Chunxiang: a queer musical is an original Chinese-language musical reimagining the Ming-dynasty classic The Peony Pavilion through a queer-feminist lens. The piece blends the lyricism of Chinese opera with the emotional immediacy of contemporary musical theatre, exploring desire, death, and rebirth across time.
At its heart is the belief that queerness is not a modern invention, but as old as human longing itself. By restoring queer voices within canonical texts, the work bridges tradition and the present, offering both continuity and new ways of seeing.
Built as a two-act musical with twenty-three original songs, the project has completed multiple readings and demos exploring its sound world. The team is now developing plans for a full reading and music workshop in 2026, as the work continues to bloom. 🌸
Artist Statement
"As a queer Chinese artist, I grew up loving Chinese opera, yet rarely saw myself reflected in its stories. Through this project, I hope to reclaim and expand that inheritance; to show that the classics are not closed relics, but living texts that can speak powerfully to our present day. "
——Ruirun H
Ruirun Hu - Playwright
Yuelan - Composer
Christie Zhao - Director
Shan Y. Chuang - Co-director
CC Huang - Producer
Jiani (Anny) Liu - Visual Designer and Outreach Manager
Wenting Tina Xu - Stage Manager
Cast Team
Amanda Sun - Chunxiang
Yanzi Ding - Du Liniang
Haoyi Wen - The Ghost Scholar