"The Three Golden Flowers" Musical Stage Play Opens in Pasadena, California

Pasadena, California, USA. 24th May, 2025. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Elite Performing Arts Group USA proudly presented the original musical stage play The Three Golden Flowers on May 24th at the AGBU Cultural Center in Pasadena. The production features three moving stories that blend theater, music, and stagecraft to depict the lives of three iconic Chinese cultural pioneers. At the conclusion of each segment, a Golden Flower Award ceremony was held to honor these luminaries. The event drew distinguished guests from the artistic, academic, and political communities of both China and the U.S., bearing witness to this East-West cultural exchange and paying tribute to three individuals who have left a lasting mark on modern Chinese art and culture.

Scene from The Three Golden Flowers

Scene from The Three Golden Flowers

The Golden Flower Award was established to honor individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to cultural heritage and original artistic creation. More than a symbol of honor, the award serves as a vital platform connecting Eastern and Western traditions, the past and present, and domestic and global communities. It aims to rekindle public appreciation and love for traditional culture, allowing the “golden flowers” to take root and bloom in people’s hearts. The award upholds the principle of “innovation with integrity,” encouraging artists to remain rooted in their cultural identities while bravely exploring creative expression in a multicultural world.

The performance was met with enthusiastic acclaim, and the concert hall was filled to capacity.

The first Golden Flower Award was presented posthumously to renowned Chinese American playwright C.Y. Lee, whose classic work Flower Drum Song marked a milestone as the first Broadway show about Chinese Americans. Veteran filmmaker Woody Mu brought two rare editions of Into Broadway to the ceremony and spoke about the historical importance of Lee’s works. The awards were presented by Michael Berry, UCLA professor and Golden Horse Awards jury member, and Richard Anderson, Oscar and Emmy-winning producer. The award was received by Elaine Thomas, president of the Joy Luck Club Association, on behalf of C.Y. Lee’s children, Angela and Jay Lee.

Presenters shows photo of playwright C.Y. Lee, best known for the "Flower Drum Song" - he was honored posthumously with an award

TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) narrates the beginning of the play.

The second award honored pioneering Chinese female artist Zhou Lianxia, known for her delicate bird-and-flower paintings and her work in integrating poetry, calligraphy, and painting. A founding supporter of China’s first female painters’ association, Zhou remains a key figure in modern Chinese art history. The award was presented by Sun Xiaohua, president of the North American International Calligraphy and Painting Institute, and acclaimed overseas Chinese painter Situ Mian. Zhou’s son Xu Yuzhong, grandson Xu Yin, and great-grandson Xu Zili accepted the award in her honor.

Honorees and presenters gather on the stage

Honoree walks on stage to accept his award

The third honoree was Huang Zi, a foundational figure in modern Chinese music. He introduced Western harmonic systems and composition techniques into Chinese music, created the country’s first symphonic work, and pioneered a style of art songs fusing Eastern and Western sensibilities. The award was presented by former Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and received by Huang Zi’s grandson Huang Weiand nephew Huang Ertao. Also present were Huang Wei’s wife Guo Xiaohong, and Huang Ertao’s wife, noted architect Zhang Kequn, both of whom joined the performance alongside the West Sunset Men’s Choir.

In a special highlight of the evening, Michael Antonovich also presented a California State Assembly honorary certificate on behalf of Dr. Phillip Chen to recognize the production team, including Golden Horse-winning director Yang Dunping (Executive Producer), Sheng Yili (Producer), Luo Xinghua (Director), Gu Shanshan (Drama Consultant), Peng Nanlin

(Executive Producer), and Yi Huang (Artistic Director).

Michael Antonovich, former Los Angeles County Supervisor (3rd left) with honorees of of certificates of recognition he presented

Also in attendance were former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Dr. Zhang Manjun, documentary filmmaker Harrison Engle (who has directed the Oscars seven times), Emmy-winning Broadway/Hollywood actress Grace Field, actors Hu Huiling, Karen Hahn, three-time Oscar winner Paul Ottosson, producer Lindsay Hadley, Oscar-winning VFX artist Brian Connor, designer Sandra Costa, filmmaker Michelle Pangborn, actor Richard Grieco, singer Blanca, designer Katherine Lu, martial arts choreographer Li Jing, producer Joshua Azali, host and architect Zhuo Lei, linguist Wang Ling, poet Shen Meiying, director Jia Yiping, painter Katherine Arion, and producers Pete Allman, Joss Gome, and Lin Cong. Additional honored guests included former Writers Association president Bei Ao, president of the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce USA Lin Guang, founding president of the Yunnan Association Huang Jing, and U.S. Public Affairs president Zhou Kai. The presence of Hollywood writers, directors, and producers highlighted the success of Chinese-American cultural exchange.

