A full house at the PG Theater in Shanghai for the performance. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The ticket price ranges from 180 to 1,280 yuan and Xiao paid 980 yuan for a front-row seat. "Many of my online friends also came to watch the musical," she says, adding that those who bought the tickets were given codes to redeem limited-offer character "skins" in the online game.

Hundreds of fans have left comments on the musical's official Sina Weibo account, many begging the organizers to bring the show to their home cities. Some say besides paying for tickets, they are also buying high-speed train tickets to travel to watch the show.