
OC Families Celebrate LNY with the Groundbreaking Original Bilingual Musical “Year of the Beast”
As the Year of the Snake approaches, Irvine Chinese International Academy (ICIA), a Chinese-English immersion elementary school in Irvine, is bringing a unique cultural celebration to the community. The bilingual English-Mandarin musical Year of the Beast, written and directed by an award-winning local creative artist, will be performed on February 7th and 8th at 6 PM in Tustin. Featuring performances by students aged 5 to 10, the show offers a heartfelt portrayal of their experiences with Lunar New Year, Chinese culture, life in Irvine, and their journey of learning Mandarin.
This musical reimagines traditional culture through a modern lens, weaving the ancient myth of “Nian” into contemporary life in Irvine, breathing new life into the legend. Instead of traditional forms like folk music and dance, it offers a fresh reinterpretation of the familiar “Nian” story, creating a novel cultural experience for the audience. Through this cultural journey, the students bring distant and unfamiliar traditions into modern life while exploring the fusion and global expression of culture on stage.
For the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, this performance has the potential for a profound impact. It breaks away from traditional arts education that focuses on contests, grades, or exams, instead nurturing students as critical thinkers and creative innovators. This is not just about creating art—it’s about cultivating the next generation of leaders who can drive cultural and societal progress.
ICIA’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program is an innovative initiative that redefines arts education by moving away from rote learning and utilitarian approaches. By integrating theater, music, fine arts, digital media, and storytelling, VAPA provides students of diverse backgrounds and ages with engaging language-learning experiences. Through Year of the Beast, the program combines cultural competency with creativity, instilling confidence, sensitivity, and a passion for learning in students.
This performance is not only an artistic showcase for the students but also a cultural gift to the community. Everyone is warmly invited to join us in celebrating the arrival of the Lunar New Year!
