"A Date Of A Lifetime"

A Date Of A Lifetime

The autumn breeze of Xi'an blows once again. He carries his worn suitcase and steps into the inn where they once stayed. As the dusty door creaks open, echoes of the past awaken in the air.

He is a wandering archaeologist, chasing ancient relics from millennia ago, yet unable to unearth the love he lost.

Love is sometimes a cycle.
And some promises, even when stretched across a lifetime, remain deep within the soul, waiting for a reason to reunite.

"A Date of A Lifetime"

A stage play about love and regret, memory and awakening.
Weaving dreams with light and shadow, igniting emotions with sincerity,
it invites you to a tender journey into the depths of time.

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Production Team

Playwright

Joyce Hsu (Shen Yue) is a renowned playwright from San Francisco's Silicon Valley and also serves as an advisor for the New Hope Chinese Cancer Recovery Foundation.

After graduating from the Department of Chemistry at National Taiwan University, she pursued graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology and conducted biochemical research for ten years at both the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University.

Driven by a passion for art and theater, Hsu has written over 10 theatrical works. She previously served as a board member for the San Jose Repertory Theatre and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

In 1996, she was inspired to fulfill her dream of writing and producing stage plays, collaborating with two performing arts groups, "Bridge and Door" and "Huayi." Nine of her stage plays premiered in the Bay Area, four of which were later selected by professional theater companies in Shanghai. Her historical drama "Fu Chai and Xi Shi" was adapted into a musical and included in the 2001 Shanghai International Arts Festival.

This April, her work "A Date in This Lifetime" was adapted into a musical by Stan Lai's theater team and debuted in Shanghai.

Major Works: Who Is the Winner?, A Date in This Lifetime, Fu Chai and Xi Shi, A Basketful of Love, Mistakes and Misfortunes, Changing a Wife is Too Troublesome, Flying Across Centuries, Fairy Tales of the 21st Century

Joyce Hsu

Artistic Advisor

Lin Hongtong

Chinese Film Screenwriter and Director

Professor of Acting at Beijing Film Academy

After graduating from the Acting Department of Beijing Film Academy, he remained at the school to teach, dedicating 35 years to film education.

Former roles include serving as a member of the Administrative Committee and Academic Committee of the Beijing Film Academy, Vice President of the China Film and Television Performance Arts Society, a jury member for multiple Golden Rooster Awards, a director and artistic advisor for the Youth Film Studio, among other positions.

Representative Works:

Death and the Maiden won the Honorary Award at the 13th Varna International Film Festival (1986), the Special Award at the 1st Red Cross Film Festival in China, and the Special Jury Award for Acting at the 8th Golden Rooster Awards, among other accolades. Dreaming Season won Best Children's Feature at the 9th Golden Rooster Awards (1988), the Government Excellent Film Award (1989), and the Artistic Pursuit Award at the 3rd Tongniu Children's Film Awards, among others.

In Silicon Valley, he has directed and staged over ten plays, including The Joy Luck Club, My Own Swordsman, A Basketful of Love, and more.

Director & Producer

Jingkun Yang

Graduated from the Communication University of China (Drama & Film Acting) and Columbia College Chicago (Creative Film Production).

Works include "Pepper Zhang" and "Blue and White", with "Pepper Zhang" earning praise from the Asian American Association. Experienced in film production, with projects shortlisted for the Golden Angel Award and Red Maple Leaf Award.

Directed the 2018 Miss Chinese Cosmos Pageant Southern US Finals (Phoenix TV).

Theater Performances:

"Empresses in the Palace": Zhen Huan
"Mr. Donkey": Zhang Yiman
"The Devotion of Suspect X": Yasuko Hanaoka

Stage Designer

Haibo Yu

Created over 200 works across stage, film, television, museums, live performances, and events. Former Professor at UC Riverside, Distinguished Professor appointed by China’s Ministry of Education, and Guest Professor at the Central Academy of Drama and Shanghai Theatre Academy. Registered designer with IATSE and member of the British Society of Theatre Designers (SBTD). Graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, University of Leeds, and Central Saint Martins.

Awards include the Golden Coach Award (Prague Quadrennial, 1991), 2002 USITT Best Design, and 100 Stage Designers Worldwide (2013).

Published works:

Fundamentals of Western Stage Design (2016)
Open the Doors to Narrative Spaces: Museum Exhibition Design (2020)
Scene Narratives in Film: A Century of American Film Art Design (1920–2020) (2023)
Improvisation and Scriptless Creation (2002, co-authored).

