SEATTLE—Karolyn Grimes, who played the part of Zuzu in the much-loved “It’s a Wonderful Life” when she was six years old, was thrilled with the Shen Yun Performing Arts show which opened at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre on Friday night, May 22.
Although “It’s a Wonderful Life” was made in 1949, a rebirth of interest in the film has occurred in recent years. As a result Ms. Grimes has been acting as the unofficial ambassador for the movie, traveling the world and speaking at screenings, benefits, and conventions.
Ms. Grimes has appeared in many movies and worked with film legends including Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Bing Crosby, and Loretta Young.
“I think it [Shen Yun] is stunning,” she said in an interview during the intermission.
“It’s absolutely magnificent—the creative talent, the colors of the costumes, [and] the dancing. It’s classical dance, and I’m learning so much about the culture and the traditions of the Chinese. How wonderful is that?
“This [show] is about touching lives all over our country, and I’m sure it’s going to travel worldwide. So, it’s going to touch lives everywhere. ... It’s good, I like it,” she said.
She especially enjoyed tenor Guan Guimin’s rendition of “Let Me Not Regret.”
“He was magnificent! And his song, the words were so wonderful, because he was talking about bias and the things that our world is … dealing with right now. I was really impressed with his beautiful voice, I thought it was wonderful.
“But I also loved the costumes. Where do you start? The costumes, the dancing, every little movement that their fingers make. It all has a message. It’s just remarkable. I was so impressed.”
Shen Yun is a New York-based performing arts company founded by leading Chinese artists who have been reviving China’s traditional culture and presenting it to audiences around the world through Chinese classical dance and music.
Ms. Grimes said she saw a “message of hope” in the show.
“I know that the Chinese have been oppressed. I’ve been in China, and it’s a beautiful country, but the real beauty of China, I think, is in the hearts of the people. … I think [the show] touches lives, and I think that’s definitely giving everyone hope, because we’re all coming together, and it’s all about unity. This is something we'd like to see happen in China, because I think they need hope.”
She concluded by saying Shen Yun “opened my heart, and I’m just incredulous. … It has really been a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to share this with the Chinese, and I just feel thrilled that I’m a part of this tonight. They’ve touched my life.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Spring Tour 2009. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Although “It’s a Wonderful Life” was made in 1949, a rebirth of interest in the film has occurred in recent years. As a result Ms. Grimes has been acting as the unofficial ambassador for the movie, traveling the world and speaking at screenings, benefits, and conventions.
Ms. Grimes has appeared in many movies and worked with film legends including Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Bing Crosby, and Loretta Young.
“I think it [Shen Yun] is stunning,” she said in an interview during the intermission.
“It’s absolutely magnificent—the creative talent, the colors of the costumes, [and] the dancing. It’s classical dance, and I’m learning so much about the culture and the traditions of the Chinese. How wonderful is that?
“This [show] is about touching lives all over our country, and I’m sure it’s going to travel worldwide. So, it’s going to touch lives everywhere. ... It’s good, I like it,” she said.
She especially enjoyed tenor Guan Guimin’s rendition of “Let Me Not Regret.”
“He was magnificent! And his song, the words were so wonderful, because he was talking about bias and the things that our world is … dealing with right now. I was really impressed with his beautiful voice, I thought it was wonderful.
“But I also loved the costumes. Where do you start? The costumes, the dancing, every little movement that their fingers make. It all has a message. It’s just remarkable. I was so impressed.”
Shen Yun is a New York-based performing arts company founded by leading Chinese artists who have been reviving China’s traditional culture and presenting it to audiences around the world through Chinese classical dance and music.
Ms. Grimes said she saw a “message of hope” in the show.
“I know that the Chinese have been oppressed. I’ve been in China, and it’s a beautiful country, but the real beauty of China, I think, is in the hearts of the people. … I think [the show] touches lives, and I think that’s definitely giving everyone hope, because we’re all coming together, and it’s all about unity. This is something we'd like to see happen in China, because I think they need hope.”
She concluded by saying Shen Yun “opened my heart, and I’m just incredulous. … It has really been a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to share this with the Chinese, and I just feel thrilled that I’m a part of this tonight. They’ve touched my life.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Spring Tour 2009. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