Presenters on the stage introduce the next awardee

Award presentation on the stage

According to producer Angela Sheng, Three Golden Flowers was intensively rehearsed over a six-week period, but the concept had been carefully developed over a much longer time. Debuting during AAPI Month, the play featured over 90 artists in three casts and integrated music, dance, and theater. Despite the tight rehearsal schedule, the performers' passion successfully portrayed a rich cultural panorama. The show opened with a performance by the Jiaxin Creative Dance Group, led by five-time U.S. Latin Dance champion Roman Kutskyy. Historical figures such as Zhou Lianxia, Xu Beihong, Lu Xiaoman, Zhang Daqian, and Xu Zhimo were portrayed by trained actors to authentically recreate the intellectual milieu of 1930s China. The C.Y. Lee scenes featured performers with strong music backgrounds, while Huang Zi’s story included live renditions of his art songs by XiYangHong Choir and Horizon Choir.

Executive producer Angela Sheng

Angela Sheng emphasized her hope that the play would help audiences remember those who advanced cross-cultural understanding. Following its Pasadena premiere, the show will tour Orange County and Irvine later this year, bringing Chinese art history to more diverse communities. She also called for support from corporations and institutions to sustain and promote such cultural initiatives. Co-organizers included the College Alliance Arts Club, North American International Calligraphy and Painting Institute, Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce USA, Ziyi Foundation, XiYangHong Choir, Horizon Choir, Joy Luck Club Association, and California Creative and Performing Arts Center.

Earlier in the day, the North American International Calligraphy and Painting Institute co-hosted an art exhibition featuring works by Sun Xiaohua, Situ Mian, Zhou Xiaosong, He Niandan, Miao Qing, Shi Yuqing, Liang Biwei, and Meng Ruiyuan, enriching the cultural experience of the event. Zhou Xiaosong created a portrait of Huang Zi for the play, inspired by his work Words of the Western Wind. Actress Meng Ruiyuan, who portrayed Huang Zi’s classmate in the play, also painted an artwork titled Spring Thoughts following her rendition of the song Spring Thoughts.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Katherine Barger, on behalf of Mr. Wu Zhongguo, presented a County Honor Certificate to the organizing team and production staff of the Golden Flower Awards and Three Golden Flowers.

Cast and production members pose for photo

After the performance, the entire cast and production team gathered for commemorative photos. Key personnel included: Stage Director: Ai Huang, Stage Manager: Hong Chen, Golden Flower Awards Emcee: Joyce Lin, Choreographer: Ri Yue, Sound Director: Xiaolu Sun, Guest Actor: Joey Zhou (Zhou Zheng), Movement Coach: Vivian Xu, Sound Engineer: Shufeng Li,Props John Mou and David Liu, Lighting: Guanlin Liu，Styling: Yun Jiang，Makeup: Bingbing and Kiki，Set Design: Captain Huang, Subtitle Translation: Vincent Guan

Cast and production members, presenters, and guests pose for a photo after the performance

Cast and production members pose for a photo after the performance

Lead Cast Members:David Ye, Lei Fang, Aunisa Xiu, Dingyi Shen, Yi Huang, Franky Feng, Peter Phung, Jenny Liu, Jack Yang, Mary Antonovich, Charlie Kuang, Pinki Chen, Ling Ding, Weihua Wang, Yuxi Chen, Yixin Wang, Feng Tan, Bei Wan, Nancy Xu, Cindy Wang, Lucy Zhu, Lily Li, Glenn Boggs, Peng Peng, Ling Li, Haohu Xue, Xin Li, Yalin Zhao, Mengqi Huang, Lin Nan, Paul Lo, Norbert Csati, Hong Chen, Weili Sun, Jaden Tran, Eric Yang, Ruiyuan Meng, Angela Sheng, Songlin Pan, Sean Jiang, Xiaolu Sun, Vivian Xu, Lily Zhang, Yuehua Yu, Zhaofeng Cong, Tiffany Li, Riyue, Ivy Huang, Jessica Yan, Harper Wang, Nan Huang, Bingxin Zhao, Tiffany Nie, and Raymond Lim.

Joyce Lin, Norbert Csati, Peter Phung, Jack Yang, Peter Trump, Joey Zhou, Angela Sheng, Woody Mu, Captain Huang, Nanlin Peng, Harrison Engle, and Amy Huang

Amy Huang, TV host Joey Zhou, executive producer Angela Sheng, and director/filmmaker Harrison Engle

Nearly a hundred people gathered at the Pasadena theater, creating a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere. The play was a special presentation for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, paying tribute to three luminaries of Chinese culture and honoring their contributions with the Golden Flower Awards.

TV host Joey Zhou and actress/singer Grace Field

TV host Joey Zhou with timeline of honoree Zhou Lianxia

The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by MDSUN, XAVVI, BYC International Holdings, Cynthia Clarté, En Guangzhi Art Studio, Xiuwen Wang Art Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation