Transformation in Chinese Theatre Work's The Legend of White Snake

Abstract

This thesis examines Chinese Theatre Work's <italic>The Legend of White Snake</italic> as a case study of intercultural performance. As an overseas non-profit organization in NYC, CTW creates production aims to &ldquo;transform&rdquo; to intercultural performance that &ldquo;bridges Eastern and Western theatrical aesthetics and forms&rdquo; and also shows &ldquo;aspects of the contemporary Chinese experience from slowly changing roles.&rdquo; Attempting to achieve these goals, CTW created hybrid Kun opera production that featured English narration, shadow puppetry, and intercultural casting. Utilizing Schechner's theory of multiculturalism, fusion, and interculturalism with Pavis and Lo and Gilbert's model to analyzing CTW's performance, this thesis examines both &ldquo;he story&rdquo; and &ldquo;the telling&rdquo; parts and unveils an imbalance between their Chinese and American source cultures and the unexpected result of their &ldquo;functional transformation.&rdquo;