Ho Chi Minh News

Center Stage Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah announced today the next Fourth Space initiative in Center Stage's 2013-14 Season, Global Cities. Presented as a lobby installation, May 31–June 29, Global Cities brings together videos created by artists in five international cities, asking each artist to comment on the role of art in public discourse. The installation will kick off on Saturday, May 31, with a live streaming discussion with artists and civic leaders from two of the cities, Durban and Reykjavik, and their counterparts here in Baltimore. After the launch, the installation will stay up through the run of Wild with Happy.

The historic Omni Parker House today released 'Heaven, By Hotel Standards,' a book detailing the rich history of the hotel since Harvey Parker first opened its doors in downtown Boston in 1855. The book was written and compiled by House Historian and acclaimed author Susan Wilson.

Contrary to an earlier report, young actors Julia Abueva and Tanya Manalang, recently announced to be playing ensemble in the record-breaking West End revival of 'Miss Saigon,' will be covering--not alternating for--the female lead, Kim.

'Este año nos enfrentamos juntos a duras batallas y salimos victoriosos, es con este orgullo de la victoria y amor por la vida que les doy nuevamente la bienvenida a Miss Saigon' (Ana María Collado, Directora Gral C Broadway México)

The Daily Mail writes that Cameron Mackintosh has cast 17-year-old Eva Noblezada -- a Charlotte, NC native -- in the lead role of Kim in the upcoming West End revival of Miss Saigon. Noblezada was discovered by casting director Tara Rubin at the 2013 Jimmy Awards in New York City.

North Shore Music Theatre's (NSMT) production of Claude-Michel Schonberg, Richard Maltby Jr., and Alain Boublil's phenomenal popera “Miss Saigon,” which ran for a limited time, starring Jennifer Paz (Kim) and Jason Forbach (Chris), officially closed yesterday. Interestingly, real-life couple Jennifer and Anthony Fedorov's seven-month-old son, Julian, also made his professional stage debut in the show's final performance!

Not much is known about the Skyraiders who served in the conflict in Southeast Asia. In this new memoir, a former air force pilot shares his experiences of flying hundreds of night missions over Laos. Laos became involved in the war through internal battles and by providing a vital route structure, known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, for supplies intended for the North Vietnamese Army in South Vietnam. A-1 Skyraider pilots like the author flew propeller-driven airplanes which could stay over a target or survivor for an extended time, carry a wide variety of ordnance and absorb a lot of hits. The brave pilots faced guns and mountains in northern Laos and ground fire in southern Laos.

The Asia Pacific Tour of DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING? revealed today on its Facebook page that Boublil and Schonberg have penned a new tune for Miss Saigon called 'Leave Him?' DO YOU HEAR will debut the song during its season at the Shanghai Grand Theatre in November 2013, and one wonders if the tune would be used in the upcoming revival in the West End.

"Le Meridien Cleveland will build upon the brand's success with historic, adaptive re-use projects and provide travellers with an enticing new option in the heart of Cleveland's thriving theatre district," said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North America Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "We are thrilled to work with JHB Hotel, LLC to introduce this contemporary lifestyle brand to Cleveland as part of the city's on-going downtown rejuvenation."

A spokesperson for Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical 'Miss Saigon,' said today, 'The casting is not yet completed for 'Miss Saigon' and will not be until later in the year as the Director, Laurence Connor, is currently directing 'Les Miserables' in Toronto. No decision has yet been taken about who will play Gigi.'

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. announced a major expansion and development initiative that will bring the total number of properties in its portfolio to 100 hotels and resorts around the world by 2016. Ranging from Morocco to Japan and Israel to India, this plan will expand the brand to urban capitals and emerging tourist destinations, some of which are a first for the JD Powers luxury hospitality leader.

The digital interactive media team behind the highly-anticipated revival production of Cameron Mackintosh's 'Miss Saigon,' opening Saturday, May 3, 2014, in London's Prince Edward Theatre (Old Compton St. London W1D 4HS), has just announced that the production will sell 100 tickets at £20 ($31.27) each tomorrow, September 9, at 4:30 p.m. (BST) at the theater's box office.

Theatrical notable and multi-Emmy Award-winning writer John Weidman has submitted the newest entry for the unique ongoing interactive songwriting challenge ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM, sponsored by the New York Public Library.

Consider your "wish list" of destinations you'd like to visit anywhere on earth ... and then imagine being able to see them all in one journey. Discerning cruisers have long since learned that this dream can become reality with a single voyage: a world cruise. The experts at Cruises-N-More say that now is the time to book a world cruise for 2014 or even 2015.

Cooking Channel kicks off August with new series Restaurant Takeover beginning Monday, August 12th at 10pmET/7pmPT as one chef and an expert designer help rescue failing restaurants in just six days.

Crystal Cruises is vastly expanding its presence in the exotic ports of China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei next year. With a choice of 34 voyages (vs. just four in 2012), the five- to 29-day luxury Asia cruises offer a host of itinerary firsts and varied options, as well as tremendous added value, including a brand new 2-for-1 airfare bonus for select Crystal Symphony Asia cruises and Book Now bonus savings of up to $2,500 per person for bookings made by August 30, 2013.

Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.'s highly-anticipated 25th anniversary production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's beloved mega-musical 'Miss Saigon' has just released the show's first teaser.

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM - The Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon has always enjoyed a reputation for style and service. As the recipient of Vietnam's prestigious five-star award, and of TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence in both 2012 and 2013, the hotel might understandably rest on its laurels for a while. But doing what's expected isn't how this premier luxury hotel likes to operate, which is just one reason why it is pleased to announce the refurbishment of its 254 deluxe rooms.

From the 35th Annual New York University Hospitality Investment Conference, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced a significant investment by both the company and its ownership groups of nearly $3 billion in existing and new properties since the company acquired the Paris-born hotel brand in late 2005. With a robust pipeline of new hotels planned over the next 12 months, Le Meridien also announced that its owners will invest another $1 billion in an effort to solidify its world-class portfolio of more than 100 hotels from Barcelona to Bali, Istanbul to Atlanta, and Mexico City to Shanghai.

Dengue Fever (www.denguefevermusic.com), whose exotic blend of Cambodian rock, Afro grooves, surf, and garage psych announced today that they have confirmed tours of both South East Asia and Europe this Summer. The band will be touring in support of a new EP, the first new music from Dengue Fever since 2011, which will be announced shortly.