1、While perusing various social network websites recently, many netizens came across thousands of people asking how they could get tickets to the stage play Sorrows of Comedy by the Beijing Peoples Art Theatre. This week, the dramas lead actors, Chen Daoming and He Bing, won the annual award of the Fo
2、under Culture & Art Development Fund. Zhang Wan takes a closer look.The Beijing Peoples Art Theatre has become very crowded lately as more people have come here to see the recent hit Sorrows of Comedy. Featuring actors Chen Daoming and He Bing, the drama highlights the plight of Chinas creative indu
3、stry under the yoke of nonsensical censorship and the hopelessness of its struggle for more breathing room.One audience member says he failed to get a ticket to the play, because they were all sold out shortly after they went on sale.I heard that the drama was great. Thats why I wanted to see it on
4、my own at the theater. Although Ive tried every means such as an internet booking center and phone booking to reserve a ticket, I failed. Then I decided to come to the theater to try my hand, but still no ticket.Following the success of the drama, lead actors Chen Daoming and He Bing received the an
5、nual award of the Founder Culture & Art Development Fund, which was established by the Founder Group and the Beijing Peoples Art Theatre in 2010.The Founder Group provided 15 million yuan for the funds first phase, which is mainly used to encourage and support the development of the Beijing Peoples
6、Art Theatre and its actors as well as domestic and international cultural exchanges.Its the second year that awards have been granted to the theaters actors. He Bing says he was excited to receive the award for favorite actor of the year.All my dreams started at the theater, and all my honor has bee
7、n attained here. The stage has made my dreams coming true. Well do our best in the future, side by side.Apart from He Bing and Chen Daoming, the other 29 actors with the Beijing Peoples Art Theatre also received an annual award from the Founder Culture & Art Development Fund. Feng Yuanzheng also won
8、 the favorite actor of the year.Compared to other awards, this is hardly a big one, but its one of the most important awards Ive ever received as its from my theater and my audiences. The theatre is my home.Pu Cunxin, renowned stage actor and vice chairman of Beijing Peoples Art Theatre, says the th
9、eaters granting of such awards to the actors is very meaningful, as the awards greatly motivate their passion for and loyalty to it.Pu also says the Founder Culture & Art Development Fund has played very important role in driving the development of the theater in recent years. Zhang Heping, Chairman
10、 of the Beijing Peoples Art Theatre, gives some statistics.For many years, the annual ticket office revenue of our theatre averaged about 12.8 million yuan. In 2008, Our ticket office revenue was at about 14 million. It has been going up consistantly since then. For the year of 2012, by November 4th
11、, our ticket office revenue had exceeded 52 million yuan.Compared to many other theaters around the world, six decades of existence for one company arent that long. But the market has long ago swallowed most performing arts companies founded in the 1950s.Yet, the Beijing Peoples Art Theater is still
12、 considered the flagship of Chinese drama, says Wei Xin, Chairman of the Founder Group.The reason that we established the fund with the Beijing Peoples Art Theatre is because we wanted to see the traditional art of stage play passed down, and we hoped the flagship of Chinese drama would create more
13、works for audiences. As we all know, stage play is influential in peoples minds. It aims not only to make people laugh, but also inspire them.During the past 60 years, the Beijing Peoples Art Theater has produced more than 300 plays and trained a large number of directors and performers whove won national acclaim.For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.
