Shanghai is about to be injected with a healthy dose of drama when the city’s newest theater holds its grand opening this month. Covering an impressive 65,000 sq. meters in the former French Concession, Shanghai Culture Square is not only the world’s largest underground theater, but also the world’s deepest.

The oddity is a result of local zoning restrictions that stipulated that the final product could not be higher than the surrounding buildings―six storeys. Proving that the show must go on, the winning bid from the architects at Beyer Belinder Belle worked around these restrictions by constructing 57,000 sq. meters of the theater underground. It reaches 36 meters into the ground at its lowest point. The theater has 2,000 seats, cost a total of RMB1.1 billion to build, and took over six years to complete.

The theater’s main stage is also state-of-the art, boasting technology and design that’s unrivaled in Shanghai. Features like a rain-sprayer, dry ice cannon and rotating stage will add dramatic dimensions to local theater productions. Perhaps that’s why it’s being tipped as the premier location for all Broadway productions visiting China, starting with its grand opening show, Ultimate Broadway (Sep. 23-Oct. 9, p. 18).

According to the minister of Shanghai Committee’s Publicity Department during the Expo Forum last year, the theater is the latest step in integrating the city’s business, cultural and creative industries. “Drama culture will serve as a catalyst to bring about a synergy across the business district, brands and cultural history.”

Shanghai’s local theater pros are similarly excited about the new venue. Chinatown vet Charles Mayer says, “As an actor, I’m proud to have the such an innovative theater in my neighborhood. The producers I work with are already in talks to put shows on there next year so I have my fingers crossed."