Acrobatics, theatrics and martial arts combine for a high-energy showdown of power. Direct from China, the Shaolin Warriors bring the remarkable skill, stunning movement and spectacular imagery of kung fu to the Lied Center for Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14.

Performed by disciples of the Shaolin schools, known throughout the world for their disciplined and deadly martial-arts prowess, these Chinese kung fu masters have trained daily from a very young age in mental and physical disciplines, which allow them to perform feats once thought only possible in the movies. Breathing life into 1,500-year-old rituals, this group of 20 adult men and two young boys showcases extreme physical ability, weapon proficiency and unmatched ensemble synchronization. Lying on beds of nails, doing handstands on two fingers, balancing torsos on the points of upright spears, these performers throw the word "impossible" out the window. Bringing the danger to an even higher level, the Warriors incorporate the disciplined use of weapons into the mix, including whips, staffs, swords and broadswords. One reviewer called it, "a bombardment of energy and skill...with an inch-perfect synchronism that didn't let up for the whole show," while another described it as "an extravaganza of kung fu mastery."

This performance is possible in part by generous support from Embassy Suites.

Tickets for this performance are $32 and $16. Students from UNL and other participating colleges with a valid ID, as well as youths age 18 and younger, may purchase tickets for half price. Call the Lied Ticket Office at (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 for availability. Regular ticket office hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. For weekday evening performances, Lied Center Ticket Office hours are from 11 a.m. until 30 minutes after show time. The Lied Center is located at 301 N. 12th St. on the UNL City Campus. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.liedcenter.org. Patrons can also save up to 20 percent on this event by purchasing tickets as part of a season package.

New this year, Lied patrons will be able to reserve parking spaces at the Que Place Garage, 11th and Q streets, through the city of Lincoln Web site at http://www.lincoln.ne.gov. Reserved spots cost $4 if ordered online. In addition, patrons can request valet parking online for $7 or $8 on the day of the event. A link to reserve parking can be found on the Lied Center Web site.

As part of the Lied Center's ongoing education programming, a pre-performance talk by David Ossian, karate instructor from Sho Rei Shobu Kan martial arts center, will be held in the Lied Center's Steinhart Room. Seating is limited in the Steinhart, and the pre-talk will begin a half hour before curtain or when the room is full.

The Lied Center's 20th season is supported by Friends of Lied and Union Bank. All events in the Lied Center are made possible entirely or in part by the Lied Performance Fund, which has been established in memory of Ernst F. Lied and his parents, Ernst M. and Ida K. Lied. The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported the programs of this organization through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

For more information about the Shaolin Warriors, visit http://go.unl.edu/h6x.