Legends - An Original Musical at Segerstrom Hall

An epic musical about family loyalty, defending justice and bravery, LEGENDS celebrates the lives of Mulan, Nezha and the Monkey King. The unbreakable bonds of Mulan’s family, the weight of Nezha's fight for justice and the boundless courage of the Monkey King emerge to life through dance, martial arts, rhythmic gymnastics and animated special effects. Set to a dynamic score blending traditional Chinese music, Beijing opera, rock n roll and classical music, LEGENDS brings these timeless tales to center stage. Produced by South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, LEGENDS features music composed by Conductor Bin He and is directed by Jiangli Yu. Join the extraordinary journey into the heart of Chinese mythology, where heroes rise, destinies are forged, and legends are born!

This performance will also include a special Mother’s Day tribute to all mothers.

Nezha
Nezha is a powerful deity and protector of the innocent. Born from a mystical meatball, Nezha faces escalating conflicts with the Dragon King. When the Dragon King seeks to avenge his son's death, he threatens to flood Nezha’s village. Nezha protects the villagers by taking his own life. Feeling grateful, the villagers pray and due to the power of the prayers, Nezha is reborn from lotus roots. Experience Nezha’s epic expedition through aerial acrobatics, gymnastics and music featuring solos on the handpan, harp, guzheng (Chinese harp), and pipa (Chinese lute).

Mulan
Mulan is a brave heroine with steadfast fortitude and deep devotion to her family. Due to a nationwide draft, Mulan disguises herself as a man to take her elderly father’s place. In the army, she masters swordsmanship and strategy, leading her unit to victory in battles. Discover Mulan’s daring odyssey through dance, powerful drumming of the Dagu (Chinese drum) and sounds from the yanqing (Chinese piano).

Monkey King
The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong, is a fearless warrior with a rebellious spirit. Born from a boulder, Wukong becomes the King of the Monkeys after leaping into a waterfall and discovering the Water Curtain Cave on the other side. Fearing death, Wukong trains with a Taoist master to achieve immortality. After training, he searches for a weapon worthy of his power. He travels to an underwater kingdom to find the Golden-banded staff, which he keeps hidden inside his ear. Celebrate Wukong’s saga and mischievous nature through wushu alongside melodies from the violin, erhu (Chinese violin), dizi (Chinese flute) and Beijing opera.