China's Soul of Shaolin to Play Marquis Theatre in January

Soul of Shaolin, a new martial arts spectacle from China, will kick its way onto Broadway this winter, beginning a limited engagement at the Marquis Theatre on January 13. The show, fresh off an appearance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will open on January 15 and run through January 31.

Soul of Shaolin tells the story of a boy named Hui Guang who is separated from his mother by war. Taken in by the legendary monks of the Shaolin temple, Hui Gang becomes an accomplished master of Shaolin Kung Fu and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The show will feature 33 Chinese nationals trained in Shaolin Kung Fu, a highly stylized martial art featured in films including Jet Li’s Fearless and Shaolin Soccer that is characterized by superhuman displays of strength and agility.

Soul of Shaolin will mark the first time a production from the People’s Republic of China has appeared on Broadway. The show is presented by China on Broadway, a partnership between Nederlander Worldwide Productions and The Easter Shanghai Cultural Film and Television Group.

Soul of Shaolin will fill a small gap in the schedule at the Marquis Theatre between White Christmas, which will end its limited run on January 4, and the new musical 9 to 5, set to start performances on April 7.