Mao Weitao

Mao Weitao (born 8 August 1962) is a Chinese Yue opera actress-singer who usually portrays Sheng roles (i.e. male characters). A founding member of the acclaimed Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe who also served as its president from 1999 to 2018, Mao Weitao is a household name among Yue opera listeners. For non-opera listeners, she is best known for her portrayal of Dongfang Bubai in the 2001 TV series Laughing in the Wind.

Mao Weitao is one of only 4 people who have won the Plum Blossom Grand Prize, given to those who continue to be active and innovative in theatre or opera after winning the Plum Blossom Prize twice. She is also the vice-chairperson of China Theatre Association. She was a member of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th National People's Congress.

For years Mao Weitao has taken steps to "modernize" Yue opera. She has recently secured investment from billionaires Jack Ma and Song Weiping to realize some of her more ambitious plans regarding Yue opera.

Early life

Career From 1999 to 2018 she has been the president of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, with which she debuted in 1984.

Reform

Baiyue Cultural Creativity In 2018, Mao Weitao quit her position in the Xiaobaihua Troupe to become chairwoman of Baiyue Cultural Creativity Co., which was registered in 2016 with the investment of Zhejiang billionaires Jack Ma and Song Weiping. The company seeks to provide services on theatre administration, play production, international collaboration, art education, theatre talent agency, as well as theatre investment, etc.

One of Baiyue's first projects was the construction of China Yue Theatre (中国越·剧场) in Hangzhou in 2018, whose state-of-art, butterfly-shaped complex was designed by C. Y. Lee.

Opera roles English titleOriginal titleRoleNotesDream of the Red Chamber紅樓夢Jia BaoyuHe Wenxiu何文秀He WenxiuFive Daughters Offering Felicitations五女拜壽Zou Shilongmade into a 1984 filmTang Bohu Fails the Imperial Examination唐伯虎落第Tang Bohumade into a 1988 filmPeacock Flies Southeast孔雀東南飛Jiao ZhongqingButterfly Lovers梁山伯與祝英台Liang Shanbomade into a 2013 filmRomance of the Western Chamber西廂記Zhang Junruimade into a 2010 filmRouge胭脂Wu NandaiThe Peach Blossom Fan桃花扇Hou FangyuLu You and Tang Wan陸游與唐婉Lu Youmade into a 1989 filmThe Desert Prince沙漠王子LuolanSorrows in the Han Palace漢宮怨Emperor Xuan of HanCold Friendship寒情Jing KeKong Yiji孔乙己Kong Yijimade into a 1998 TV seriesThe Tale of Ancient Book Collector藏書之家Fan RongThe Moon's Reflection on the Second Spring二泉映月AbingThe Good Person of Jiangnan江南好人Coriolanus and Du Liniang寇流蘭與杜麗娘CoriolanusChunhyangjeon春香傳Yi MonglongLi Qingzhao李清照Zhao Mingchengmade into a 2010 TV series