YouGuang Chinese School held its third annual “YouGuang Night” student showcase at City Playhouse Theatre in Vaughan on May 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. Students, teachers and parents took to the stage for an evening of singing, poetry recitation, musical theatre, drama and family performances, sharing the results of a year of Chinese learning and artistic practice.

The production centred on helping children build confidence, express themselves more effectively and develop stage presence. Dr. Yifan Gao, Principal of YouGuang Chinese School, directed the production and led its planning, lighting design and scriptwriting. Yang Guang, the school’s founder and lead teacher, served as assistant director and stage manager. Classroom teachers, students from the young hosts program and parent volunteers supported the preparations and the performance.

The program featured students across different ages and levels of Chinese proficiency. Beginner students performed the “Pinyin Song,” while other classes brought the classical poems “Ode to the Goose,” “On the Stork Tower” and “Song of the Wandering Son” to life through recitation, music and staged performances. A group recitation, a traditional-costume runway presentation and the second season of the classroom skit “Chinese Showdown” combined language learning with creative expression.

Student representatives from the Oakville campus performed the poetry drama “The Light of Life.” Representatives from the Aurora campus also participated in the performance of “Song of the Wandering Son.”

Theatre formed a substantial part of the evening. YouGuang’s introductory drama class presented an excerpt from the school’s original musical adaptation of “The Selfish Giant.” The older and younger drama groups performed scenes from “Hamlet,” including its final scene. Student Serina Gao delivered a solo performance featuring a selection of Shakespeare’s classic speeches, while teacher Shao Wenjie sang YouGuang’s original Hamlet theme song, “The Eternal Question.”

Several performances explored family relationships. The third edition of “A Letter to Mom and Dad” gave students an opportunity to express their feelings in Chinese. Cathy and her mother, Rachel, performed a mother–daughter duet, while the Kate and Rosie families joined in a performance of “Daylily Flower.”

The evening also featured YouGuang’s original school song and drama troupe anthem. Dr. Gao recited “I Would Be a Torrent,” and the teaching team presented a group poetry recitation on the influence educators have on their students’ lives. Yang Guang delivered her annual address, “New Chinese Education.” The showcase concluded with students and teachers singing “YouGuang Youth,” the theme song of YouGuang Night.

The annual showcase extends learning beyond the classroom, giving students opportunities to practise Chinese, collaborate with others and perform in a professional theatre. This year’s program brought together beginner and advanced learners alongside drama students, with each group contributing its own work to the stage.