Jamie H. J. Guan: From Flower Drum Song to The Monkey King

On this extraordinary episode of Secrets of the Stage with Quinn Lemley, Quinn welcomes internationally acclaimed Peking Opera master, choreographer, producer, and cultural ambassador Jamie H. J. Guan for an inspiring conversation about artistic longevity, preserving tradition, and bridging cultures through performance.Born in Beijing, China, Jamie Guan performed with the prestigious Beijing Peking Opera Troupe No. 1 for fifteen years, specializing in martial arts roles before bringing his extraordinary talents to Broadway, film, television, and stages around the world. Making his Broadway debut as actor and choreographer in the Tony Award-winning M. Butterfly, Jamie has also served as Chinese Opera Consultant and Warrior Dance Stager for Broadway's Flower Drum Song, appeared in The King and I and Kung Fu, and has choreographed internationally acclaimed productions for theater, film, and television.Quinn and Jamie explore his lifelong dedication to the ancient art of Peking Opera and his work on the groundbreaking new opera The Monkey King, the spectacular world premiere at San Francisco Opera featuring music by Huang Ruo and libretto by David Henry Hwang. Combining opera, martial arts, dance, puppetry, and breathtaking visual storytelling, The Monkey King introduces one of China's most beloved mythological heroes, Sun Wukong, to contemporary audiences worldwide.Together, Quinn and Jamie discuss artistic discipline, longevity, cultural nuance, and the importance of preserving centuries-old traditions while making them relevant for today's global audiences. From Beijing to Broadway, Jamie shares how artists can become cultural ambassadors, fostering understanding and appreciation between East and West through storytelling, movement, music, and performance.#FlowerDrumSong#TheMonkeyKing#PekingOpera#Broadway#ChineseCulture#MButterfly#TheKingAndI#SanFranciscoOpera#AsianArtists#CulturalExchange