Shen Yun 2023- Page 2

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 9:18am

Broadway Flash said: "How exactly is dance and music brainwashing people? And they ask people to come on the stage at the end? That’s brainwashing?"

That's  a fair question -- I've done my research because a loved one was very interested in seeing it, and I wanted to look into it before seeing it. This is from a New Yorker article:

"The hosts started talking about a spiritual discipline called Falun Dafa, and then introduced a dance in which a beautiful young follower of Falun Dafa was kidnapped and imprisoned by Communists, who harvested her organs. “I’m hallucinating,” I whispered to my brother in the dark.

“Would everyone like to learn a little Chinese?” one of the hosts asked. He intoned a phrase and asked the audience to repeat it. “That phrase means ‘I love Shen Yun,’ ” he said."

New Yorker Article on Shen Yun

I then read more and more about Falun Gong -- it's quite something.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:03am

A few years ago I was curious. My curiosity stopped after I read on their website the dress recommendations of tuxedos and evening gowns. They even post illustrative dress photos.  

[musikman]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:25am

Jakeevan942 said: "Broadway Flash said: "Has Shen yun ever been on tdf before? Trying to see it this spring."

To actually answer the question that started this thread, it is unlikely Shen Yun will ever show up on TDF, even if it plays in venues which send allocate tickets to TDF normally.

Shen Yun plays nearly every market at a four-wall rental, where Falun Gong rents the local venue, and prices and tickets the show themselves, at whatever prices they want. This is sometimes in small print on the local venue site, sometimes not anywhere.

This is why Shen Yun can be the most expensive top ticket of the year in many smaller cities. I know at least one upstate venue where Shen Yun's top seat was more expensive than the first engagement of Book of Mormon in that venue a few weeks prior.

I don't want to go into the politics here, but if you say the phrase "Shen Yun" to anyone who works at a performing arts venue anywhere in the country, you are not going to get the nicest response."

I had to deal with their affiliate NTD TV at an old job. Absolute nightmare.  Manipulative, stingy, constantly breaking rules and contract stipulations.  Whenever I had to complain about something or frustratingly tell them they were in breach of contract, I would get a standard “sorry, we don’t understand.  We don’t speak English very well.”  

They threw shen yun paraphernalia and advertisements at us daily.
 

 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:28am

I used to work at the Koch Theatre in Lincoln Center and I have seen the show/ been around the staff a bunch of times. 

From an usher’s standpoint working it was weird. For example, we were told to do the job, same as it ever was. However, they come in with their own front of house staff who had basically told use what to do and how to do it. They were very paranoid that any footage that was recorded would “get into the wrong hands,” there words not mine, and while me and my co workers thought that was odd, in the interest of keeping the peace we just let that all go. 

Furthermore, during the show, they kept talking about how it is a sad thing that this show and the people behind it are banned from their native China due to their beliefs.

During their run there, there were a few performances where there were “protestors” outside of the theatre. Although, there was, at least in my mind, a pretty good chance that they were part of the cult and there to stir the pot. They mentioned that, even during performances where there was no one outside, that the protestors were sent from the Chinese government.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:35am

Can anyone find a recent news story from a reliable news source that documents what has been discussed here about it being a cult, etc? There is one from early February from the Washington Post, but it is behind a paywall. I'm not doubting any of what has been said here, but the only news stories I find on it are from news sources I've never heard of. Also, why would Lincoln Center let these people come back over and over and over again? Anyway, if anyone can find recent news stories from reliable news sources, please post links. Thanks a lot. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:43am

Disregard my previous message - I just saw the links to news stories previously posted. 

[Alex M]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:48am

JSquared2 said: "Broadway Flash said: "I’ve heard it’s good tho with acrobatics and dancing and a big orchestra"



Well, in THAT case....!!!"

My stomach hurts from laughing

 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 11:01am

Jakeevan942 said: "I don't want to go into the politics here, but if you say the phrase "Shen Yun" to anyone who works at a performing arts venue anywhere in the country, you are not going to get the nicest response."

