Chinese Opera Celebrated in Scranton

Nearly 1,800 area residents attended a free, public performance of “Bond,” an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” by the Taiwan BangZi Opera Company at the Scranton Cultural Center. The performance marked the close of a series of cultural experiences representing Asian countries sponsored by The University of Scranton’s Asian Studies Concentration.

Pictured in front row are, from left: Wendy Chang owner of Osaka Restaurant; Chien-Hua Liu as Ba Wuji (Bassanio); Mei-Li Chu as An Yibo (Antonio) Hai-Ling Wang as Xia Luo (Shylock); Ya-Ling Hsiao as Murong Tian (Portia); and Ann Pang-White, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Philosophy Department and director of the Asian Studies Concentration at The University of Scranton.  The second row, from left are Director Tony Ong of Press Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, TECO of New York Taiwan Embassy, Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences; Harold Baillie, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs at Scranton; Paula Baillie; Ambassador Andrew Kao, TECO-New York, Taiwan Embassy; Mrs. Kao; Director/Dr. Katie Su of Taiwan BangZi Opera Company; Director Mary Hsu of Taipei Cultural Center of TECO, New York; Director/Dr. C. J. Liu of the Cultural-Education Division, TECO-NY;  Dr. Fang Chen, co-playwright of Bond and professor of Chinese literature and drama, National Taiwan Normal University; Mark Wei, artistic director of Taiwan BangZi Opera Company; and Dr. Ching-Hsi Perng, co-playwright of Bond and professor emeritus of English literature, National Taiwan University.