Miss Saigon
Original poster
Music	Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics	Alain Boublil Richard Maltby, Jr.
Book	Claude-Michel Schönberg Alain Boublil
Based upon	Opera by Giacomo Puccini Madame Butterfly
Productions	1989 West End 1991 Broadway 1992 Japan 1993 Toronto 1993 Japan 1994 Hungary 1994 Los Angeles 1995 Sydney 1995 Germany 1996 Netherlands 1997 Denmark 2000 Philippines 2000 Poland 2001 UK tour 2002 Tallinn 2002 Sweden 2004 UK tour 2005 US tour 2004 Japan 2006 South Korea 2007 Australia 2007 Bulgaria 2007 Czech Republic 2007 Canada 2007 Finland 2007 Brazil 2007 Switzerland 2008 Japan 2008 New Zealand

Miss Saigon is a West End musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London on September 20, 1989, closing after 4,264 performances on October 30, 1999. Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French record producer actor singer popular songwriter and Musical Alain Boublil is a Librettist, born in Tunisia in 1941 best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. Richard Maltby Jr (born October 6, 1937, Ripon Wisconsin) is an American Theatre director and producer, Lyricist Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French record producer actor singer popular songwriter and Musical Alain Boublil is a Librettist, born in Tunisia in 1941 best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini ( December 22, 1858 Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Tallinn (historically known by the German, Swedish and Danish name Reval or the Polish name Rewal, among other names See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French record producer actor singer popular songwriter and Musical Alain Boublil is a Librettist, born in Tunisia in 1941 best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. Richard Maltby Jr (born October 6, 1937, Ripon Wisconsin) is an American Theatre director and producer, Lyricist The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) On April 11, 1991, it opened at the Broadway Theatre in New York, and closed on January 28, 2001 after 4,092 performances. Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. The Broadway Theatre (formerly Universal's Colony Theatre, BS New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. ^[1] The musical represented Schönberg and Boublil's second major success, following Les Misérables in 1980. Les Misérables ( in French, le mize'ʁaːbl colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz, is a musical composed As of August 2007, Miss Saigon is still the 10th longest-running Broadway musical in musical theatre history. ^[2]

Miss Saigon is a modern adaptation of Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, and similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini ( December 22, 1858 The setting of the plot is relocated to the 1970s Saigon during the Vietnam War, and Madame Butterfly's American Lieutenant and Japanese geisha coupling is replaced by a romance between an American GI and a Vietnamese bar girl. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia or are traditional female Japanese Entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The Vietnamese people (người Việt or vi ''người Kinh'' are an Ethnic group originating from what is now northern Vietnam and southern China.

The show's inspiration was reportedly a photograph, inadvertently found by Schönberg in a magazine. The photo showed a Vietnamese mother leaving her child at a departure gate at Tan Son Nhut Air Base to board a plane headed for the United States where her father, an ex-GI, would be in a position to provide a much better life for the child. For the civil use of the facility see Tan Son Nhat International Airport Tan Son Nhut Air Base (1955-1975 was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Schönberg considered this mother's actions for her child to be "The Ultimate Sacrifice," an idea central to the plot of Miss Saigon. ^[3]

Highlights of the show include the evacuation of the last Americans in Saigon from the Embassy roof by helicopter while a crowd of abandoned Vietnamese scream their despair, the victory parade of the new communist regime and the frenzied night club scene on the edge of defeat.

Miss Saigon was part of the major British influence on Broadway in the 1980s, along with the musicals Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Cats is an award-winning musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the book written by the French novelist Gaston Leroux Les Misérables ( in French, le mize'ʁaːbl colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz, is a musical composed

Contents 1 Production history 2 Controversy 3 Synopsis 3.1 Act 1 3.2 Act 2 4 Major Characters 5 Casts 6 Awards and nominations 6.1 1991 Tony Awards 6.2 Other awards 7 References 8 External links

Production history

Since its opening in London Miss Saigon was successfully produced in many cities around the world including Stuttgart and Toronto, where new theatres were designed specifically to house the show. Stuttgart (ˈʃtʊtgaɐ̯t is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario In December 1994 the London production became the Theatre Royal's (Drury Lane) longest running musical, eclipsing the record set by My Fair Lady. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw 's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner

Upon its Broadway opening in 1991 the musical was massively hyped as the best musical of the year, both critically and commercially. It broke several Broadway records, including a record advance-ticket sales at $24 million, highest priced ticket at $100, and repaying investors in less than 39 weeks. ^[4] However, although the show has been laden with awards and acclaim, it lost the Best Musical Award at the 1989/90 Laurence Olivier Awards to Return to the Forbidden Planet in London and at the 1991 Tony Awards to Will Rogers Follies. The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre Return to the Forbidden Planet is a Jukebox musical by director Bob Carlton based on Shakespeare 's The Tempest and the The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented The Will Rogers Follies is a Tony Award -winning musical with a book by Peter Stone, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green ^[5]

After the London production closed in 1999 and also following the closure of the Broadway production in 2001 the show in its original London staging embarked on a long tour of the six largest venues in Britain and Ireland stopping off in each city for several months. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The tour opened at the Palace Theatre, Manchester and also played in the Birmingham Hippodrome, the Mayflower Theatre Southampton, the Edinburgh Playhouse, the Bristol Hippodrome and the The Point Theatre in Dublin. The Palace Theatre Manchester, Oxford Street is one of the main theatres in Manchester, England. The Birmingham Hippodrome is a theatre situated on Hurst Street in the Chinese Quarter of Birmingham, England. The Mayflower is a Grade II listed Theatre in the city centre of Southampton, United Kingdom, with a capacity of 2300 Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England The Edinburgh Playhouse is a Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland which plays host to numerous touring musicals as well as many touring bands The Bristol Hippodrome ( is a Theatre in the centre of Bristol with seating on three levels giving a capacity of 1951 For other uses see The Point. For the rebranded venue see The O2 Dublin. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. This highly successful tour drew to a close in 2003 and a brand new production was developed by original producer Cameron Mackintosh on a smaller scale so that the show could be accommodated in smaller theatres. This 'new' tour started in July 2004.

The UK National tour opened at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in August 2004, and continued to tour the country into early 2006. The tour has been the most successful of recent times, with venues including Oxford, Milton Keynes, Woking, Norwich, Nottingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Bradford, Belfast, Southampton, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Liverpool and Sunderland. Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes ( ˌmɪltənˈkiːnz often abbreviated to MK, is a large town History Roman The Romans had their regional capital at Venta Icenorum on the river to the south which is near modern-day Caistor St Edmund Nottingham ( is a city in the Ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England. Cardiff ( 'kɑːdɪf) is the Capital and the largest city and county in Wales. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Bradford ( lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a Metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Aberdeen ( pronounced; Aiberdeen Obar Dheathain is Scotland 's third most populous city and one of Scotland's 32 local government council Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England. The tour ended in Bristol in June 2006, and has transferred to other countries including Korea and Australia. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London ^[7]

Currently the new production is running in the Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Australia. A Brazilian production opened at Teatro Abril, São Paulo on July, 2007.

There was once a rumor of a production in China.

It has been performed in English, Japanese, Hungarian, German, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Estonian, Swedish, Korean, Bulgarian, Czech, Finnish, and Portuguese.

In November 2007, the production premiered at the Rose Center Theater, located in Westminster, California's Little Saigon, one of the areas with most Vietnamese Americans in the United States. The Rose Center Theater is a Performing arts theater within the Westminster Rose Center located in Westminster, California. Westminster is a city in Orange County, California, United States. This article deals exclusively with the Vietnamese communities within the United States of America; for other communities outside Vietnam refer to the Overseas Vietnamese A Vietnamese American (người Mỹ gốc Việt is a resident of the United States who is of Vietnamese heritage

