American Influences

Scene from the Little Drama Club's production of Thunder and Rain by Chin'a leading modern playwright, Cao Yu, at the Great China Theatre in 1942 Producer Lin Tung. (Courtesy of Mr. Lin Tung)

Modern American music hall techniques were incorporated into the traditional Cantonese opera.

After the turn of the century, modern, Western-style spoken dramas began to be produced in San Francisco Chinatown theatre mainly by amateur student groups.

Cantonese Opera actor Kwan Tak Hing plays a cowboy and dances the flamenco in the 1930s. (Chinese Opera Club, S.F.)