The Real Love: International Screenings of the Beloved Musical

After reading many poems written by Supreme Master Ching Hai when She was a young woman, two-time Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Al Kasha (“The Morning After”), a veteran of both Broadway and Hollywood, was impressed by Her life story, and believed it held universal appeal and could touch and inspire many people. He thus brought together many talented artists to produce The Real Love, a Broadway-caliber musical using Master’s touching poems as lyrics for the play.

“It is with great admiration to Supreme Master Ching Hai that I compose music and musicalize her beautiful, moving, poignant poetry. She is by far a true spiritual communicator to the world…with her message of peace and love that transcends time,” he stated.

The Real Love tells the story of Master’s happy life with Her loving husband in Germany, and how She made an enormous sacrifice by leaving behind this very idyllic Earthly love in search of spiritual truth that would ultimately be shared to uplift all of humankind.

Over 3,000 dignitaries, celebrities and the general public attended the full-house global premier, which took place at the prestigious Pasadena Civic Center in Pasadena, California, USA on August 27, Golden Year 8 (2011). It featured an impressive 40-member cast led by award-winning stars, a 20-piece orchestra, and a team of esteemed composers directed by LA Drama Critics Circle Award winner Chris Shelton.

Among the many stars were Joanna Ampil (Miss Saigon), Tony winner Daisy Eagan (The Secret Garden), Tony winner Cady Huffman (The Producers), and Tony nominees Adam Pascal (original cast of Rent) and Robert Torti (Starlight Express). Special guest stars include the internationally celebrated Tony winner Betty Buckley (Cats), Italian classical/pop star Filippa Giordano, Oscar winner Shirley Jones (Elmer Gantry, The Partridge Family), Tony winners Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish (stars of Billy Elliot), Emmy-winning singer Faith Rivera, actor and singer Tom Schmid, actor Dick Van Patten (Eight Is Enough), and Drama Desk Award nominated soprano Lynne Wintersteller.

Extraordinary original music for The Real Love, inspired by Supreme Master Ching Hai’s melodious poems, was written by eminent American composers of stage, film and television: Oscar and three-time Emmy winner Bill Conti (The Right Stuff), two-time Oscar winner Al Kasha (“The Morning After”), Emmy winner Doug Katsaros (ABC Afterschool Specials; music director for Footloose), Tony and Emmy winner Don Pippin (Oliver!), and Oscar and two-time Grammy winner David Shire (Saturday Night Fever).

Also featured was an exquisite song whose lyrics and music were composed by Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Five engaging vegetarian and vegan actors hosted the show, including multi-Emmy nominees Grant Aleksander (All My Children) and Ed Begley, Jr. (St. Elsewhere); actresses Kristin Bauer (True Blood), Elaine Hendrix (The Parent Trap) and Hayley Marie Norman (Hancock).

Supreme Master Ching Hai was invited as a special guest of honor, and joined the event via videoconference, where She spoke of the importance of expanding our love to animals by being vegan and to the Earth by going green.

Supreme Master Ching Hai also expressed Her love for all beings and the environment through contributions of US$35,000 to each of six charitable organizations: Childhelp, EarthSave International, Environmental Media Association, Greenpeace, United Way of Greater Los Angeles and United Way Worldwide.

It was a moving, once-in-a-lifetime event that touched and uplifted audience members and players alike. Filmed in high definition, The Real Love can now be relived over and over, and continue to bring hearts together and uplift the world; the complete musical can be downloaded free of charge here: or can be watched on YouTube here. Screenings have been shown in locations including San Jose, California, USA, and throughout Formosa.

Read more report about The Real Love in Special Reports in News #209 here: