Shanghai will cement its status as the prime stage for foreign and domestic productions in the country by hosting an international festival this year, Zhang Kun reports. 

As China's largest and most vibrant market for musicals, Shanghai will host its first international musical festival to promote original Chinese productions starting in March, said officials during a news conference for the festival in late December.

The most significant part of the festival program is a showcase of six Chinese musical productions which will be presented at the SAIC Shanghai Culture Square in March and April.

"These productions from Shanghai, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore present rich colors and diverse musical styles in different contexts of Chinese culture," says Zhang Jie, general manager of Shanghai Culture Square, the leading theater for musical performances in the city.