On the evening of 2/8, artists performed the play "Noi ket thuc bat dau" (Where the End Begins), concluding Thien Dang's nearly three-year journey. At the end of the play, Thanh Loc and the cast sang "Nham mat thay mua he" (Close Eyes and See Summer), composed by Ho Tien Dat and Chung Chi Cong. In his role as the God of Welcomes and Farewells, he held a sign that read "tam biet" (farewell) and waved to the audience. Many actors wept as the audience applauded, lingering until the very end.
Thien Dang management announced the closure of the theater in early August, without specifying the reason. For the team, this was a difficult decision because over the past three years, what they gained was not just successful shows but the trust and companionship of their audience. For nearly one month, many viewers sought tickets for the final performances of "Lo hang" (Exposed), "13 duc thay" (13 Teachers), and "Ngoi nha khong co dan ong" (House Without Men).
Previously, Thanh Loc stated he was leaving Thien Dang due to personal plans. He will take time to rest and enjoy life. While there is information that Thanh Loc will establish a new theater, the actor has not yet confirmed this.
In addition to acting, Thanh Loc served as the artistic director, staging plays, and supporting his colleagues at the theater. For him, this stage was a place to continue his love for theater in his 60s. Beyond entertainment plays, the artist staged many Broadway-style productions, experimenting with musical theater to promote the genre to audiences, especially young people.
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Artist Thanh Loc in the play "Chuyen do dinh menh" (Fateful Ferry). Photo: Thanh Loc Fanpage |
As one of the first artists to be associated with Thien Dang, artist Huu Chau expressed gratitude for the audience's affection for him through each work performed there. Besides acting, he also directed two plays: "Nguoi di nguoc dong" (The One Who Goes Against the Current) and "Duyen the" (Fated Vow). Actress Van Trang felt sad to bid farewell to the familiar stage after a long period of collaboration. She recalled how, at the end of each performance, artists would come out to greet the audience, who often did not want to leave.
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Artist Huu Chau receives flowers and souvenirs from the audience during his final performance on 1/8, the play "Nguoi di nguoc dong" at Thien Dang. Photo: Provided by character |
Thien Dang was established in September 2023, bringing together many famous names such as Thanh Loc, Huu Chau, Kim Xuan, My Duyen, Van Trang, Luong The Thanh, and Le Phuong. From its conception to its launch, the theater received support from many artists.
The venue attracted audiences with many plays such as "Giang Huong", "13 duc thay", "Co giao Duyen" (Teacher Duyen), "Lo hang", and "Chuyen do dinh menh", with some productions selling out. "Giang Huong", directed by Thanh Loc, won a gold medal at the first Ho Chi Minh City Theater Festival.
Many theaters in Ho Chi Minh City have closed, primarily due to inefficient operations. In 2018, the Nu Cuoi Moi (New Smile) theater – once the passion project of the late artist Huu Loc – ceased operations after 14 years. In the same year, artist Hong Van announced that her SuperBowl theater stopped performances because of high rental costs, with ticket sales insufficient to cover actor salaries.
Mai Nhat
