Gray, Hill, Hicks, Rouah & Tyo Bring Miss Saigon to Salt Lake City May 1-16

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the spectacular musical phenomenon Miss Saigon, by the same team that created Les Misérables. The show runs May 1 through May 16, 2009.

In the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Chris, an American soldier, and Kim, a Vietnamese girl, fall in love - only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years are the backdrop of this epic musical based on Puccini's Madame Butterfly. Miss Saigon is a moving testament to the human spirit and a scathing indictment of the tragedies of war.

Starring as the lovers are Shannon Tyo as Kim and Josh Rouah as Chris. Tyo's New York City credits include the original Off-Broadway company of Dear Edwina, and as Sophie in The Meaning of Life at 45th Street Theatre. She received her BFA from Syracuse University. Rouah appeared in the revival of Grease on Broadway as understudy for Danny Zuko. He was recently in Salt Lake City filming an MTV film called The American Mall. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan.

The Engineer, the amoral club owner determined to keep Kim from fulfilling her dreams, is played by AEA actor Kevin Gray. Gray performed the role in the Toronto production of Miss Saigon, and appears on the cast recording of the show. His Broadway credits include The Phantom in the Andrew Lloyd Webber smash hit The Phantom of the Opera, Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, and The King of Siam The King and I. He is a recipient of the Dora Mavor Moore and L.A. Drama-Logue Awards for previous productions of Miss Saigon, and the Carbonelle Award for his work in The Phantom of the Opera. His recordings include his solo album It's My Time to Shine, The Complete Miss Saigon, and Magdalena. He currently appears with the symphony tour Three Phantoms in Concert. This marks his PTC debut.

Chris' American wife Ellen is played by Equity actress and Utah native Natalie Hill. Hill was recently seen on Broadway in the revival of Grease, as Cha-Cha Digregorio, and was in the national tours of both Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Hairspray. This marks her PTC debut.

The part of Thuy, betrothed to Kim, is AEA member Kelvin Moon Loh. Loh was last seen at PTC in last season's Paint Your Wagon. His credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie at Gateway Playhouse, A Christmas Carol at North Shore Music Theatre, and Hameko and Lulu at Barrington Stage.

The part of John, Chris' friend and accomplice in the search for his lost lover, is played by Equity actor Rodney Hicks. Hicks' Broadway credits include Jacques Brel is Alive and Well...(2006 Revival Cast/Cast Recording), Jesus Christ Superstar (as Peter), and in the original and closing casts of Rent. This marks his PTC debut.

The part of Tam, Chris and Kim's three-year-old son, is double-cast; both Teague Orlando Salazar and Victorio To will play the part.

Directing the production is Karen Azenberg. In New York City, Azenberg directed The Soup Comes Last by Rachel Lampert at 59E59 Theatre, directed and choreographed Prom Queens Unchained, Blocks (an early work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of Rent Jonathan Larson), and choreographed Richard Greenberg's acclaimed The Dazzle for Roundabout Theatre. She most recently directed and choreographed West Side Story and choreographed A Christmas Carol at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival where she will return later this season to choreograph Beehive. Azenberg is current president of the Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers. She returns to PTC after choreographing the record-breaking musical Les Misérables.

Edward G. Robinson is the musical director for the production. Robinson's credits include Musical Director of the Broadway companies of Miss Saigon, Shogun: The Musical, Cats, and conductor of The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. He served as musical director of the North American and U.S. premiere of Mamma Mia! and was musical supervisor of the first national tour. He has conducted the Los Angeles, First National, and Las Vegas productions of The Phantom of the Opera as well as The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber across the country. This marks his PTC debut.

Assistant Director/Choreographer is Maria Totten; Assistant Musical Director is Dan Bailey. Both have extensive Broadway, national tour, and regional theatre credits.

Resident Scenic Designer George Maxwell designs the set. Maxwell recently designed the set for Noises Off and My Fair Lady at Pioneer Theatre Company; his previous designs include The Producers, Chicago, You Can't Take It With You and Les Misérables. A member of United Scenic Artists, he has also designed sets for Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Utah Opera Company and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

K.L. Alberts designs the costumes for the production. His recent designs for PTC include The Producers and Les Misérables. Alberts' designs have also been seen at SLAC in such shows as Rabbit Hole, SexSting, Skin in Flames, Kimberly Akimbo, and Bad Dates. For the Utah Shakespearean Festival, he designed Hay Fever, The Matchmaker and Ah, Wilderness!

Lighting design is by Karl E. Haas, who previously designed The Producers, Les Misérables, West Side Story, and South Pacific among many others at PTC. His New York design credits include productions at Playwrights Horizons, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Julliard. Haas has been Lighting Supervisor/Designer for the Bolshoi Ballet/Opera, the Kirov Ballet, the Spanish National Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet. Haas is currently the Architectural Western Regional Manager for Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC).

Sound design is by Joe Payne. Payne is in his ninth season as resident sound designer for Pioneer Theatre Company. He has designed sound and/or composed music for more than 100 productions in theatres throughout the country.

Hair and Make-up Designer Amanda French, PTC resident designer, has worked for theatres all over the west. She is a contributing writer in the ninth edition of Stage Makeup by Richard Corson and James Glavan and is a featured artist in The Costume Technician's Handbook by Rosemary Ingham and Liz Covey.

May 1 - May 16, 2009

TIMES: Mondays - Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday matinees, 2:00 p.m.

Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre

300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City

PRICE: $30 - $49; Children K - 12 are half price on Mondays and Tuesdays

MORE INFO: Box Office (801) 581-6961. The Box Office is open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, and Saturdays when there are performances

www.pioneertheatre.org