Dance Director

Jason Chen

Veteran Ballroom Dance Teacher

Previously taught at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, now a distinguished instructor at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in California’s Bay Area. Also serves as a consultant and choreography teacher for the Bay Area Ballroom Dance Club, focusing on teaching, choreography, competitions, and guidance. He has won numerous domestic and international awards, achieving remarkable success.

In 2023, he won the championship in the Student-Teacher Open Competition at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival, solidifying his status in the dance world.

Beyond ballroom dance, he actively participates in competitions, group dance choreography, charity performances, as well as choreography and acting for films and plays. In 2023, he choreographed and performed in the Bay Area play Columbia’s Chair.

In 2024, he will serve as the ballroom dance choreographer and coach for the large-scale performance China Night.

Executive Producer

Zezhong Luo

Graduated in Broadcast and Hosting Arts from the Communication University of China and holds a Master’s degree in Arts from Peking University.

Host of Bay Area’s Songs in the Valley and Feiyang Arts Spring Festival Gala. Previously hosted numerous programs on national and provincial TV networks, including China Education TV, Travel Satellite TV, and Guangdong Satellite TV.

Awarded the Golden Eyebrow Special Outstanding Screenplay Award, Best Director Award, and Star Play Award for scriptwriting and directing.

Sound and Audio Effects Designer

Wenze Li

Composer, Music Producer, and Educator. Supported by the CAC Fund.

Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music Editing from the Communication University of China and a master’s degree in Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Plays viola for the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, performing in over 20 concerts.

Contributed to sound production for multiple independent films, including one with a box office of over $50 million. Produced impactful music videos for nonprofits, such as "When Love Dances" (2020) for Alma Community Center and "Dream Friends" (2021) for Friends of Children with Special Needs, benefiting over 50 children from the special needs and LGBTQ communities.

Runs Bruce Music Studio, completing over 100 music projects annually, and teaches audio production at Compass Point Mentorship, where he has educated over 200 students. Actively supports local music education, participating in more than 10 community events each year.

Dialogue Director

Mengxi Duan

Graduate from Shanghai Theatre Academy (Broadcasting and Hosting) and currently pursuing a master’s degree at SFSU.

Hosted the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival, worked as a program planner and host for Shanghai SMG New Media, served as lead online host for the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity COP15, and acted as judge and host for the 49th California Chinese Speech Contest.

Stage performances:

Pink Ladies: “Marriage Maniac”
Miss Julie: Christine
Leadership vs. High Heels: Mei Mei

Cast members

A Date Of A Lifetime

Zezhong Luo plays

Haoru

Bachelor’s in Broadcast and Hosting Arts (Communication University of China), Master’s in Arts (Peking University). Hosted TV programs for 16 years and major cultural events in the Bay Area.

Scriptwriting and directing works won awards including Best Script, Director, and Star Play.

Executive producer and actor in Xi Gu Theater’s "Ties vs. High Heels"

Peter Zhu plays

Renjie

Manager and Analyst of Financial Derivatives

Extrovert, passionate about hosting, singing, and acting

Hosted 2025 San Francisco "China Night," "Songs in the Valley" Spring Festival Gala, and "Songs in the Valley" Singer Competition

Acted in the stage play "Columbia's Chair"

Jason Chen plays

Renjie's Shadow/Genie

I go by the surname Nameless, known as "The Actor."

A thousand faces in front of the crowd, yet only a lonely shadow behind.

On stage, I can laugh and cry; offstage, my joys and sorrows are hidden within.

I seek not thunderous applause but a moment of genuine truth.

If you're willing to listen, I shall sing;

Those fleeting three inches of light on stage illuminate a lifetime of madness.

Yue Zhang plays

Zhongxuan

Bay Area software engineer, member of Songs in the Valley community, and co-founder of Silicon Valley Chinese Sports Alliance.

Watched "Ties vs. High Heels" last year and found it inspiring. Excited to join the cast this year. Although Zhongxuan has limited stage time, the character’s emotional depth is a great challenge for me as a newcomer. Looking forward to working with the team to create an amazing production. See you in January!

Bo Wu plays

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang

A Ph.D. in Mathematics who can’t handle finances isn’t a good actor.

Ph.D. in Probability + Big Four Analyst = The most Excel-savvy actor on stage!

Constantly navigating multiple fields, theater gives me the freedom to traverse between different lives.

Xiao Dong plays

Imperial Consort Yang

Graduate of Southwest Communication University with a degree in Broadcasting and Hosting. Former journalist, host, and producer for America's Chinese Daily.

Hosted programs such as Today's America, Understanding America’s Headlines, Know the News, and A Week in America on American Chinese Radio and GeTV. Served as announcer for the 2025 Bay Area Chinese Sports Championship and host for Songs in the Valley 2025 Autumn Festival.

