In the era before television, Taiwanese opera was the entertainment of the masses, and the players of handsome young male roles were the idols of the entire island. Among them, Hung Ming-Hsueh was undeniably the brightest star. In 2025, the Xinzhuang Has a Good Show series centers around her, reviving moments from her performances, teaching, and legacy to present classic plays deeply intertwined with her operatic life.
Justice Bao Meets the Empress Dowager, performed by Yi Hsin Taiwanese Opera Troupe, is based on Hung's personal recollections. She once portrayed the role of the virtuous Eighth Prince and now serves as the troupe’s drama advisor and Taiwanese (Hoklo) language consultant. The Yang Generals: Capturing She Qi-shan Alive, also performed by Yi Hsin, is adapted from valuable oral history collected during the 2020 Taiwanese Opera Oral History Preservation Project. This new production roots itself in tradition while embracing innovation, delicately showcasing the depth of Taiwanese opera in movement, singing, and performance. Contemporary stagecraft and visual language have been fused to create a theatrical aesthetic that bridges the classical and the modern. The script has been restructured by the writing team, integrating directorial vision and stage design to give new life to this timeless story.
Li Ching-Fang Taiwanese Opera Troupe presents Sixth Son Files a Grievance, a reinterpretation of the Yang Family Generals tale. Hung Ming-Hsueh personally provided coaching on the singing and recitation of selected scenes, which were included in the album nominated for the 32nd Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music. Upholding the philosophy of "New Plays, Nostalgic Tunes," the troupe blends the nei-tai era's traditional standing performances and stylized movements to vividly portray the historical scene of Sixth Son seeking justice in court. Scenes such as “The Matriarch Weeps for the Duke”, “Sixth Son's Plea”, and “The Slaying at Four Gates” explore themes of loyalty, filial piety, and the battle between good and evil. Traditional singing styles, lament tunes, and gu-lu music strengthen dramatic tension and continue the rich operatic aesthetics Hung passed down.
The Xinchuan Taiwanese Opera Troupe brings to the stage Hongni Pass, The Investiture of the Gods, and A Cat Replaces the Crown Prince—echoing Hung Ming-Hsueh’s commitment to Taiwanese opera education and preservation. The troupe has long devoted itself to reconstructing and documenting nei-tai opera, striving to bring classical works to contemporary audiences. With refined vocal arrangements and concise scene selections, these performances showcase the depth of traditional craftsmanship and embody Hung’s enduring spirit of teaching. These plays are more than fragments of her life; they are the lights she once lit on stage, still glowing with warmth to this day.
The accompanying exhibition, titled "Fragments of a Life in Opera," invites audiences to connect with Hung Ming-Hsueh’s life and theatrical memories through a single photo, a page of script, or a piece of costume. Though seemingly fragmented, these materials contain extraordinary history and deep emotion—true footnotes to her operatic dreams. Held in the lobby of the Xinzhuang Cultural and Arts Center, the exhibit features six costumes personally sewn and worn by Master Hung. Through rare photos, oral scripts, performance records, and teaching notes from various periods, audiences can piece together her multifaceted journey—from the traditional nei-tai stage to the modern performance hall, from the spotlight to the classroom.
