Serenbe Playhouse's MISS SAIGON, Featuring Real Helicopter, Opens Tonight

Serenbe Playhouse, recipient of the prestigious American Theatre Wing grant (2015), is pleased to present the fourth show in its 2016 season, Miss Saigon, with music by Claude- Michel Schonberg; lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., and Alain Boublil; adapted from the original French lyrics by Alain Boublil. The show is directed by Brian Clowdus, music direction is by Chris Brent Davis, and choreography is by Bubba Carr. The show opens tonight, July 21 and has already been extended to August 14.

Performance times are Wednesdays through Sundays at 8pm. Single tickets are on sale now online at serenbeplayhouse.com (anytime); and by phone at 770-463-1110 (Box Office hours are Monday-Saturday, noon until 6pm). Serenbe Playhouse produces each show in a different outdoor location within the Serenbe community and Miss Saigon will be produced in the Wildflower Meadow, 10950 Hutcheson Ferry Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268.

In the classic musical by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil, based on Giacomo Puccini's tragic opera, Madame Butterfly, an American GI (Chris) falls desperately in love with a Vietnamese barmaid (Kim) during the Vietnam War, only to be separated by the fall of Saigon. Kim and Chris' love story is a harrowing tale of heartbreak and heroism, set against the backdrop of war-torn Vietnam, during a troubling era in our nation's history.

For the first time ever presented by a professional Atlanta theatre company, Serenbe Playhouse and its design team have recreated the lush wilderness of Vietnam, complete with an actual Vietnam-flown Huey helicopter landing nightly in the Wildflower Meadow at Serenbe.

"Miss Saigon is truly the next game changer for Serenbe Playhouse: the cast, the creative team, the location, the helicopter... it all feels as though the stars are aligning with each element's falling into place," says Serenbe Playhouse Founder and Artistic/Executive Director, and director of Miss Saigon, Brian Clowdus. "I am using the term 'cinematic' as our base concept, with this idea of 'The Movie In My Mind' and Kim's dream of a different life being ever present. I want to really balance these huge, larger-than-life moments with intimate, stripped-away moments, allowing patrons to focus on the characters and their stories-never allowing the grandeur to overshadow the heart."

Choreographer Bubba Carr (Cher's farewell tour/dance captain, "Fame", "So You Think You Can Dance", "Footloose"), Clowdus' long time collaborator, is thrilled by the joy and challenge of creating work for the site-specific company.

"Working with Brian has been fantastic. I respect him as a director, and what he has created in Serenbe, and he trusts me as an artist," says nationally acclaimed choreographer Bubba Carr. "I love that Brian's vision for Miss Saigon involves a cinematic quality because it allows me to think in larger movement realms. The scenic design utilizes the beautiful open space, so designing choreography that will give each audience member a full, visually captivating experience is the most challenging part of my job. When I am able to achieve that is when I feel most rewarded."

Clowdus and Carr lead a creative team that includes music direction by Chris Brent Davis, assistant direction by Ryan Oliveti, scenic design by Adam Koch, costume design by Alan Yeong, sound and lighting design by Adam Howarth, and properties design by Stephanie Polhemus.

Out of hundreds of hopefuls from around the United States, one true star shined through as Kim, Niki Badua, who joins Miss Saigon having just completed the national tour of Mamma Mia. Opposite Badua is Chase Peacock, as Chris, returning to The Playhouse having appeared in last year's Evita as Magaldi. Ryan Ortega (apprentice class of 2013) returns to The Playhouse as Thuy.

Filling out the ensemble leads are Playhouse newcomers, Eymard Cabling (Engineer), Christopher Lee Sizemore (John), Cassandra Hlong (Gigi), and Courtney Chappelle (Ellen).

The ensemble includes Erik Abrahamsen, Shelli Delgado, Hao Feng, Timothy Harland, Jin Huh, Brian Jordan, Hannah Kevitt, Nathan Lubeck, Skyler Passmore, Terrence Smith, and Austin Taylor. And The Playhouse introduces Linder Sutton, as Tam.

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