In this festive conclusion of the year, Pingshan Theater has arranged an exciting lineup of performances in December and January.

‘Wotou Guild Hall’

Topbilled by famed crosstalk comedians Guo Degang and Yu Qian, the Chinese drama “Wotou Guild Hall,” produced by Longma Studio and Deyun Club, is set in a small courtyard house in Beijing in 1948, where families struggle at the bottom of society.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 13-17

Lisa Ono

Japanese-Brazilian singer Lisa Ono, known for her unique interpretations of bossa nova, will bring her soothing songs to transport listeners to the sun-soaked beaches of Brazil. With acoustic guitar arrangements, her performances create a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 24

Vienna Royal Philharmonic

The Vienna Royal Philharmonic from Austria, with Barbara de Menezes Galante Auner as concertmaster, will present a New Year concert featuring Western classical music and Chinese folk tunes. Raphael Schluesselberg will wield the baton and soprano Ekaterina Protsenko will be soloist.

Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 25

‘The Shawshank Redemption’

The Chinese version of Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns’ stage adaptation of “The Shawshank Redemption,” featuring a cast of Chinese-speaking foreigners, will premiere at Pingshan Theater on Jan. 4, 2024. Clément Magar and Mark Rowswell will lead the cast as Andy Dufresne and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, respectively.

Tackling powerful themes, including hope, friendship and resilience, the “Shawshank Redemption” play is adapted from Stephen King’s novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” The story centers on a banker who is wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank prison. He must rely on his wit and friendship to keep his hope alive. 

Orchestre Philharmonique Parisien

The Orchestre Philharmonique Parisien from France, with Pierre Humbert Pottiez as concertmaster, will present a New Year concert featuring Western classical music and Chinese folk tunes. Sylvain Leclerc will wield the baton. Tenor Victor Dahhani, mezzo-soprano Yana Boukoff and pianist Wilfrid Humbert will be soloists.

Dates: 8 p.m., Jan. 5, 2024

‘Anna Karenina’

Set in the late 19th century, the Russian musical “Anna Karenina” revolves around the love affair between the title character Anna Karenina and cavalry officer Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky. Directed by Alina Chevik, a name associated with many of the best-known Russian musicals and operettas, the musical boasts a libretto by renowned Russian bard Yuliy Kim, music by the Moscow Operetta State Academic Theater’s long-time partner Roman Ignatyev, and choreography by the revered ballerina Irina Korneeva.

Dates: 7:30 p.m., Jan. 19; 3 p.m. Jan. 20, 2024

Booking: Official WeChat account “PingShanTheatre”

Venue: Pingshan Theater, Pingshan District (坪山大剧院)

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station (坪山广场站), Exit D