New Musical Shimmer to Receive Showcase Presentation in New York City

On Tuesday, December 6, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, Hengyuanxiang Drama, and Phoenix Cultural Industry Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. will present a showcase presentation of the new musical Shimmer at the Edison Ballroom in Times Square. The show tells the rarely told story of the 23,000 Jews who landed in Shanghai seeking refuge from Nazi persecution during World War II. Tony-nominated actor Richard Kind will offer introductory remarks prior to the presentation.

Featuring a book by Rong Guangrun, music by Peter Pui-Tat Kam, lyrics by Liang Mang, and direction by Xu Jun, Shimmer is a bilingual musical, performed in both English and Mandarin, with an original score inspired by music of the era, traditional Jewish and Chinese music, klezmer, and contemporary musical theater. The piece, which features a company of 35 Chinese and Israeli artists, premiered in September 2015 at Shanghai Culture Square, launching the 17th China Shanghai International Arts Festival.

"While this is based on a true story that took place over 80 years ago, this forgotten piece of world history could not be more relevant today," says Bob Nederlander Jr, President of Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment. "Two very different sets of people come together in a time of extreme danger and hardship. Together, these people grow stronger together, embracing one another's diversity and discovering the common challenges that make them so alike. We could not be more excited to bring this musical to new audiences."