A collection of performances by overseas troupes will bring glamor to the International Cultural Industry Fair (ICIF) Arts Festival, to be held as part of the ICIF, the fair's organizer announced yesterday.

The arts festival is a new addition to the biennial event, which will be staged from May 18 to 21, and will become a regular feature of each fair, the organizer said.

One of the most eagerly anticipated shows is "Cats," a Broadway musical that has been dazzling the world for over 20 years. Another Broadway musical that makes its debut at the fair, "The Sound of Music," is also expected to draw a large audience, as its story is well-known among Chinese people.

The festival features several music concerts, including a concert by the Zurich Chamber Orchestra from Switzerland, a solo concert by popular Russian singer Bumac Vitas, and a concert by French "piano prince" Richard Clayderman.

More than 60 troupes from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and some foreign countries will perform at the international performance exhibition hall, which is an addition to this year's fair venue.

The main venue of this year's fair, the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, will be split into nine halls each with its own unique theme, such as animation and comics, design, and digital TV. Events will also be held in five other smaller venues, including the Dafen oil painting village in Longgang District and the Shenzhen antique market in Luohu District.

Editor: Yan