Article by Alison Ng
Photo by Shuo Chen
On January 16, 2015 the performance of Salute to Broadway – Movie Sings! kicked off the 2015 Taiwanese Student Film Exhibition at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECONY).
Ming-Lang Chen, Film Director
This year’s exhibition, which runs from Jan. 15th to the 21st, showcases the works of eleven filmmakers from Columbia and New York University graduate film programs. It is divided into three parts: screenings; photography, stills and film scores; and production design art works, all on display for the public at TECONY.
Ching Hui Chen hosted the opening reception and cabaret performance, which transformed the TECONY serene lobby into a stage. Six performers – Ya Han Chang, Yung Shan Chuang, Chiao-Chun Hu, Carl Hsu, Min Tzu Wang, and Wei Yu-Hsien, alongside a percussionist and an accompanist – Sayun Chang and Yi-Hsuan Chi, presented nine musical numbers from works that are not only movies, but also Broadway shows.
The students opened the night with “Overture and Night Waltz” from A Little Night Music, followed by Wang’s solo performance of “With You” from Ghost. After, Hu and Chuang seduced the audience with three scenes from Chicago – “All that Jazz,” “Roxie,” and “Finale: Nowadays/Keep It Hot.” Chang and Hsu then came together for the romantic duet, “Where or When” from Babes in Arms.
For the seventh song, the performers took a more serious approach with Chang’s powerful presentation of “I Know Where I’ve Been” from Hairspray. Quickly after, the tone lightened with Tsui’s solo performance of “I Can See It” from The Fantasticks. The final act, “When You’re an Addams” from The Addams Family, brought all six performers on stage together for a fun, spooky end.
Although the musical scenes allowed for some dancing and expression, the major strength of the night were the voices showcased. The musical variety allowed each student to proudly exhibit a wide singing range. In addition, the pianist and accompanist added to the energy and re-created the experience that comes along with seeing a Broadway show.
The 2015 Taiwanese Student Film Exhibition can be viewed at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, located at 1 East 42nd St.
Susan Hilferty, NYU Tisch Chair of Tisch Department of Design for Stage and Film
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