Broadway Asia Entertainment was invited by Huairou district government to create a unique musical for the venue, according to production manager Wang Yuanyu.
"Huairou already has a fi lm base. The local government hopes to further develop entertainment and further boost the development of its culture industry," Wang added.
Despite the good intentions of the Huairou district government, some are doubtful about the location.
"It can not compare to the real Broadway. New York's Broadway is located in busy downtown, plus it attracts many tourists," commented Jiang Li, a producer with China National Opera House.
Offering a possible solution, Haidian district announced at the end of last year that it would become China's Broadway base by building the China National Show Center ¨C 32 new theaters covering 600,000 square meters. The project is scheduled to be completed within fi ve years.
Earlier this year Dongcheng district also announced it would build itself into Broadway with two new theaters especially for musicals. Already having several major theaters and production companies, the district wants to further raise its image as an international performance center, similar to London's West End and New York's Broadway.
Chaoyang district has also jumped on the bandwagon, announcing the building of a group of theaters in Cuigezhuang and a 30 million yuan ($4.39 million) investment to transform it into Beijing's Broadway.
While the fi erce battle for Broadway has added excitement to Beijing's entertainment industry, critics are questioning the need of so many new venues, especially in light of the fact that many old theaters are not being fully utilized.
Statistics from the Beijing Culture Bureau revealed that Beijing currently has over 80 theaters. Only 30 are frequently used for shows.
