'Wedding Banquet' musical returns to Taiwan for final run

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) "The Wedding Banquet: A New Musical," inspired by director Ang Lee's (李安) acclaimed 1993 film, will return to Taipei's National Theater in September for its final performances in Taiwan before continuing its international development, according to producer HUA Universal Arts Entertainment.

The musical tells a story of "family, identity, love and belonging that resonates across generations and cultures," the production company said in a press release.

Lee's "The Wedding Banquet" follows a Taiwanese gay man living in the United States who enters a marriage of convenience with a woman who is an undocumented immigrant from Shanghai to satisfy his parents' expectations. Complications arise when his parents travel to the U.S. to organize the wedding.

The film became the first Taiwanese production to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for best foreign-language film.

Welly Yang (楊呈偉), who conceived and developed the internationally co-produced musical, said the project was created to bring a story from Taiwan to audiences around the world.

"Family, love and understanding are emotions that cross cultures and languages," he said.

The company said the production is currently advancing development in the United States and, if successful, will become one of the few original Taiwanese musicals to enter professional theater productions there.

The show premiered in Taiwan in 2024 and returned for additional performances in 2025 due to popular demand.

For this year's run, the production team has also launched a digital "Taiwan Pride" exhibition that will remain open through Sept. 27.

Performances are scheduled for Sept. 25-26 at the National Theater, with tickets currently available.