The American theater incorporated ballet into the play and taught actors the Chinese language and culture.

“We condensed the play and made the lines simpler and more colloquial for the American children because many of them had never learned Chinese before this,” said Chen, who also served as a line instructor.

Because of the pandemic, most training and language learning was done online, and everybody flew to Montana for in-person training three times, Chen said. Since arriving in Beijing on July 5, the cast, dressed in the tailor-made costumes prepared for them, launched into intensive rehearsals for another ten days.

“All the kids have worked so hard over the last two years, and I feel so proud to see their amazing performance,” Chen said.

For American teens, coming to China to perform a Chinese play is also an unforgettable experience.

Amare Swierc who plays Cai Ping, the mermaid, called her experience a magical, once-in-a-lifetime one.

Meilin Jokela who acts as Jin Zhuzi, said it always felt unreal when she started practicing lines and participating in rehearsals in the US, and coming to Beijing to finally perform on such a beautiful stage is like a dream come true.

Maya Guinto, who plays the grandma of Jin Zhuzi, is of Chinese descent. She said she is thankful for the play because it gave her the opportunity to return to her birthplace to perform.