THIS. Having worked box office at a venue where the show came through, the show is a nightmare. They come in with their own "policies" for everything from ticket sales to front of house protocol. Working the show was an absolutely bizarre experience - I worked everything from Broadway tours to concerts and standup comedies at this venue for years, and Shen Yun's one weekend in town still haunts me to this day.

[defenses]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 11:23am

Matt Rogers said: "Can anyone find a recent news story from a reliable news source that documents what has been discussed here about it being a cult, etc? There is one from early February from the Washington Post, but it is behind a paywall."

This link should remove the paywall if anyone would like to read it.

 

[Alex M]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 12:56pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Jakeevan942 said: "I don't want to go into the politics here, but if you say the phrase "Shen Yun" to anyone who works at a performing arts venue anywhere in the country, you are not going to get the nicest response."

THIS. Having worked box office at a venue where the show came through, the show is a nightmare. They come in with their own "policies" for everything from ticket sales to front of house protocol. Working the show was an absolutely bizarre experience - I worked everything from Broadway tours to concerts and standup comedies at this venue for years, and Shen Yun's one weekend in town still haunts me to this day."

Please go into more detail. Im so interested in this.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 2:22pm

If this is all true, then Lincoln center needs to be held accountable. They shouldn’t give a cult a platform for this PERIOD

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 5:25pm

I'll just leave this video from one of my new favorite YouTubers, And Now They Sing:

https://youtu.be/l3SXLNy5idg

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 5:47pm

They seem to find their way almost yearly to our city in Southern California.  Not sure if they are here now or about to arrive, but we can't escape their TV ads.  They also have posted on a huge billboard located on a hillside at the intersection of a major roadway and a freeway.   Perhaps they have posted at other prominent spots, as well.

When we first became aware of them, we were tempted to buy tickets.  But then we learned their backstory.  No thanks.  

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 5:48pm

Broadway Flash said: "If this is all true, then Lincoln center needs to be held accountable. They shouldn’t give a cult a platform for this PERIOD"

 

But I’ve heard it’s good with acrobatics and dancing and a big orchestra!! 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 6:16pm

In April 2022, when I was on a NY theatre trip, a Falun Gong parade marched through Flushing near Main and Roosevelt. Nearly everyone involved with the parade was dressed in blue and yellow.

There were easily a 1000 marchers including a full-size marching band, colorful dragons, countless street-wide banners, and women in boat costumes.

[David10086]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 1:58am

Does anyone know if this show tour is ever profitable? I’m really intrigued by all this backstory and information. 

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 11:00am

David10086 said: "Does anyone know if this show tour is ever profitable? I’m really intrigued by all this backstory and information."

Depends on what you mean by profitable. In terms of immediate box office probably not but to continue the "whataboutism" started earlier in this thread: limited Broadway runs can also knowingly run at a loss if there are other strategies at play like brand and performer exposure with money behind them and award garnering which are seen as investment for economic returns in the future. And I suppose for Falun Gong, the strategy is finding new converts who will bring in new money and energy. 

 

Updated On: 2/20/23 at 11:00 AM

[David10086]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 5:21pm

I just read on another forum that in each city they visit, they go door to door to small businesses and ask if they can hang a poster in the store's window (I used to always hang the touring Broadway shows in my store window when I had a small business for 25 years, and later I would frame it and hang them on a wall in my store - I still have the collection !).  

Anyhow, someone said he refused (he has a restaurant in NYC) and by that evening, his small business was under attack by dozens of 1-star Yelp reviews, with vague text (you could tell it wasn't a real customer review). Same thing happened to neighboring businesses who refused to hang their poster. Lesson learned - now, whenever they pass through the city he and the others gladly hang up a poster in the window for the few days they are in town. No more 1-star reviews. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 5:30pm

Or you just say “absolutely, we’ll hang it right where everyone can see!” and toss it in the trash the second they leave (as my business did).