The special concerts, presented through Oct. 9, are directed by Paul Warwick Griffin and choreographed by Ashley Wallen. Ultimate Broadway, which includes a 43-piece orchestra, promises a musical trek from the "1950s through to the blockbusters of the 1980s and then beyond into Broadway today."

Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), who only appears in the Sept. 23 gala opening performance, joins Espinosa (Wicked, Brooklyn), Kern (Wicked, Les Miserables), Jones (Cats, Evita) and Little (Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll & Hyde), and an ensemble of London performers including Nicholas Duncan, Callum Francis, Matt Gillett, Grace Holdstock, Joelle Dyson, Robert Knight, Lisa Mathieson, Kevin McGuire, Amy Webb and Jayde Westaby.

Bjorn Dobbelaere conducts the concerts, which have musical supervision by Stephen Brooker. Ultimate Broadway also features a 20-member local ensemble from Shanghai. The production is designed by Andrew Botha.

The multi-million dollar Shanghai Culture Square Theatre, built over the last six years, was designed as a destination for musical theatre productions.

Visit shculturesquare.com.