Cai luong (reformed theatre) artist Kim Tu Long will mark the 30thanniversary of his career with a live performance in HCM City this week.

ThienDuong Cua Toi (My Paradise) will feature extracts from cai luong playsthat helped him achieve fame – including Day Song Bach Dang Giang (Wavesin the Bach Dang River), and Nang Tien Mau Don (Peony Fairy).

Long,also the show's director, said it offered him a chance to achieve hisdream of "paradise" – or, as he described it, an ideal theatre showwhere several performances were staged in the best possible conditionsand actors work hard.

Long, real name Hoang Kim Long, will be joined by Thoai My, Phuong Hang, Trong Nghia, and Que Tran for the show.

Comedians Hoai Linh and Bao Quoc, and singers Cam Ly and Phi Nhung will be special guests.

DaySong Bach Dang Giang will not be a solo effort. Instead, Long willcollaborate with young director Vu Minh, and the play will featurenearly 150 dancers.

Long, born in Sai Gon (now HCM City) in 1966,developed an interest in cai luong at 14. He learned to sing vong co(nostalgic tunes), a traditional southern art form, and perform cailuong from Vuong Quang and the late People's Artist Phung Ha.

In1985, he was a member of Tran Huu Trang Troupe 3, one of the region'sleading cai luong performers. His strong voice and dance skills quicklymade an impression on audiences.

In 1992, he won the prestigious Tran Huu Trang Award given to promising cai luong artists.

Healso won the Nguoi Lao Dong (The Labourer) newspaper's Mai Vang (GoldenOchna) Award for Favourite Cai Luong Actor in 2002, 2003, and 2009.

Thien Duong Cua Toi will be staged at the Hoa Binh Theatre in HCM City on Feb. 25-26./.