Played Mrs. Sun in Xi Gu Theater’s drama "Ties vs. High Heels"

J.J. Liu plays

Caesar

An optimistic pessimist and an emotionally stable madman.

Played Lao Zhao in Xi Gu Theater’s "Ties vs. High Heels"

Every time I step on stage, it feels like a rebirth. While the roles change, my sincerity remains. On stage, I don’t act as someone else—I use their stories to express my own heart.

Jess Wei plays

Cleopatra

An actor overshadowed by academics and a dancer interrupted by reality.

Fell in love with performing arts at a young age but was steered toward a “serious life.” Ultimately, found her way back to the stage in the Bay Area’s rich artistic community.

Notable performances include the plays "Flying Tiger Love", "Columbia’s Chair", and the sold-out hit "Ties vs. High Heels" at the end of 2024. Also appeared on the big screen in "Yirou’s Choice", proving her versatility extends beyond the stage.

On stage, she acts; off stage, she embraces wellness. A health advocate and anti-aging pioneer, she brings her fullest energy to perform the most vibrant life.

Jiayu Bai plays

Wan Xiliang

Engineer by training, entertainer at heart.

First discovered the charm of acting during my high school student film festival. Returning to the stage years later, this passion feels even more precious. I firmly believe that heartfelt performances come from sincerity and conviction. I hope to share this enthusiasm with the audience and deliver an outstanding show.

Yiwei Chen plays

Meng Jiangnu

Bay Area accountant, classic extrovert, loves interacting with people and exploring the world.

Outside of a busy work schedule, enjoys watching plays, visiting exhibitions, and staying active—striving to find balance between work and life. A chance encounter with the theater group unexpectedly rekindled a childhood dream of stepping on stage. The stage has a magical power that makes one forget time and discover new aspects of oneself.

Bowen Zhang plays

Aladdin

Graduated from Indiana University, an engineer with a deep passion for theater.

To me, the stage offers endless opportunities to rediscover myself. It allows me to immerse in different lives as an observer and see the world through the eyes of the characters I play.

This time, I portray Aladdin, a young man born into humble circumstances yet yearning to change his destiny. His persistence and anxiety, his love and regrets, mirror moments we’ve all experienced while growing up. His encounters with the “Princess"—their quarrels, missed opportunities, and eventual reunion—are both a fantastical tale and a test of fate.

Through playing Aladdin, I'm not only bringing a character to life but also healing a personal regret—telling a story of “what if I’d had the courage back then.” Even if only on stage, I want to express that overdue tenderness.

Thank you for joining us in the theater to continue an unfinished dream together.
Because tonight, I take you to a whole new world.

Mengxi Duan plays

Princess Jasmine

Graduated with a bachelor's degree from Shanghai Theatre Academy and currently pursuing a master's degree at SFSU. Served as the official host of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival, program planner and host for Shanghai SMG New Media, main online host for the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP15, and judge/host for the 49th California Chinese Speech Contest.

With 8 years of teaching experience in hosting and acting, notable performances include playing "Marriage Maniac" in Pink Ladies, Christine in Miss Julie, and Mei Mei in the play Ties vs. High Heels.

Echo Liu plays

Napoleon

A full-time life enthusiast and part-time financial analysis consultant. A seasoned memory collector and a beginner in stage acting.

Passionate about everything vibrant and full of life, skilled at discovering interesting people and stories in everyday moments. Uses every performance opportunity to explore and express the "roles" deep within their heart.

Shirley Wang plays

Josephine

A liberal arts graduate who ventured into Silicon Valley’s tech industry as a software project manager.

A rational mind intertwined with an artistic soul, navigating the courage and impulsiveness of an Aries. Striving to explore the world outwardly while discovering oneself inwardly, constantly reshaping values. Acting allows me to “swap lives” with characters and experience endless possibilities.

Ben Wang plays

Innkeeper

A lawyer with a passion for theater, standing tall as a humble blade of grass in Silicon Valley’s innovative soil. Combining the rationality and logic of the legal profession with the emotion and enthusiasm of drama.

Participating in "Destined Encounter" this time, I hope to bring joy and enjoyment to fellow theater lovers on stage! Previously played Lao Qian in Xi Gu Theater’s "Ties vs. High Heels"

Hanning Zhou plays

Tour Guide

A laid-back engineer and Tai Chi enthusiast. Gifted with a voice ideal for theater, yet held back by insecurities about physical appearance. Inspired by Li Liqun, starting anew as an actor from background roles.

Previously played Lao Sun in Xi Gu Theater’s "Ties vs. High Heels"