Shanghai, the biggest and most prosperous city in China, is going to host an international arts festival, the last of its kind this century, in the most fascinating season of May.

A biennial cultural program ratified by the Ministry of Culture and the Municipal Government of Shanghai, the Shanghai International Art Festival is a showcase of the lastest achievements of Chinese arts, with lots of performances by the first-rate troupes and splendid entertainments by a galaxy of accomplished dancers, musicians and singers.

The festival will offer a dozen meticulously-selected plays and operas, 15 Chinese and foreign theatrical classics, special performances given by noted artists, and 21 congratulatory programs.

The following is a detailed programme of plays and venues:

Spoken Drama: The Color of Stocks, by Shanghai Spoken Drama Arts Center, at 7:15 PM May 8, 9, at YunFeng Theatre

Cricket Uncle, by Tianjin People's Arts Center, at 7:15 PM May 12, 13, at Yifu Stage Theater

Shang Yang, by Shanghai Spoken Arts Center, at 7:15 May 25,26, at YunFeng Theatre

Theme Variation, by Shanghai Spoken Arts Center, at 7:15 PM May 25, 26, at Theatre Saloon of Shanghai Spoken Arts Center

Big Circus, by Shanghai Modernist Theatre Company, at 7:15 May 25, 26, at Black Box Theatre of Shanghai Theatre Academy

Peking Opera:

Precious Lotus Lantern,by Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe, at 7:15 May 4, 5, 6, at Yi Fu Theatre

Selected Episodes of Peking Opera, by graduate students of China Academy of Traditional Theatres, at 7:15 PM May 7,8,9, at Yi Fu Theatre

Pansi Cave, by Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe, at 7:15 May 18, 19, at Yangpu Grand Theatre.

Story of White Snake, by Shanghai Traditional Theatre School, 7:15 PM May 31, at Yi Fu Theatre

Yue Ju Drama:

Stage Sisters, by Shanghai Yue Ju Drama Troupe,May 15-19, at Yi Fu Theatre.

Yang Naiwu, by Shanghai Yue Ju Drama Troupe, at 7:15 PM May20,21, at Post and Telecom Club.

Hu Ju Drama:

Mother's Feelings,by Chang Ning Hu Ju Drama Troupe, at 7:15 PM May 2,3, at Pu Nan Theatre.

Holding Your Hands With My Heart, by Shanghai Hu Ju Drama Troupe, at 7:15 PM May 4, 5, at Nan Shi Theatre.

Shadow, by Shanghai Hu Ju Drama Troupe,at 7:15 PM May 9, 10, at Magnolia Hall of JingAn District Cultrural Club.

Rebellious Women, by Shanghai Hu Ju Drama Troupe, at 7:15 PM May 20,21, at China Big Theatre.

Kun Ju Drama:

Story of Pipa(Pipa is a Chinese musical instrument), by Shanghai Ku Ju Drama Troupe, at 7:15 PM May 3,4, at China Big Theatre.

Continued Story of White Snake, by Shanghai Ku Ju Drama Troupe, at 7:15 PM May 16,17, at Nan Shi Theatre.

Farce:

Harm You Without Argument, by Shanghai Qingyi Farce Company, at 7:15 PM May 7, at Nan Shi Theatre.

One More Spring, by Shanghai Qingyi Farce Company, at 7:15 PM May 9, 10, at Nan Shi Theatre.

Light of Rejuvenation, by Shanghai People's Farce Troupe, May 14, 15 at Wang Ping Theatre.

Stories of The Small Street, by Shanghai Farce Theatre, May 21, 22 at Mei Qi Big Theatre.

One,Two,Three, March, by Su Zhou Farce Company, at 7:15 PM May 24,25, at Gong Stage Theatre.

Puppet Shows:

Child Prodigy from Mt. Hua, by Shanghai Puppet Company, May 5, 6, at Golden Sun Theatre.

Looking For The Sun, by Shanghai Puppet Company, May 18, 19 (daytime),at Wan Ping Theatre.

Wake up, Sonny, by Lark Theatre of Australia, at 9 AM 1:30 PM, May 5-8, at Wan Ping Theatre.

Children's Play:

Enjoy Difficulties, by Children's Art Theatre, May 30, 31, at Wan Ping Theatre.

Pantomime: by a famous Swedish actor, at 7:15 PM May 13,14, at Lan Xin Big Theatre.

Musical:

Heroic Story of Simao, by Zhuhai Musical Troupe, at 7:15 PM May 17, at Meiqi Big Theatre.

A Singing Star and a Gorilla, by Shanghai Spoken Drama Arts Center, at 7:15 PM May 11, 12, at Experimental Theatre of Shanghai Theatre Academy

Dance Drama:

Spirit of Humen Gate, by Soldiers' Singing & Dancing Troupe of Guangzhou Military Area, at 7:15 PM May 25, at Mei Qi Big Theatre.

For tickets call 021- 62172426, 62173055, Mei Qi Big Theatre 762174409*5, Lan Xin Big Theatre 62564738, Wan Ping Theatre 64392277*13, Yi Fu Stage Theatre 63224391.

-- By Wang Ling
China Correspondent