Adapted musical brings twists to stage

Lost in the Stars, a musical produced by Beijing-based musical theater company BCC Musical, hosted a media conference and premiere concert on July 22 where the cast performed 12 songs from the production.

The musical, adapted from the 2022 eponymous suspense film, follows the story of protagonist He Fei whose wife mysteriously disappears during their wedding anniversary trip. Fifteen days later, a strange woman appears claiming to be his missing wife and lawyer Chen Mai helps him to seek the truth.

Wenhua Award-winning director Wang Yixun serves as the musical's director and producer, with the script written by Shanghai Opera House director and scriptwriter Ma Da and music by composer Chen Qifeng.

"The film became a phenomenon because it closely addresses social issues. This musical is not just a blockbuster reinvented on the stage. It contains deep social significance with themes of love, betrayal, growth and redemption hidden within its plot twists," Chen said.

As announced at the conference, the musical will premiere at the Poly Theater in Beijing on Aug 7 and continue its run at Shanghai's AIA Grand Theater. The third stop will be at the Suzhou Bay Grand Theater in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Dec 14 and 15.

The livestreamed conference also featured a premiere concert, incorporating several musical genres, including rock, jazz, pop, funk and opera.