Shen Yun Performing Arts gave its first performance in Monroe, Louisiana, at the W.L. Jack Howard Theatre on the evening of Feb. 3. Theatergoers were impressed by the skill of the dancers and the creativity of Shen Yun’s patented digital backdrop.
Ruth Ulrich, a costume designer, said, “It was absolutely beautiful. The costuming, the 3D [digital backdrops] were absolutely astounding. Some of the best things I’ve ever seen, no matter where in the world that I’ve seen, theater, this has been just breathtaking.”
Clarice Fluitt, a motivational speaker, said, “The performance was absolutely excellent. It was filled with art. It was filled with sensitivity. The costumes were beautiful. All of the ingenuity that went into it. The music, everything was top.”
Ms. Ulrich said, “The costumes were beautiful. I just wanted to put my hands on them and see exactly what type of fabrics they were because the movement and the colors and the rhinestones that you would see in them that were just catching the light, everything was just spectacular.”
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture from before communism. Audience members resonated with the messages of kindness, love, and faith in the performance.
Ms. Ulrich said, “I really enjoyed the kindness, the love, and the working toward eternity. Even though religions differ some, it was all the same basic ideas of love, charity, and being good to each other, working toward our Creator. I really appreciated that it went through all of that.”
Gloria Steele, a pastor, said, “I love that you mentioned that in the show that you talk about the Creator, that it’s not an evolution thing, it’s a creation. There’s a Creator, and all of that, I think just makes us all one nation under God.”
“As far as the message of this goes, it has to do with the authenticity of art and science, because it takes a lot of science to put something like this together. The dedication of people working together as a community to present something like this is quite remarkable,” said Ms. Fluitt. “We live in a time where, unfortunately, people seem to think bad is good and good is bad, so having something depicted like this in an atmosphere that’s conducive to positive energy is a blessing.”
Shen Yun also features solo performances from both singers and instrumentalists. Audience members were impressed by the skill of the singers and the message their lyrics conveyed.
“The music was wonderful. I’m a musician, and so consequently, I studied opera for many, many years and am a singer. The musicians, all of it, were put together with such care that I believe there was a spirit of the Lord in it. I believe that it helps people understand beauty, art, and music,” said Ms. Fluitt. “They were wonderful, and down with atheism, and believing in the coming of the Messiah. That’s a great message, a great message, and it needs to be heard all over the world, which I believe it will be.”
Ms. Ulrich said, “Thank you so much for sharing your talent and your gift, and it came from your heart.”
Shen Yun will begin performances in Cypress, Texas, starting Feb. 13.
NTD News, Monroe, Louisiana
NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.
