RALEIGH, N.C.—The audience was anticipating an engaging performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at Memorial Auditorium at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts on March 7.

Believers in Falun Gong, a peaceful cultivation practice guided by truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, are persecuted by the regime and are being killed for their organs.

“It’s hard not to feel bad about it,” Mr. Beard said. “I wish more people knew about it—what’s going on now in China with the harvesting of organs.”

“I just think if more people knew about it. Then they'd have a truer view of China and what [the communist regime] in China is doing,” he said.

Mrs. Beard loved the artistry of the performance. “The artistic take is remarkable. It’s beautiful. The timing, the elements, and the pictures. It’s just graceful and beautiful,” she said.

Shen Yun tours the world, sharing the values and positive spiritual traditions of China before communism.

“I like the dance,” Mr. Beard said. “But I like the message more.”

“I told my wife, ‘If we were any closer, I'd have to be playing an instrument down there with them.’ We’ve enjoyed it,” Mr. Beard said.

Mrs. Beard loved the tenor’s performance. “Yes, we love our seats, and it’s just beautiful. The music and the song was beautiful. So beautiful. His voice, it was lovely.”

“I couldn’t understand [the lyrics], but just by reading it, it was great. You could really feel the message and his voice, and with the words,” Mrs. Beard said.

“I think the show is beautiful,“ Mr. Beard said. “The music is great, the dancing is great. And I still come back to the message.”

He said the message touched his heart.