The Peony Pavilion
《牡丹亭》
Love springs from we know not where, and once begun, runs ever deeper
- Original work
- Tang Xianzu
- Playwright / Director
- Jia Yiping
- Performed by
- TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE (时光剧团)
- Dates
- Nov 14 – Nov 29 (no shows Nov 16, 20, 26, 27)
- Venue
- 216 N San Dimas Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773
About the Play
This is a spoken-drama version of The Peony Pavilion, adapted and directed by Jia Yiping, premiering in mid-November 2026. Staying true to the spirit of the classic, it retells this 400-year-old love story in a contemporary theatrical language.
The production aims to present an elegant, poetic Eastern aesthetic, so that audiences abroad can draw close to Chinese culture naturally, across any language barrier.
When a story is seen, cultures begin to meet.
Director
Jia Yiping
Adaptation & Director
Jia Yiping is a renowned actor and director and a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama. He won Best New Actor at the 7th Huabiao Awards, has starred in nearly a hundred films and TV series, including Chinese-Style Divorce, The Flagship, Bing Feng and The Rebel Princess, and has directed the TV series Happiness Under One Roof and the film Gang Shang Kai Hua.
The play Beijing Fayuan Temple, in which he starred, became a landmark of contemporary Chinese theatre, running for 11 years to sold-out houses. In 2021 he played the explorer Xu Xiake in CCTV-1’s China in the Classics, which drew more than 100 million views online. In 2022 he founded TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE with local artists in Orange County, California.
In May 2026 the US Asian Culture and Arts Foundation honored Jia Yiping with an Outstanding Chinese American Award for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Cast
Leading Performers
Li Routong
as Liu Mengmei
Actor and director. MFA in filmmaking from the New York Film Academy and an actor with the Tianjin People’s Art Theatre.
Lin Wenxi
as Du Liniang
Bilingual Chinese–English host with a master’s in international affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor’s from UCLA. Hosts international cultural and arts events.
Zhang Yani
as Sister Stone
A graduate of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Formerly a program planner and DJ for Voice of the City on Sichuan People’s Radio and video director at a US media group, with a long career in video production.
Lu Rouyou
as Chunxiang
A theatre graduate of UC San Diego. Performs on stage and screen and in voice-over in Chinese and English, with experience in stage management and film production.
Zhang Jun
as Du Bao
Attorney with a JD from Brigham Young University Law School. A long-time legal and current-affairs commentator and author of two books on American law and society.
Jin Bo
as Chen Zuiliang
Former host on Dragon TV and Jiangsu TV, veteran journalist, writer and researcher of history and culture. Hosted programs including Fei Chang Zhou Mo, Cultural China and Collecting.
Michelle Xu
as Madam Du
Founder and CEO of a real estate company, playing Madam Du in The Peony Pavilion.
Ensemble
Ma Yuchen
as Li Quan
Studying directing and acting, and active in runway and print modeling. Appeared in TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE’s The Field of Life and Death.
Reggie Huang
as Judge Hu
Software engineer and theatre enthusiast. Appeared in TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE’s The Field of Life and Death.
Liu Hao
as Miao Shunbin (the Treasure Inspector)
Office professional who appeared in TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE’s The Field of Life and Death.
Sun Weili
as the Flower Spirit
Passionate about performance and the arts, with appearances in TV sketches, film and stage productions, including TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE’s The Field of Life and Death. Skilled in handcraft and costume alteration.
Wen Wen
as Granny Yang
A communications graduate of Michigan State University. Formerly hosted programs on Beijing TV, has worked in print and short-drama shoots, and has long studied flower arranging and the tea ceremony.
Chu Mengmeng
as the Wandering Nun
Former entertainment host on Liaoning TV, now an interior designer at Mathis Homes.
Kevin
as Soldier
College student who loves film and screen culture and has a strong interest in acting. Invited to join TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE’s The Peony Pavilion.
Wang Qiwen
as Officer
A lover of the stage and of life who enjoys living different lives through different roles, and hopes to connect with audiences through sincere performance.
