and
Swan Lake, the report said.
Tickets for the shows were only available to organized groups
during the trials period.
Shows staged at the theater will be accessible to individuals
after it officially opens to the public, the report added.
Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the National Grand
Theater, which is located to the west of Tiananmen Square, boasts
three gigantic halls -- a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat
concert hall and a 1,040-seat theater.
The huge "egg," covered with titanium panels and surrounded by
water and greenery, is expected to set aside about 100 low-priced
standing room tickets for low-income art fans, which will cost only
a few dozen yuan.
The theater will also arrange nearly 300 non-commercial shows
every year to promote the arts.
From December to March, 183 programs will be held in the
theater, 30 percent of which will be overseas shows while artists
from more than 10 countries and regions, including Russia, the
United States and Italy, will stage performances.
(Shanghai Daily October 16, 2007)