It is the early 1940s and the world is engulfed in war. In a corner of North Africa two old lovers meet. But what once was, can never be.... Time has gone by. Rick is saying goodbye to his beloved Ilsa, fleeing the Nazi's with her husband, a resistance leader from occupied Europe. Fast forward 63 years to a stage in Beijing .

Yes, Sam will play the melancholy tune, "As time goes by," again, but not for Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart.

Instead, its haunting strains will echo through Beijing's Great Hall of the People when Warner Bros premieres its brand-new stage version of "Casablanca" on April 8 to launch the Third Beijing International Drama Festival.

Released in 1942 by Warner Bros Studio, "Casablanca" is an undisputed Hollywood classic.

Almost everyone knows the story of political and romantic espionage set against the backdrop of World War II, when the battle lines were drawn between democracy and totalitarianism.

And the stage version will not revise the plot. 

Although everyone involved with this legendary motion picture has departed this life, the film itself has withstood the test of more than a half-century.

From time to time, someone has attempted a remake of the film, but even the best has been no more than a pale shadow of the original.

Two years ago, the Los Angeles-based choreographer John Clifford suggested Warner Bros produce a stage version of the story.

"There are several musical numbers that take place in Rick's cafe, so I think it's natural to turn it into a multi-disciplined show," said Clifford, who had been with Balanchine at the New York City Ballet and established the Los Alleges Ballet in 1974.

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