Leslie Gu
as the Young Nun and Lian’er
Took part in staging and creating plays during college, and loves the stage and artistic expression. Plays the Young Nun and Lian’er in The Peony Pavilion.
Jing Haoyang
as Guo Tuo
Runs a biotechnology company and is a theatre enthusiast. Appeared in the play The Field of Life and Death.
Song Zhe
as the Storyteller
Trained in Peking opera music performance at the Shenyang Normal University College of Drama Arts. Has performed on Liaoning TV’s Spring Festival Gala, recorded music for Civilization VII, and appeared in TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE’s The Wilderness and The Field of Life and Death.
Creative Team
Dong Xiaoyan
Producer
Actor, host and producer. Starred in and produced the plays The Wilderness and The Field of Life and Death, and created and hosts the interview series Yan Shiguang Talks.
Sun Yumin
Artistic Director
A graduate in stage design from the Central Academy of Drama. Art department work on film and TV productions including The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng, Biao Xing Tian Xia, Shou Wang De Tian Kong, Running on Karma and Huo Xian Zhui Xiong.
Mu Ting
Set Design
Set designer. BA in stage design from the Central Academy of Drama and MFA in scenic design from UC San Diego.
Antonio Fang Guan
Lighting Design
Studies at East Los Angeles College and works in theatrical lighting design. Lighting designer for The Peony Pavilion.
Lu Rouyou
Production Coordinator & Sound
A theatre graduate of UC San Diego. Performs on stage and screen and in voice-over in Chinese and English, with experience in stage management and film production.
Han Xue
Choreographer
Choreographer, dancer and teacher of Chinese classical and folk dance. An outstanding graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, now head of a Chinese dance company in Southern California, with a long career in Chinese dance creation and education.
Zhao Sufen
Chinese Opera Movement Coach
Dancer and educator, formerly a dancer with the China Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble. Studied performing arts at the University of Vienna and choreography at California State University, Long Beach. Has long taught dance in Los Angeles and studies Yin-school male-role performance in Yue opera.
Tan Ye
Voice & Text Coach
Veteran broadcaster who has hosted Tianjin Morning on Tianjin People’s Radio and programs on Tianjin TV including China Tianjin, The Truth and TV Qing Qing Hua.
Sun Weili
Costume, Hair & Makeup
Passionate about performance and the arts, with appearances in TV sketches, film and stage productions, including TIME THEATRE COLLECTIVE’s The Field of Life and Death. Skilled in handcraft and costume alteration.
Zhu Ran
Props & Set Management
Student of theatre, film and digital production at UC Riverside, focusing on production and design. Worked props on productions including Macbeth and Dracula.
Clara Zhang
Sound Operator
MS from Arizona State University, Certified Public Accountant and real estate agent. A lover of the arts with a long record of community service and volunteering.
Liu Yan
Sound Operator
Literary editor who loves classical literature and the warmth and subtlety of traditional culture, and hopes to help share Chinese culture abroad and let more people experience the beauty of Eastern theatre.
Performances
Showtime7:30pm – 9:45pm
Choose a date to buy tickets for that show
- Nov 14 Sat
- Nov 15 Sun
- Nov 17 Tue
- Nov 18 Wed
- Nov 19 Thu
- Nov 21 Sat
- Nov 22 Sun
- Nov 23 Mon
- Nov 24 Tue
- Nov 25 Wed
- Nov 28 Sat
- Nov 29 Sun
216 N San Dimas Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773
Tickets & Prices
- VIP $188
- Premium $88
- Standard $58
- Student $10
Tickets are sold through Ticket Tailor. Pay by card and receive your e-ticket by email.
Trailer & Photos
Audience Information
- Running time is approximately 135 minutes with no intermission.
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the performance.
- Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of staff.
- Children under 8 will not be admitted.
- No video recording during the performance.
- Please do not use flash when taking photos.
Parking
Free surface parking lot. No overnight parking.
Ticket Policy
- E-tickets: print or show the QR code on your phone at entry.
- All ticket sales are final; no refunds or exchanges.