6 March 2007

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MELBOURNE -
MISS SAIGON OPENS IN 11 DAYS!

 SPIRITED CAST ARRIVES IN MELBOURNE FOR FINAL REHEARSALS

The entire company of MISS SAIGON has arrived in Melbourne after five weeks of intensive rehearsals in Sydney, to commence their final onstage preparations towards the first performance on Saturday 17th March 2007. 
  
Her Majesty’s Theatre is a buzz with activity on stage and backstage as the cast familiarize themselves with their new home and surroundings in readiness for their Melbourne debut.
  
This awe-inspiring entirely new production of MISS SAIGON, created by Cameron Mackintosh, is as exciting and even more emotionally involving than his original production, using cutting edge visual techniques and a brilliant new set to vividly recreate the streets of Vietnam and Bangkok.  
  
MISS SAIGON is an epic love story about the relationship between Chris, an American GI and Kim, a young Vietnamese woman during the final days of the U.S. occupation of Saigon.
Kim is working in a sleazy Saigon nightclub owned by a notorious wheeler-dealer known as ‘The Engineer’.  John, another American GI, buys his friend Chris the services of Kim for the night.  That night will change their lives forever.
  
The Australian producers, Michael Coppel Ventures & Louise Withers and Associates are extremely proud that MISS SAIGON features 34 talented Australian artists, plus two stars from MISS SAIGON’s international cast  –   Leo Tavarro Valdez and Laurie Cadevida.
  
Leo Tavarro Valdez has played ‘The Engineer’ in over 2000 performances in five countries.  Laurie Cadevida is playing Kim, as she has done on the US tour of MISS SAIGON for the past three years; and Australia’s Jennifer Trijo will also play the role of Kim at certain performances. David Harris, well known in Australian musical theatre, plays the role of Chris.  Juan Jackson joins the cast after three years with the Australian Opera, performing the role of John.  Sophie Katinis, known to television audiences plays Ellen, with RJ Rosales, who has returned to Australia after performing in Manila and Singapore, playing Thuy and Christina Tan playing the role of Gigi. Seven local Melbourne children share the role of Tam.    
Making up the stellar ensemble cast are: Rick Lau, Stephen Mahy, Rhoda Lopez, Anthony Harkin, Matt Lee, Samantha Lau, Luke Sherrell, Marcus Rivera, Fely Irvine, Ed Deganos, Jennifer De Leon, Darren Tyler, Stephanie Delaney, Lorry D’Ercole, Kaylie Yee, Michael Snell, Soolin Ong-Tan, Nick Jones, Mitchell Winter, Shingo Usami, Raymond Balisoro, Daniel Aguilar, Kaeng Chan, Ethan Ihanh, Ben Osborne, Jim Williams, Rowena Vilar and Leah Lim.
MISS SAIGON has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jnr and Alain Boublil, adapted from original French lyrics by Alain Boublil.
  
Laurence Connor directs this stunning new production with choreography by Geoffrey Garratt, based on Bob Avian’s original work.
  
Further enhancing this creative team is the internationally renowned illustrator Gerald Scarfe who has created his own inimitable take on the famous show stopping production number, “The American Dream”.
  
MISS SAIGON will only be in Melbourne for a limited 16-week season, with no extension possible.
  
Performances will commence at Melbourne’s beloved Her Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday 17 March in the lead-up to the gala opening night on Thursday 29 March 2007.

Tickets on sale through Ticketek: 1300 795 012
Performance Times: Tues–Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm, Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm.