MCLC: Whampoa musical

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Nick Kaldis <nkaldis at gmail.com>
Subject: Whampoa musical
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Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel (5/27/14):
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201405270021.aspx

Taiwan to celebrate 90th anniversary of military academy with musical
By Claudia Liu and Elaine Hou

Taipei, May 27 (CNA) Three performances of a musical will be staged in
southern and northern Taiwan to mark the 90th anniversary of the Republic
of China Military Academy, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.

The performances are part of a series of events being held this year to
celebrate the anniversary of the military academy, which was established
in China's Guangzhou Province in 1924 under the name Whampoa Military
Academy and was relocated in 1950 to Taiwan and renamed, after the end of
the Chinese civil war.

Several professional actors and actress are working with the defense
ministry's band and choir to present the musical, which will incorporate
drama, music, dance and multimedia images to tell the story of the ROC
military, the ministry said.

The musical "Country and Home" will be staged at Kaohsiung Arena in
southern Taiwan on June 10, and at Taipei International Convention Center
on June 12 in two shows, the ministry said.

In addition, the defense ministry said, it will hold an exhibition at the
Armed Forces Museum in Taipei from June 13 to Oct. 18, showcasing
historical artifacts, documents and photos related to significant battles
in the history of the ROC.

Books on the ROC's military history will also be published in an effort to
help the public better understand the relationship between the country and
its military, the ministry said.

The military academy is seen as a symbol of the ROC military, which fled
to Taiwan in 1949 after its defeat by communist forces in the Chinese
civil war.

In response to questions on China's plans to also hold anniversary
celebrations, defense ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he said at a
news conference Tuesday that the facility in Taiwan is the authentic
successor of Whampoa Military Academy.

Some of the celebratory events in Taiwan will be held at the academy in
Kaohsiung, including a display on May 31 of the Army's advanced weapons
such as the U.S-made AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and the locally
developed Thunderbolt-2000 artillery multiple-launch rocket system, the
ministry said.