Chinese movie star Liu Xiaoqing plays the lead role in the drama A Legend: Sai Jin Hua in Taipei. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese movie star Liu Xiaoqing will tour four major US cities, bringing her latest stage role in the play A Legend: Sai Jin Hua.

According to Tai Chi, president of Chinese Ticket Box, an entertainment promotion company based in Fremont, Liu will perform in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and New York from March 29 through April 20.

At a recent news conference held jointly with Wea Lee, CEO of Southern News Group which co-sponsored this performance in Houston, Tai introduced the popular play currently on tour in China. "Including its performance in Tianjin, this play has been performed 164 times since its premiere in 2012," Tai says.

According to Tai, from July 5, 2012, to July 3, 2013, Liu, who's in her 60s, performed the title role of Sai Jin Hua single-handedly more than 90 times in 53 Chinese cities without a backup actress at all-a record in itself. The well-written play and her excellent performance have made it a hit, continuing to attract full-house audiences in China after two years.

A Legend: Sai Jin Hua tells the story of a well-known real-life courtesan in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Sai Jin Hua was a legendary but controversial figure. She became a prostitute at the age of 20. Her social and marital life with domestic and foreign acquaintances influenced China's diplomatic relations with foreign countries. Her story has been transcribed into numerous novels, plays and movies.

This stage play was produced by the Tianjin People's Arts Theater and has won various awards since, including the Chinese Play Golden Lion Award for its director and two actors in 2012 and Shanghai's One Drama Award for best actress and best producer in 2013.

"There are approximately 5,000 plays a year in China, and Sai Jin Hua is among the top three. We only pick the best to bring to the US," Tai says.

This will be A Legend: Sai Jin Hua's first overseas tour, which involves 52 onstage and offstage workers. A total of seven performances will be staged at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Cupertino Flint Center, Houston's Hobby Center and New York's Queens College. The tickets are priced between $48 and $158. For details, visit Chineseticketbox.com.