A Summer of Musicals at the National Taichung Theater

A Summer of Musicals at the National Taichung Theater (Photo credit: National Taichung Theater)

Over time, the theatre has evolved into a sanctuary for musical storytelling in all its forms—grand, intimate, experimental, and imaginative.

What’s truly remarkable is how musicals have found a home in every corner of the National Taichung Theater (NTT): from the Grand Theater, where elaborate sets bring stories to life; to the Playhouse.

This summer, the NTT presents four musical productions that holistically embodies a variety of themes and formats, reaching a wide range of communities and audiences. The lineup includes Meet by Red Theatre Group; September Dreams by KOKO Entertainment and Punctum Creative; Into the Night and the staged reading concert PLANET: A Boy-Band Theory from the NTT+ Musical Playwright Incubation Project. Each work has gone through its own carefully nurtured development process – from staged readings to revision and refinement before advancing to a full-scale production. These stages reflect a growing trend in Taiwan’s musical scene: a shift toward greater scale, structure, and professionalisation.

Into the Night (Photo credit: National Taichung Theater)

Into the Night

A classic Kunqu excerpt is re-imagined here as a musical that blends novelistic storytelling with theatrical song structure. Playwright Wang Juin-yi and composer Hsu Chi-yang re-envision the story of Lin Chong from Water Margin in the Ming Dynasty, a military officer forced into rebellion, driven to the margins and joined outlaws in the mountains. The musical structure echoes the episodic rhythm of the original novel, with a chorus embodying the voice of fate. The score shifts from the eerie tones of the oud to bursts of rhythm that recall revolutionary energy, breathing contemporary life into a classic narrative and awakening our dormant defiance.

Meet (Photo credit: National Taichung Theater)

Meet

Meet, like a live-action romantic comedy, they underscore the poignancy of the characters’struggle with fate. Written by the former NTT artist-in-residence Wang Jing-dun and composed by Liang Yun-ruei, the production reflects a deep care for humanity. Developed over five years with continuous support from the NTT, it was met with acclaim. The piece embodies a shared ambition of the artists and the organisation to promote social inclusion.

PLANET A Boy-Band Theory (Photo credit: National Taichung Theater)

PLANET: A Boy-Band Theory

PLANET: A Boy-Band Theory and September Dreams both explore the theme of growing up, beginning with memories of a high school band that resonate with different generations. In both stories, the protagonists are haunted by unresolved elements of their past, and only through reconciliation with themselves and others can they find true freedom. While PLANET features a versatile cast juggling both singing and acting, September Dreams focuses on iconic Mandarin pop songs and IP development. Both musicals aim to attract more teenagers and first time theatre-goers during this summer season.

September Dreams (Photo credit: National Taichung Theater)

September Dreams

The NTT continuously solidifies its role as a driving force in the development of original musicals. Through strategic initiatives such as the “NTT+ Musical Playwright Incubation Project”, now in its fourth year, the NTT has made a deep investment in nurturing emerging talent and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

As the season unfolds, the NTT unveils a vibrant spectrum of musicals that celebrate our unwavering dedication to artistic innovation, cultural richness and diversity. From full-scale productions to staged readings, each work represents a unique stage in the creative journey. These productions embody our broader vision: to create space for good stories that matter, support their growth from seed to stage, and cultivate a vibrant ecosystem for musicals in Taiwan and beyond.