“I enjoyed the whole show ... especially the last part, but the whole show is amazing,” said Mr. Hernandez, journalist and editor-in-chief of Contra Poder News. “The orchestra, I was amazed by them as well. They were really good. The single performers, the singers, obviously the piano performers, and so on, I think this is something beautifully done, and everybody should come see it.”

He and Mr. Galicia, attorney and advocate with Turning Point, attended Shen Yun at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts–Dreyfoos Hall on March 19.

“It was a beautiful show. I pray a lot for the Chinese people so they can recover their liberties, and they can do this performance in China,” said Mr. Galicia. “I think that should be the ultimate goal for humanity.”

“I’m from Venezuela, and I also escaped socialism and communism. I was deeply touched, especially by the end, when you saw all the communist symbology and how it hurt the nationals from China. I love it so much,” he said.

Shen Yun’s program spans five millennia, from ancient times up to the present day. Mr. Galicia and Mr. Hernandez said they were particularly moved by the finale, which is set in the modern day and inspired by true events.

In that last vignette, communism is portrayed, as well as the Chinese people who hold onto faith and tradition despite oppression by the Chinese communist regime. Betrayal, redemption, and even divine intervention occur, bringing forth a conclusion that the two theatergoers felt deeply moving.

“I mean, to me, it was a beautiful show, that it portrays what communism is, it portrays what it destroys, it portrays how bloody it is, how inhuman it is,” Mr. Hernandez said. “I actually, during the [last] act, I told him [his friend], ‘This is personal.’”

“I told him, this is personal because we have gone through that. I lived rationing of food [and] rationing of electricity in my country, and I know what that does to humans. And they actually just put them on their knees. That’s what it is,” Mr. Hernandez said of communism.

“It’s really important to use art to speak about, to fight for liberty, I feel. Because if you use art and songs, and you win the culture. And if you win the culture, you can change the political landscape. So, I think that’s incredibly important,” he said.

“Beautiful show, beautiful work. I was amazed by all of the dances. The music was amazing,” Mr. Galicia said. “I was amazed. I want to return next year.”