Movie brings star power to tale of boy hero

"The musical centers on the portrayal of Pan Dongzi's heroic and loyal spirit as a young soldier. It is a contemporary interpretation of a revolutionary theme," says Cao.

"Like many audience members, I watched the movie as a child and was impressed by the story, the characters and the songs," says Wang. "We hope that the story will be presented with a sense of freshness through music, dance and multimedia technology."

After its Beijing premiere, the musical will tour nationwide with more shows to be staged at former revolutionary bases of the CPC across the country, including Ruijin city, Jiangxi province, and Yan'an, Shaanxi province.

"We will invite students and teachers to enjoy the musical. Though the story was written decades ago, we want younger generations to learn about the history and the heroes," says Wang.