“LEGENDS” 2.0 lit up Segerstrom Hall on May 11. Among the audience were 97-year-old Xufen Chi and 87-year-old Ingrid Liu , joined by their daughters.
Councilmember Melinda Liu accompanied her mother for a second viewing. Aerialist Tyler, playing Nezha, invited his parents, Alan and Linda, to share a rare Mother’s Day together.
To mark its 20th anniversary, the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center opened “LEGENDS” 2.0 with a tribute to mothers.
Composer Bin He led Irvine Chinese Chorus, children, and OCLC singers in “Mama Is the Best,” “Lupine ,” and his original song, “It’s Because of You,” blending East and West to honor maternal love.
The screen displayed cast members with their mothers and images honoring educator Ms.Kuan-Yuan Tai.The segment ended with “Mom, I love you” in multiple languages, creating a heartfelt Mother’s Day atmosphere.
97-year-old Xufen Chi saw “LEGENDS” 2.0 for the first time and said, “I can’t believe such an amazing show is in the U.S.!”
Councilmember Melinda Liu, attending again with her mother, added, “Bringing figures like Nezha, Mulan, and the Monkey King to life through East-West fusion is truly inspiring and a source of pride.”
Tyler, a SoCal circus artist making his debut as Nezha, usually performs out of town on Mother’s Day. This year, he invited his parents to the show and shared a post-performance dinner, adding a heartfelt touch to the evening.
“LEGENDS” 2.0 opened with a mother telling bedtime stories to her daughter, guiding the audience through Nezha’s courage, the Monkey King’s wit, and Mulan’s devotion—beautifully weaving legend with maternal love.
SCCCC CEO Yulan Chung said the center’s 20-year journey was made possible by the community’s quiet support. “Like a mother, the Chinese community has always been there for us,” she said, dedicating the show to Ms.Kuan-Yuan Tai, all mothers, and the Center’s supporters.