Controversy

In the London production of Miss Saigon, Lea Salonga originally starred as Kim, with Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer. Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American Jonathan Pryce (born 1 June 1947 is a Welsh award-winning stage and Film actor/singer When the production transferred from London to New York City, the Actors' Equity Association (AEA) refused to allow Pryce, a white actor, to recreate the role of the Eurasian pimp in America. Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Actors' Equity Association (AEA commonly referred to as Actors' Equity White People is the second album by Handsome Boy Modeling School. In the context of Ethnic origins, Eurasian is a term for people and ethnic groups of mixed European and Asian ancestry A pimp (also called fleshmonger) finds and manages clients for Prostitutes and engages them in Prostitution (in Brothels in most cases and As Alan Eisenberg, executive secretary of Actors' Equity explained, "The casting of a Caucasian actor made up to appear Asian is an affront to the Asian community. The casting choice is especially disturbing when the casting of an Asian actor, in the role, would be an important and significant opportunity to break the usual pattern of casting Asians in minor roles. "^[8] This ruling led to criticism from many including British Equity, citing violations of the principles of artistic integrity and freedom. Equity (formerly British Actors' Equity Association) is the Actors Trade union in the United Kingdom Producer Cameron Mackintosh threatened to cancel the show, despite massive advanced ticket sales. Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born) is a British Theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals ^[9]

Although there had been a large, well-publicized international search among Asian actresses to play Kim, there had been no equivalent search for Asian actors to play the major Asian male roles -- specifically, Engineer (Pryce) and Thuy (Keith Burns). However, others pointed out that since the Engineer's character was Eurasian (French-Vietnamese), they argued that Pryce was being discriminated on the basis that he was Caucasian. Also, Pryce was considered by many in Britain to have "star status", a clause that allows a well-known foreign actor to recreate a role on Broadway without an American casting call. ^[8] After pressure from Mackintosh, the general public, and many of its own members, Actors' Equity was forced to reverse its decision. Pryce starred alongside Salonga and Willy Falk (as Chris) when the show opened on Broadway. ^[10][11]

During the production transfer from West End to Broadway, a lesser controversy erupted over Lea Salonga's citizenship, as she was neither British nor American. Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American The AEA wanted to give priority their own members and so initially prevented her from reprising her role. However, Mackintosh was not able to find a satisfactory replacement for Salonga despite the extensive auditions he conducted in several American and Canadian cities. An arbitrator reversed the AEA ruling a month later to allow Salonga to star.

Miss Saigon has experienced criticism from the Asian American community for various racial issues. ^[12] Originally, Pryce and Burns, white actors playing Eurasian/Asian characters, wore eye prostheses and bronzing cream to make themselves look more Asian,^[13] which outraged some who drew comparisons to a "minstrel show". The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits variety acts dancing, and Music, ^[8] The libretto of Miss Saigon also contains lyrics that many Asians might consider offensive, such as the Engineer's lines: "Greasy chinks make life so sleazy/ in the States I'll have a club that's four-starred" (American Dream) and "Why was I born of a race that thinks only of rice and hates entrepreneurs?" (If You Want to Die In Bed). ^[13]

Synopsis

Act 1

The story begins in April 1975 in 'Dreamland,' a sleazy Vietnamese club, shortly before the Fall of Saigon. The Fall of Saigon (in Vietnamese: Sự kiện 30 tháng 4 - April 30 Incident; Giải phóng miền Nam - The liberation of the south Kim is a seventeen year old orphan. It is her first day as a bargirl, and she is greeted by the Engineer, an oily-mispositioned French-Vietnamese who owns the club. A bargirl is a woman or child who works as a hostess in a bar catering mostly to male clients but also some female clients Backstage, the girls get ready for the night's show and jeer at Kim's naiveté. ("Overture").

American Marines and Vietnamese prostitutes party together at the club ("The Heat Is On In Saigon"). The Marines, aware that they are losing the war, are out to have a final fling before leaving Vietnam. Sergeant Christopher Scott, a young, disenchanted Marine who is disgusted with the club scene, is encouraged by his friend John to go with a girl. The girls flaunt themselves at the Marines, competing for the title of "Miss Saigon", and the winner is raffled to a Marine. When Kim introduces herself, her innocence strikes Chris. Gigi Van Trahn wins the crown for the evening and begs the marine who won the raffle to take her back to America. He refuses and gets annoyed at her cajoling. The scene freezes as the showgirls reflect on their dreams of a better life ("Movie In My Mind"). John talks to the Engineer and buys the virgin Kim and Chris a room for the night ("The Transaction"). Kim is reluctant and shy in being a prostitute for the first time, but introduces herself to Chris, and they dance. Chris tries to pay her off to leave the nightclub. When the Engineer interferes, thinking that Chris doesn't like Kim, Chris allows himself to be led to her room ("The Dance").

Chris, watching Kim sleep, asks God why he had to meet her just as he was about to leave Vietnam ("Why God Why?"). When Kim wakes up, Chris tries to give her money but she refuses, telling him that it is her first time sleeping with a man ("This Money's Yours"). Touched to learn that Kim is an orphan, Chris tells her that she does not need to sell herself at the club, because he wants her to stay with him. Kim is overwhelmed, and the two pledge their love for each other ("Sun and Moon"). Chris tells John that he is taking leave to spend time with Kim. John warns him that the Viet Cong are closing in on Saigon. America is in the process of sending people home and retreating before Saigon is captured. John reluctantly agrees to cover for Chris ("The Telephone Song"). Chris meets up with the Engineer for a pre-arranged trade for Kim, but the Engineer tries to weasel an America visa into the deal, as he is desperate to escape the country. Chris refuses, and the Engineer agrees (at gunpoint) to the original arrangement for Kim ("The Deal").

The bargirls hold a "wedding ceremony" for Chris and Kim ("Dju Vui Vai"), with Gigi toasting Kim as the "real" Miss Saigon. During the celebration, Thuy, Kim's cousin who she was betrothed to at thirteen, arrives to take her home. He has since become an officer in the North Vietnamese Army. He is angered when he finds her with Chris ("Thuy's Arrival"). The two men confront each other, drawing their guns. Kim tells Thuy that their arranged marriage as children is now null because her parents (who promised her to him) are dead, and she can no longer harbor any feelings for him because of his betrayal. Thuy curses them all, before storming out. Chris admits that he will leave Vietnam, but promises to take Kim with him. Chris and Kim cling to each other as they remember the night they met and dance to the same song from the club ("Last Night of The World").

The story moves forward to 1978 in Saigon (now renamed Ho Chi Minh City), where a street festival is taking place to celebrate the third anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam and the defeat of the Americans ("Morning of The Dragon"). Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Thuy, a commissar in the new government, has ordered his soldiers to find the Engineer, who is still his corrupt and opportunistic self, despite being "re-educated" by the new Communist regime. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based Thuy orders the Engineer to find Kim and bring her back to him.

Kim has been living in hiding in an impoverished area. She is still completely in love with Chris and believes that he will come back to Vietnam to rescue her. Simultaneously, we see Chris in bed with his new American wife, Ellen. Ellen seems to know about the past that haunts Chris, as he suddenly sits up in bed shouting Kim's name. Ellen comforts him back to sleep, and the two women both swear their devotion to Chris at opposite ends of the earth ("I Still Believe").

The Engineer locates Kim and brings Thuy to her. Thuy asks her to come with him and become his wife. She refuses, and shocks Thuy by introducing him to Tam, her two-year-old son fathered by Chris. Thuy calls Kim a traitor and Tam an enemy, and tries to kill Tam with a knife. Kim pulls out Chris's gun and is forced to shoot Thuy to protect Tam ("You Will Not Touch Him"). Thuy dies, with Kim weeping and cradling his body. Kim flees with Tam as the street parade continues outside ("This Is The Hour").

Kim runs to the Engineer and tells him what she has done ("If You Want to Die In Bed"). The Engineer refuses to help her until he learns that Tam's father is American ("Let Me See His Western Nose"). The Engineer sees this as his passport to the United States. He tells Kim that from now on, he is the boy's uncle, and he will lead them to Bangkok. Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (krūŋtʰêːp máhǎːnákʰɔn) or Krung Thep ( for short is the Capital, largest Kim swears to Tam that she would sacrifice herself to see him have a better life, and the three set out on a ship with other suffering refugees ("I'd Give My Life for You").

Act 2

1978, Atlanta, Georgia. John now works for an aid organization whose mission is to connect Bui-Doi (children conceived during the war and left in Vietnam) with their American fathers (some production designs paint him as a Congressman with the same goal). Bui Doi (bụi đời means "dust of life" and is a colloquial expression used to refer to the street kids and hooligans of Vietnamese cities John speaks at a conference, where he and other veterans put the problem to an audience ("Bui Doi"). After the presentation, John pulls Chris aside, and tells him that Kim is still alive, which Chris is relieved to hear after years of having nightmares of her dying. He goes on to tell Chris about Tam, but this complicates Chris's current situation — his wife Ellen doesn't know about Kim. John urges Chris to go to Bangkok with Ellen to meet Kim, and Chris finally tells Ellen about Kim before leaving ("The Revelation").

1978, Bangkok. The Engineer has been reduced to working as a hustler enticing tourists to enter sleazy clubs, where Kim works as a dancer ("What A Waste"). Chris, Ellen and John have traveled to Bangkok in search of Kim. John finds them, and Kim is thrilled to hear that Chris is in Bangkok. John attempts to break it to her that Chris is remarried, but Kim interrupts, believing that she is to go to America with Chris. John marvels at Kim's absolute faith in Chris and does not have the heart to break the news to her. He promises to bring Chris to her ("Please").

While John goes to bring Chris to Kim, the Engineer tells Kim to go and find Chris herself because he doubts that Chris will come ("Chris Is Here"). As Kim prepares to find Chris, she is haunted by the ghost of Thuy, who taunts Kim, claiming that Chris will betray her like he did the night Saigon fell. Kim suffers an intense, horrible flashback to that night ("Kim's Nightmare").

1975, Saigon. Chris and Kim plan to escape Vietnam together as the Viet Cong approach and Saigon becomes increasingly chaotic. Chris is called to the embassy and leaves his gun with Kim and tells her to pack, reassuring her that they have plenty of time before they have to leave. Almost immediately Chris enters the embassy, the gates are closed, as orders arrive from Washington for a total and complete evacuation of the remaining Americans. The Ambassador orders that no more Vietnamese are allowed into the Embassy. Kim reaches the gates of the Embassy, one of a mob of terrified Vietnamese trying to find a way in. Chris unsuccessfully tries to call Kim, and is about to go out into the hysterical crowd to look for her. The Americans refuse to let Chris out and John is eventually forced to punch Chris in the face to stop him from leaving. Chris is put into the last helicopter leaving Saigon as Kim watches from behind the gate. Kim pledges her love to Chris against all odds. The helicopter takes off with Chris screaming Kim's name.

1978, Bangkok. Kim joyfully dresses in her wedding clothes ("Sun and Moon: Reprise") and goes to Chris's hotel room, where she finds Ellen. Ellen is forced to tell Kim that she is Chris's wife. Kim is shocked and heartbroken, and refuses to believe Ellen's assertion. Her dreams for Tam's new life in America are shattered when Ellen refuses to take Tam to the U. S. , saying that Tam needs his real mother, and because Ellen wants her own life and children with Chris. Kim demands that Chris tell her these things to her face ("Room 317"). Ellen feels bad for Kim, but expresses her determination to keep Chris ("Now That I've Seen Her"). Chris returns to the room with John, having failed to find Kim, and is horrified when Ellen issues an ultimatum: Kim or her. Chris reassures Ellen and tearfully tells her of his experience in Vietnam. They pledge their love for each other, but agree to leave Tam and Kim in Bangkok and offer them monetary support from America. John warns that Kim will not find it acceptable to have Tam stay in Thailand ("The Confrontation"). Kim lies to the Engineer that they are still going to America ("Paper Dragons"). The Engineer dreams extravagantly of the new life he will lead in America ("The American Dream").

Kim tells Tam that he should be happy because he now has a father. She tells Tam not to forget her, and that she will be watching over him ("The Sacred Bird"/"Little God Of My Heart"). Having said goodbye to Tam, she goes behind a curtain and shoots herself. Chris, Ellen, the Engineer, and John all rush into the room at the sound of the gunshot and find Kim mortally wounded on the floor. Chris runs to Kim and holds her in his arms. Heartbroken, he asks Kim why she has shot herself, and she explains that the gods have guided him to his son. Chris begs her not to die, but she merely asks him to hold her one last time, while the theme from "Sun and Moon" plays in the background. With her last breath, she echoes a phrase uttered earlier when they first fell in love: "How in one night have we come so far?" Kim dies in Chris's arms. Ellen opens her arms to Tam ("Finale"), so that Kim's sacrifice is not in vain.

Major Characters

• The Engineer - aka Tran Van Dinh, the sleazy but comical pimp owner of 'Dreamland'
• Kim - A teenage girl, recently orphaned and forced to work at 'Dreamland'
• Chris - aka "Christopher Scott" An American G. I sergeant about to leave Saigon to return to America.
• John - Chris' friend, also a G. I.
• Thuy - Kim's cousin, to whom Kim was promised by her parents when the two were thirteen. Has since become an officer in the Communist Vietnamese government.
• Ellen - Chris' American wife.
• Tam - Kim and Chris's three-year old son.

Casts

Original London Cast Jonathan Pryce - The Engineer Lea Salonga - Kim Simon Bowman - Chris Peter Polycarpou - John Claire Moore - Ellen Keith Burns - Thuy Monique Wilson - Kim alternate Allen Evangelista, Wasseem Hamdan, David Platt - Tam alternates

Original Broadway Cast Jonathan Pryce - The Engineer Lea Salonga - Kim Willy Falk - Chris Hinton Battle - John Liz Callaway - Ellen Barry K. Jonathan Pryce (born 1 June 1947 is a Welsh award-winning stage and Film actor/singer Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American Simon Bowman is a British actor and singer born in Cardiff and trained at Mountview Theatre School. Peter Polycarpou is a British stage and TV Actor. He played Chris Theodopolopoudos in the hugely successful TV series Birds of a Feather. Jonathan Pryce (born 1 June 1947 is a Welsh award-winning stage and Film actor/singer Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American Hinton G Battle (born 29 November 1956) is an American Actor, Dancer, and dance instructor Liz Callaway (born April 13, 1961) is an American Actress and Cabaret Singer. Bernal - Thuy Kam Cheng - Kim alternate Brian R. Baldomero, Philip Lyle Kong - Tam alternates

Broadway Cast Replacements/Transfers (by character in alphabetical order)

• The Engineer- Raul Aranas, Joseph Anthony Foronda, Alan Muraoka, Francis Ruivivar, Herman Sebek, Luoyong Wang. Alan Muraoka (born August 10, 1962 in Mission Hills, California) is an actor and theatre director who plays Alan the current owner of Hooper's

• Kim- Joan Almedilla, Emy Baysic, Annette Calud, Melinda Chua, Rona Figueroa, Leila Florentino, Deedee Magno, Elizabeth Paw, Kristine Remigio, Chloe Stewart, Roxanne Taga, Alex Lee Tano. Deedee Lynn Magno (born April 2, 1975) is an American actress and pop singer

• Chris- Matt Bogart, Will Chase, Jarrod Emick, Michael Flanigan, Cliffton Hall, Peter Lockyer, Sean McDermott, Christopher Peccaro, Tyley Ross. Will Chase (born September 12, 1970) is an American actor Born in Frankfort Kentucky to Jerry and Betty Chase Jarrod Emick (born July 2, 1969, Fort Eustis Virginia) is an American Musical theatre actor best known for his Tony Award Cliffton Hall is an actor Hawaiian Actor, born February 10 1975 Peter Lockyer was born in Westbrook Connecticut He is an actor and singer who has appeared in numerous productions Miss Saigon as Chris Les Miserables as Marius

• John- Timothy Blivens, C. C. Brown, Matthew Dickens, Leonard Joseph, Keith Byron Kirk, Norm Lewis, Milton Craig Nealy, Billy Porter, Charles E. Norm Lewis (born June 2, 1963 in Eatonville Florida) is an African-American Broadway actor formerly enrolled with the "revival" of Wallace.

• Ellen- Anastasia Barzee, Jane Bodle, Misty Cotton, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Margaret Anne Gates, Ruthie Henshall, Candese Marchese, Lucy Vance. Jacquelyn Piro Donovan is an American Musical theatre Actress and Singer. Valentine Ruth Henshall (born 7 March 1967) known as Ruthie Henshall, is a British Singer, Dancer and actress

• Thuy- Yancey Arias, Michael K. Yancey Arias (born June 27, 1971) is an American Actor perhaps most noted for his work on television crime dramas particularly his roles Lee, Jason Ma, Edmund Nalzaro, Juan P. Pineda, Welly Yang. Wellington Yang ( Traditional Chinese: 楊呈偉 Pinyin: Yáng Chéngwěi) is an American actor playwright and singer

• Tam- Adrick Aznar, Lexine Bondoc, Kailip Boonrai, Melanie Lin Carabuena, Philipp Lee Carabuena, Nicholas Chan, Jeffrey Chang, Ryan Chin, Victoria Chin, Skyla Choi, Kristofer A. Chow, Ambrose Eng, Andrew Goon, Jonathan Hoang, Keith Hong, Veronica Kelly, Jonathan Regner Kho, Kenny Kim, Vivian King, Philip Kyke Kong, Eric Kramer, Jenna La Salla, Lori Lee, Megan Ng, Brandon Marshall Ngai, Thi Kim Thu Nguyen, Michael Ordinario, Gail Quintos, Geena Quintos, Margaux Reidy, Melissa Remo, Alex Rodriguez, Cailan Rose Seavey, Christine Sison, J. J. Tolentino, Justin Lee Wong, Albert G. Yalun, Jeff Yalun.

Awards and nominations

1991 Tony Awards

Miss Saigon led the 1991 Tony Award nominations with 11 nominations. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented Predicted to be the clear winner for Best Musical, the show was upset by American musical The Will Rogers Follies for nearly every major award, though Lea Salonga, Jonathan Pryce and Hinton Battle all won awards. This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949 The Will Rogers Follies is a Tony Award -winning musical with a book by Peter Stone, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American Jonathan Pryce (born 1 June 1947 is a Welsh award-winning stage and Film actor/singer Hinton G Battle (born 29 November 1956) is an American Actor, Dancer, and dance instructor

• Tony Award for Best Musical
• Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, Winner)
• Tony Award for Best Original Score (Claude-Michel Schonberg (music), Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyrics), and Alain Boublil (lyrics), Winner)
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Pryce, Winner)
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Lea Salonga, Winner)
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Hinton Battle, Winner)
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Willy Falk)
• Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical (John Napier)
• Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical (David Hersey)
• Tony Award for Best Choreography (Bob Avian)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical(Nicholas Hytner)

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Other awards

• 1989-1990 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical (Lea Salonga) WINNER
• 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Pryce) WINNER
• 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Lea Salonga) WINNER
• 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestration (Willian D. This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949 The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken non-sung dialogue and storyline of a musical play Alain Boublil is a Librettist, born in Tunisia in 1941 best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French record producer actor singer popular songwriter and Musical The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the Composers and Lyricists of the best original score written for a musical Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French record producer actor singer popular songwriter and Musical Richard Maltby Jr (born October 6, 1937, Ripon Wisconsin) is an American Theatre director and producer, Lyricist Alain Boublil is a Librettist, born in Tunisia in 1941 best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival Jonathan Pryce (born 1 June 1947 is a Welsh award-winning stage and Film actor/singer The Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical is the Tony Awards award given to the actress who was voted as the best actress in a musical, whether a new production Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the' Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Hinton G Battle (born 29 November 1956) is an American Actor, Dancer, and dance instructor This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the' Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for outstanding set design of a play or musical. For other people with the same name see John Napier (disambiguation. This is a list of the winners of the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design in a play or musical, first presented in 1970 David Hersey (born November 30, 1939) is a Lighting designer who has designed the lighting for over 250 plays, Musicals, Operas The Tony award for Choreography has been awarded since 1947 Award winners and nominations 1940s 1947 Agnes de Mille Bob Avian ( December 26, 1937, New York City New York) is an American Choreographer and a Theatre producer and director This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American The Drama Desk Award, created in 1955, is an award which recognizes shows produced on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-off-Broadway, and Lea Salonga-Chien KL (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines is a multi-awarded Filipino American Brohn) WINNER
• 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design (David Hersey) WINNER
• 1991 Theatre World Award (Lea Salonga) WINNER
• 2007 Helpmann Award (Australia) Best Female Actor in a Musical (Laurie Cadevida) WINNER

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References

External links

• Official UK website
• Official Australian website
• Musical Cyberspace: Miss Saigon
• On the Scene: Miss Saigon Celebrates 4,000 Performances
• Time review, noting changes from West End to Broadway
• Plot summary and character descriptions
• MTI Shows characters, plot and other production information

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