Maoming's first original revolution-themed musical is coming to the end of its rehearsal period and will soon make its debut, according to news from Maoming Culture Media Group on May 24.

The musical, Wo Zai Hei An Zhong Deng Dai Li Ming (I Waited in the Dark for the Dawn), is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

A scene from the musical's rehearsal. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]

The revolutionary martyr Li Ka (1922-1949), who was born in Huazhou, a county-level city in Maoming and who joined the CPC in 1947, is the musical's lead character, while the peasant movement in Guangdong province forms the backdrop for the story.

"The deeds of many revolutionary martyrs are admirable but little known", said Chen Yi, executive director of the musical, adding that the history of the peasant movement in Guangdong and the revolutionary martyrs should be more widely known.

Li Ka was chosen as the hero of the musical because he was iconic, according to Chen. He was born into a wealthy family, accepted the new culture and took part in the revolutionary movement. His articles and poems are full of revolutionary romanticism; he was a revolutionary with lofty ideals and optimism.

The musical was jointly created by the publicity department of the CPC Maoming municipal committee, the publicity department of the CPC Huazhou municipal committee, and the Maoming Culture Media Group.

Grade-one national scriptwriter Li Xinhua, grade-two national scriptwriter Lian Xingcun and renowned composer He Qi were invited to take part in the creation of the musical.