Performances: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 –
Sunday, May 18, 2008 (dark Mondays)
Matinees available – Saturdays & Sundays
Opening/Press Night: Sat. May 3, 2008 8 p.m.

Redondo Beach, California — The “Heat is On in Saigon,” and at the 1457-seat theatre at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Nominated six times and winner of three “Ovation Awards” for “Best Musical”, the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities (CLOSBC) revives “MISS SAIGON” which starts previews on the 33RD Anniversary of the “Fall of Saigon” (April 30, 1975). Highlights of the show include the evacuation of the last Americans in Saigon from the Embassy roof by helicopter, the victory parade of the new communist regime and the frenzied night club scene on the edge of defeat.

“MISS SAIGON” is by the creators of the mega-hit musical Les Misèrables and is based loosely on Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. Music is by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Alain Boublil, and the book and original French lyrics are by Alain Boublil. This pop-opera relocates the story to Saigon in the last days of the Vietnam War. 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. Schönberg considered this mother’s actions for her child to be “The Ultimate Sacrifice,” an idea central to the plot of “MISS SAIGON”. “MISS SAIGON” has been performed in English, Japanese, Hungarian, German, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Estonian, Swedish, Korean, Bulgarian, Czech, Finnish, and Portuguese.

THE PLOT – Chris, an American soldier has a brief, torrid 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 and, instead, marries an American girl, Ellen.

Years later, our audience finds Kim alive and mother of Tam, Chris’ son. With the help of an opportunistic and sleazy character known as “the Engineer”, Kim begins a desperate harrowing journey to escape her ravaged homeland. The three find refuge in Bangkok.

Across the ocean, in Atlanta, Georgia, Chris’ war buddy John learns of Kim’s survival and the journey is reciprocated by Chris, his wife Ellen and his buddy, John as the three travel to Bangkok searching for Kim.

John finds Kim and is thrilled to hear Chris is in Bangkok. Believing she is to go to America with Chris and her son, she races to Chris’ hotel and becomes shocked and heartbroken when she learns of Ellen. What will become of her and their son, now?

THE MUSIC – “MISS SAIGON” is said to contain some of the most beautiful music ever to be performed on a Broadway stage. The sweeping, impassioned score includes, “Why God, Why,” “Sun and Moon,” “The Last Night of the World,” “I Still Believe,” “I’d Give My Life for You” and “The American Dream.”

THE CAST –
For this production, directed by critically acclaimed Associate Producer Stephanie Coltrin and under Technical Direction of critically acclaimed Christopher Beyries, the CLOSBC is bringing in top talent from New York and Los Angeles.

STARRING:
• Jennifer Paz as Kim (played Kim in ““MISS SAIGON”” the 1ST National Tour);
• Eric Kunze as Chris (played Chris in ““MISS SAIGON”” on Broadway and in the 1ST National Tour);
• “Ovation Award” nominated Misty Cotton as Ellen (played Ellen in ““MISS SAIGON”” on Broadway and in the 1ST National Tour);
• Bonifacio Deoso, Jr. as Thuy (played Thuy in ““MISS SAIGON”” on Broadway, in the 2ND National Tour and in the FCLO “Ovation Award” winning production);
• “Ovation Award” nominated Kevin Bailey as the Engineer (“Annie Get Your Gun” – Frank Butler);
• “Ovation Award” recipient, two time “Ovation Award” nominated and “Lawrence Olivier Award” nominated Harrison White as John (“Purlie” – Gitlow);

“Grammy Award” nominated, feature film score Composer Alby Potts orchestrates as Musical Director.

Choreographed by “Robby Award” nominated and “2007 Orange County Arts Educator of the Year” award recipient Karen Nowicki and Dance Captain Marc Oka (the Assistant Choreographer with “MISS SAIGON” on Broadway and the 1ST National Tour)

Tickets to “MISS SAIGON” are on sale now and range in price from $40, $45, $50, $55, $60 depending on night preferred and seating choice. Tickets are available online @ http://www.civiclightopera.com or over the phone at (310) 372-4477 or in person at the executive office located at 2224 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 as well as the box office during performances.

Established in 1991, the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities is the largest producing civic light opera in all of Southern California and is a not-for-profit cultural arts institution dedicated to the preservation and presentation of our unique American musical art forms.

Performances are presented at:
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center (northeast corner of Aviation & Manhattan Beach Boulevards)
1935 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Redondo Beach, California 90278