Stan Lai coaches an actor for his new production of A Dream Like a Dream at a 798 Art Zone rehearsal hall. Li Yan / For China Daily

Q+A

Your favorite virtue?

Altruism.

Your favorite qualities in a man or a woman?

Passion + Compassion.

What you appreciate the most in your friends?

Who they are, not who others think they are.

If you would talk to a late master of your field, who would he/she be?

Shakespeare.

How do you wish to die?

One cannot wish, only hope for it to be peaceful with little disturbance.

If not yourself, who would you be?

We can only be ourselves, and that with a struggle.

Your heroes in real life?

Unknown people who make sacrifices for others. I find your "normal" heroes - famous people - are often difficult, bullies, and make life difficult for those around them.

The natural talent you'd like to be gifted with?

To play the piano like Bill Evans.

If there is one thing you want to change about yourself, what would it be?

Innate shyness that some take as arrogance.

Related:

Dream weaver

Arguably the greatest living dramatist and impresario in Chinese-language theater sees his work as a conduit between the mundane and the sublime. In what he regards as the pinnacle of his oeuvre, Stan Lai shapes ideas into a modern-day equivalent of the Bayeux Tapestry about the emotional and spiritual impact of time. More...

What they say

Ang Lee, film director: Stan Lai is an inestimable artist who has richteaching experiences and deep Buddhist insights. More...

His best

2007 - Like Shadows??? 2008 - Light Years, The Village??More...