“Miss Saigon,” the blockbuster Broadway musical about the last days of the Vietnam War, opens Saturday at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
This production, which includes several Broadway veterans in lead roles, plays for three weeks. The Seattle run coincides with the April 28 30th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which was the inspiration for the show.
The musical, a pop-rock opera, is based loosely on the plot structure of Puccini’s tragic “Madame Butterfly.” It’s the story of an American soldier who has a child by his Vietnamese mistress, and then must leave her behind as he is airlifted out of Saigon at the fall of South Vietnam.
“Miss Saigon” is one of the most technically complex shows in theater history, and the final scene of the last helicopter taking Americans from the U.S. embassy amid chaos on the ground is one of the most famous.
“Miss Saigon” was written by the creators of the mega-hit musical “Les Miserables.” Music is by Claude-Michel Schonberg, with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and Alain Boublil. The book and original French lyrics were by Boublil.
The story follows Chris, an American soldier, who has a brief affair with an innocent Vietnamese girl named Kim. In the chaos of the U.S. exodus, they are tragically separated. Believing that Kim has died, Chris returns home to a new life.
The score includes “Why God, Why,” “Sun and Moon,” “The Last Night of the World,” “Still Believe,” “I’d Give My Life for You” and “The American Dream.”
The 5th Avenue Theatre production will incorporate dozens of Asian percussion instruments, more than 70, to lend an authentic sound. Among the instruments are Chinese opera gongs, Buddhist temple bells, a Japanese Taiko drum and a Tibetan skull drum.
Performances continue through April 30.
“Matters of the Heart”: She’s a singer who acts; make that an actress who sings.
Patti LuPone is both, as she’ll demonstrate in “Matters of the Heart,” a one-woman show that opens next week at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.
The Tony Award-winning performer, who made her mark on Broadway in 1979 when she starred in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Evita,” has enjoyed a prolific career on Broadway and in television and film.
“Matters of the Heart” is an opportunity to showcase her mighty Broadway voice as she sings about love – the good and the bad of it – in this solo show, which is based on LuPone’s CD of the same name.
The singer, backed by string quartet, has reached deeply into the American songbook for a concert of more than two dozen songs that includes music by a diverse range of composers.
They include Joni Mitchell, Rodgers &Hammerstein, Randy Newman, Stephen Sondheim, Cyndi Lauper and Joni Mitchell among others.
The show opens Tuesday and plays for eight performances through April 17.
Alexander’s bad day: Seattle Children’s Theatre concludes its 30th anniversary season with “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” a musical comedy about a day in the life of an accident-prone kid.
The musical, with book and lyrics by Judith Viorst and music by Shelly Markham, opens tonight for a run through June 12. It’s recommended for children age 5 and older.
The musical comedy brings to life the story of Alexander and the misfortunes of his very bad day: He wakes up with gum in his hair, and things only get worse with mishap after mishap in school, at the dentist’s office, in the shoe store and at his dad’s office.
“We’ve chosen to end the season with a very creative and fun adaptation of an incredibly popular book – Judith Viorst’s look at a day in the life of one little boy who just can’t get a break, is a favorite of many generations of kids,” said Linda Hartzell, artistic director of Seattle Children’s Theatre.
The book, which was inspired by Viorst’s accident-prone son, was published in 1972 and went on to be her most famous; she also wrote the script and lyrics for the play.
“Othello”: Seattle Shakespeare Company inaugurates its new Chamber Series with a slimmed-down production of “Othello,” Shakespeare’s tragedy of the Moor of Venice undone by the treachery of his friend Iago.
This production, presented in the round with a cast of six, focuses on the heart of the story absent the subplots.
“We’ve ‘distilled’ the text to get to the true essence of the story,” said director Russ Banham. “We don’t veer from Shakespeare’s words or his intent. In so many ways, this play is modern and relevant, and the story is emotionally gripping. It’s a suspense thriller, and we don’t shy away from the sexual preoccupation of the characters.”
William Hall Jr. makes his debut with Seattle Shakespeare Company as Othello, and Hans Altweis is Iago. Also featured are John Bogar, Dan Dennis, Jennifer Sue Johnson and Amy Thone.
Performances continue through May 1.
BELOW: Emy Baysic in “Miss Saigon.”
Patti LuPone in “Matters of the Heart.”
Chris Bennion photo
LEFT: MJ Sieber as Alexander in Seattle Children’s Theatre’s production of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”
Erik Stuhaug photo
William Hall Jr. and Hans Altweis, starring in Seattle Shakespeare Company’s “Othello.”
Where to see it
“Miss Saigon”: Sunday through April 30 at The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1808 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Tickets, $18-$70, at Ticketmaster, 206-292-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com.
“Matters of the Heart”: Tuesday through April 17 at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Tickets, $11-$47, at Ticketmaster, 206-292.ARTS, and www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”: A Seattle Children’s Theatre production today through June 12 at the Eve Alvord Theatre, 201 Thomas St., Seattle Center. Tickets, $14-$28, 206-441-3322, www.sct.org.
“Othello”: A Seattle Shakespeare Company production through May 1 at the Center House Theater, lower level of Center House at the Seattle Center. Tickets, $18-$26, 206-733-8222, www.seattleshakes.org.
Where to see it
“Miss Saigon”: Sunday through April 30 at The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1808 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Tickets, $18-$70, at Ticketmaster, 206-292-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com.
“Matters of the Heart”: Tuesday through April 17 at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Tickets, $11-$47, at Ticketmaster, 206-292.ARTS, and www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”: A Seattle Children’s Theatre production today through June 12 at the Eve Alvord Theatre, 201 Thomas St., Seattle Center. Tickets, $14-$28, 206-441-3322, www.sct.org.
“Othello”: A Seattle Shakespeare Company production through May 1 at the Center House Theater, lower level of Center House at the Seattle Center. Tickets, $18-$26, 206-733-8222, www.seattleshakes.org.
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