The University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Department presents “Miss Saigon,” the award-winning musical written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, opening 7:30 p.m. April 10 for a two-weekend run at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Department presents “Miss Saigon,” the award-winning musical written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, opening 7:30 p.m. April 10 for a two-weekend run at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center.
A cast of 37 performers and conductor Armando Mendoza bring to life the story of an American G.I. who experiences war’s emotional choices when he falls in love with a Vietnamese girl just as Saigon is besieged by the North Vietnamese.
Advanced student choreographers and directors joined faculty choreographer Celeste Staton and stage director Jackie Pualani Johnson to create several dances and scenes. They include dance majors Kawehi Kanoho-Kalahiki and Kawai Soares, who devised original choreography for “The Fall of Saigon” and “The Heat is On in Saigon,” two iconic numbers that set the backdrop of the war.
The dances feature College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management faculty member Norman Arancon as The Engineer; Rachel Edwards, a Performing Arts Department senior as Kim; community member Scott Wuscher as the American G.I.; and UH-Hilo students Lilinoe Kauahikaua, Angeline Jara, Bailey Woolridge and Kanoho-Kalahiki as the working girls of the Dreamland Bar: Gigi, Mimi, Yvette and Yvonne.
Miss Saigon also marks the full-scale musical debut of performing arts graduate Kimo Apaka and senior Denyse Woo-Ockerman, who completed the university’s stage directing course and will stage several songs in the production.
Tickets are available by calling 932-7490 or emailing artsctr@hawaii.edu.