Maureen Cavanaugh : China in the 1980's was ready for change. Free-speech movements were on the rise and intellectuals were looking to challenge Communist China's totalitarian regime.
Enter an American scholar of Abraham Lincoln who takes a job teaching English in Shanghai. What results from the introduction of the Chinese students to the inspirational words of President Lincoln may well have been the spark that ignited the protests of Tiananmen square.
That's the true story behind a play, written by that American teacher, called "Burning in China."
"Burning in China" will be staged February 21 & 28, and March 1, 2009, at The Poway Center for the Performing Arts .
Guests
- Caleb Deschanel , academy-award nominated cinematographer whose many works include "The Black Stallion," "The Right Stuff," and "The Passion of the Christ" to name but a few. He's directing the play "Burning in China."
- Jeff LeBeau , sole actor starring in "Burning in China." Jeff has a long acting career on the stage as well as in film and television.
