MISS SAIGON Comes To The Stage At ABT 4/17-5/24

The Vietnam War is the setting for Miss Saigon, the upcoming musical at the Arizona Broadway Theatre scheduled to run from April 17 through May 24, 2009.

This classic love story, based on the Puccini opera Madame Butterfly, is brought up-to-date with music and lyrics by Alan Boubil and Claude-Michael Schönberg (the creators of Les Misérables), with an English translation by Richard Maltby, Jr. It is a story of an American soldier and a Vietnamese girl who fall in love, only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years end in tragedy for her and a fighting chance for the child he never knew he had. Miss Saigon is an epic, daring pop opera that gives a multi-ethnic cast of strong singers an opportunity to shine in show-stopping numbers like "I Still Believe," "Why God Why?" and "The American Dream."

"Cassandra Klaphake [ABT's Casting Director and Artistic Producer] has assembled a cast almost entirely new to the Phoenix area," commented Joseph Martinez, the show's director. Because it is such a specific cast, Klaphake and Artistic Associate Kurtis W. Overby auditioned over 300 actors last December in New York City. "We needed to find an actress with just the right amount of youthful innocence and fiery spirit for the role of Kim," Overby stated. "I'm guessing almost a third of the girls we saw at this audition wanted to play Kim." The one to win the part was New York-based actress EJ Zimmerman, who makes her debut at the Arizona Broadway Theatre as Kim. Zimmerman was most recently seen in the National Tour of Avenue Q (Christmas Eve u/s). Returning to the ABT stage as Chris, the American soldier, is Jason Paul (Cabaret, Jekyll & Hyde, Brigadoon), and Mark DiConzo (Guys and Dolls, A Christmas Carol, Cabaret) returns as the sly and manipulative Engineer.

ABT, Arizona's one-of-a-kind, award-winning, state-of-the-art professional dinner theatre showcases locally and nationally acclaimed artists both onstage and behind the scenes. Following Miss Saigon, ABT will be producing: Bye Bye Birdie (June 5 - July 19), Forever Plaid and The Taffetas (August 7 - September 20).
ABT's luxurious auditorium comfortably accommodates 400 guests with unobstructed views from every seat. The VIP balcony seats an additional 44 with tables for two and four. The theatre offers a number of performances year-round with a variety of prices and times to fit every lifestyle. Gracious wait staff serve gourmet selections 90 minutes prior to each show. The theatre can facilitate luncheons, meetings, parties, and special events in its private banquet room, expansive lobby or auditorium. Groups can purchase an entire performance as exclusive entertainment. Discounts are extended to groups of 10, 20 or more.

ABT is conveniently located south of W. Bell Road off the Loop 101, east of the Peoria Sports Complex. Parking is free. For tickets and additional information about gift cards, special events packages, Theatre for Young Audiences, the Academy for Young Performers program, or to become an ABT subscriber, call the Box Office at 623.776.8400 or visit www.azbroadwaytheatre.com

 

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