MISS SAIGON Returns To Pittsburgh CLO 6/8-20

Experience this unforgettable story of love and loss when Pittsburgh CLO presents the epic musical Miss Saigon, June 8- 20 at the Benedum Center in the heart of Pittsburgh's Cultural District. One of the most stunning Broadway productions of all time, Miss Saigon is a raw and uncompromising tale that has captivated audiences around the world.

From the creators of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon has touched millions with the sensational love story about the relationship between an American G.I. and a young Vietnamese woman in a world torn apart by war. Set in 1975 during the final days of the American occupation of Saigon, this deeply moving musical captures the nature of sacrifice and the capacity for selfless love. With an emotionally powerful score, Miss Saigon will touch audiences' hearts and haunt their memories, featuring the show stopping "The Movie in My Mind," "I Still Believe," "Why God, Why?" and "The American Dream."

ABOUT THE CAST

Becca Ayers (Ellen) is a Broadway veteran whose credits include South Pacific (original revival cast), Les Miserables (original revival cast) and Avenue Q. Ms. Ayers toured with Jekyll and Hyde, and regional performances include Sarah, Plain and Tall, Children of Eden, Comedy of Errors, Cabaret, Hello Dolly. Ms. Ayers also appeared on television in Guiding Light and Clear Blue Tuesday.

Ma-Anne Dionisio (Kim) returns to Pittsburgh CLO to reprise the role she performed in 2003. She also played Kim in the 1992 Toronto production of Miss Saigon, starred in the 1988 National Tour of Les Misérables and appeared in the 2002 Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song.

Kevin Gray (Engineer) reprises the role he performed for Pittsburgh CLO in. Broadway credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, The King and I, Chu Chem and the original production of The Phantom of the Opera. He also starred in Pittsburgh CLO's 2002 production of Jekyll & Hyde.
Devin Ilaw (Thuy) Regional credits include The Rockae (Dionysus), The King and I (Lun Tha), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ching Ho) and Les Misérables. Mr. Ilaw has performed the role of Thuy at Pittsburgh Music Theater and West Virginia Public Theatre. He has conducted the off-Broadway productions of Imelda and Silver Bullet Trailer. He also serves as the Resident MD for Dreamlight Theater Company.

Aaron Ramey (Chris) Broadway credits include the original productions of Curtains and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Mr. Ramey nationally toured with Sweet Charity and Beauty and the Beast, and regionally appeared in the world premiere of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and as Judd Fry in Pittsburgh CLO's Oklahoma!. Television credits include "All My Children," "As the World Turns" and "New Amsterdam."

Josh Tower (John) is a Broadway veteran whose credits include Simba in Disney's The Lion King and Ragtime. He recently completed an off-Broadway run as Langston Hughes in the world premier of Langston In Harlem. Regional performances include Jesus Christ Superstar, Prince Gallant in The Princess & the Black-Eyed Pea, Violet, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Dreamgirls, Chess, Joseph, Godspell, Baby, and Avenue X.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION STAFF

Barry Ivan (Director/Choreographer) directed Pittsburgh CLO's first production of Les Misérables in 2010 after also directing the show for North Shore Music Theatre, where he served as artistic director and executive producer. He is thoroughly familiar with both of his 2010 Pittsburgh CLO projects, after serving as the director and choreographer for the first-ever regional production of Hairspray at North Shore Music Theatre in 2006 and as director for Pittsburgh CLO's previous production of Miss Saigon in 2003. Mr. Ivan has directed and choreographed numerous other Pittsburgh CLO shows, including Smokey Joe's Café, The Full Monty, A Little Night Music, Company, Anything Goes, and West Side Story. Mr. Ivan's productions of Hairspray and The Full Monty have received Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards for Best Musical and Mr. Ivan has been IRNE nominated as Best Director for his productions of Les Misérables and Nine.

Tom Helm (Music Director) returns for his 15th season with Pittsburgh CLO, where he has been the musical director for more than 40 productions, including Les Misérables, Barry Manilow's Copacabana, and Into the Woods in 2009. On Broadway, he was the musical director of Les Misérables, Me and My Girl and the revival of Brigadoon. Mr. Helm was also the musical director for the First National Tour of Cats and conducted Cats on Broadway early in its historic run. Mr. Helm is the resident music director at Paper Mill Playhouse, where he has been the conductor for more than 30 productions. He is also the musical supervisor for live Theater Productions of Diego Live, Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer.

John McClain (Lighting Designer) credits include National and International productions of musicals, ballet and opera. He has spent more than 20 years designing nearly 75 productions for Pittsburgh CLO. Mr. McClain has also designed for Ice Capades, Radio City Music Hall, The Lido in Paris and Jubilee for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Reno. He has represented every major regional theater and opera company in the United States. In the summers, Mr. McClain divides time between Pittsburgh CLO, Theater of the Stars in Atlanta and the Dallas Summer Musicals. He has designed productions of Porgy and Bess across the globe and his national and regional credits include Rugrats, Camelot, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The King and I, The Sound of Music and Bombay Dreams.

HISTORY OF THE SHOW

Long time writing partners and creators of the smash-hit musical Les Misérables, Alain Boubil and Claude Michel Schönberg became inspired by a photo found in a magazine five years prior to Miss Saigon's London premiere in 1989. The photo showed a Vietnamese mother leaving her weeping child at a departure gate to board a plane destined for the United States and an ex-GI father who could provide the better life she so desperately desired. They considered her actions to be "the ultimate sacrifice" and wanted her story to be told.

Research led them back to the story of "Madame Butterfly" written by John Luther Long in 1897. The story was a great success and it was from this that the American playwright and producer David Belasco created a one-act play also called Madam Butterfly, which was later turned into an opera by Italian composer, Giacomo Puccini in 1904. This in turn inspired Boubil and Schönberg to write their own modern version of the story, the musical Miss Saigon.

Miss Saigon premiered in the West End at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on September 20, 1989 and closed after 4,264 performances on October 30, 1999. The director was Nicholas Hytner with musical staging by Bob Avian and scenic design by John Napier. In December 1994 the London production became the Theatre Royal's longest running musical, breaking the record set by My Fair Lady.

The musical debuted on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre On April 11, 1991 and closed on January 28, 2001 after 4,092 performances. Currently, Miss Saigon is the 10th longest-running Broadway musical in musical theatre history.

The original production led to several high-ranking awards. Lea Salonga, who played the original Kim, won the Laurence Olivier Award and Tony® Award. Jonathan Pryce, who originally portrayed the Engineer, won a Tony® Award for the role.

Since it's opening in London, Miss Saigon has been produced in multiple cities around the world including Stuttgart and Toronto, where new theatres were designed specifically to house the show. Translated into twelve different languages, Miss Saigon has been performed by 27 companies in 25 countries and 246 cities.

ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CREATIVE TEAM

Alain Boublil (Book, Lyrics and Original French Lyrics) was born Tunisia and immigrated to Paris at the age of 18. He worked in music publishing before writing his first lyrics for the French pop song world. After discovering the existence of musical theater, he started working with Claude-Michel Schönberg. Over 20 years, their partnership gave birth to La Revolution Française and the award-winning Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre. He has also produced, with Claude-Michel, the major cast albums for all their shows.

Claude-Michel Schönberg (Concept, Book and Music) began his career as a singer, writer and producer of popular songs. He wrote the musical score of La Révolution Française, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre. Mr. Schönberg also supervised overseas productions of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon and co-produced several international cast albums of his shows. In 2001, he composed his first ballet score, Wuthering Heights, which was created by the Northern Ballet Theatre in September 2002. The Pirate Queen is his sixth complete score.

Richard Maltby, Jr. (Lyrics) conceived and directed two of Broadway's most successful musicals, winning Broadway's 1978 Tony® Award as Best Director (Musical) for Ain't Misbehavin' and the Tony® Award for Best Musical Fosse in 1999. He has also been nominated for several other Tony® Awards including Best Director (Musical) and Best Score in 1984, with collaborator David Shire, for Baby, Best Director (Musical) and Best Score in 1986, with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black for Song & Dance, Best Score (Musical) in 1991 with his and Alain Boublil's lyrics and Claude-Michel Schönberg's music for Miss Saigon, Best Score (Musical) in 1992 with Charles Strouse for Nick and Nora and Best Original Musical Score in 1996 with David Shire for Big - The Musical.

TICKETS FOR 2010 SUMMER SEASON

Tickets for Miss Saigon start at $26.50 and are available online at pittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups of 10 or more may call 412-325-1582.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FOR MISS SAIGON

June 8 Tuesday 8pm June 15 Tuesday 8pm
June 9 Wednesday 8pm June 16 Wednesday 8pm
June 10 Thursday 8pm June 17 Thursday 8pm
June 11 Friday 8pm June 18 Friday 8pm
June 12 Saturday 2pm & 8pm June 19 Saturday 2pm & 8pm
June 13 Sunday 2pm & 7:30 pm June 20 Sunday 2 pm

Pittsburgh CLO gratefully acknowledges the generosity of our sponsors: PNC for its sponsorship of Miss Saigon, The Producers and Hairspray in the PNC Spotlight Series, BNY Mellon for its sponsorship of Curtains and American Airlines for its sponsorship of The Student Prince.

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