Lone Star College Cy-Fair to educate through Chinese opera

The production consists of about 40 people, including dancers and musicians. More common instruments like the bass and cello will combine with traditional Chinese instruments in a meeting of the East and the West, Qian said.

"We want to introduce people to the traditional Chinese music that accompanies the opera played by the Chinese fiddle, the guzheng stringed instrument and the pipa (four-string lute)," he said.

Widely regarded as one of the top pieces of Chinese literature, Qian said this is the ideal story to teach Americans about Chinese culture history.

Through their costumes, students had the chance to learn about the unique wardrobes of the Qing Dynasty.

"Depending how they dressed, you could tell if they were sad or happy through a very subtle difference," Qian said.

Tickets cost $15; senior citizens pay $10 per ticket. There are group discounts available. For more information or to order tickets, call 281-290-5201 or go to lonestar.edu/boxoffice.