The musical based on the Oscar- winning film "Casablanca" made its world debut in Beijing Thursday night and will run until Tuesday.

The musical opened the Third Beijing International Drama Festival along with another musical "The Gold Sand", a Chinese love story set in a historic site in southwest China.

Ten other musicals and Chinese folk operas will also be shown in the fair.

Musical "Casablanca" was developed by Time-Warner and the China Arts and Entertainment Group.

John Clifford, the world renowned composer and director, worked with artists from across the world to recast the love story in a combination of tap dancing and music. The score includes the classic "As Time Goes By" and new songs.

"The world premiere of 'Casablanca' reflects Beijing's cultural vitality and strong performance market," said Zhang Shurong, a cultural official with the Beijing municipal government.