‘Miss Saigon’ showing at TPAC
Some might consider Vietnam an unusual setting for a musical, but that didn’t stop Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Sch?nberg, the creators of “Les Mis?rables” from choosing the war-torn country as the backdrop for their hit show “Miss Saigon.”
The show is making its second run in Nashville at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nov. 16-21. Tickets range from $18 to $66 and are available at www.tpac.org, the TPAC box office, and all Ticketmaster outlets.
Set in 1975 during the final days leading up to the American evacuation of Saigon, “Miss Saigon” is the story of two young lovers torn apart by the fortunes of destiny and held together by a burning passion and the fate of a small child. The musical, with its soaring melodies and powerful emotions has captured hearts – and awards – around the world.
“This is a new, innovative interpretation of the sweeping love story that opens in Vietnam and continues after the war,” TPAC director of marketing Brent Hyams said, noting the staging is visually stunning. “The production uses the latest theatrical technology and special effects to create a life-size helicopter on stage. It’s amazing. You have to see this for yourself.”
The actors are first class as well, according to Hyams, and the show features a truly multi-cultural cast. Included in the cast are Alan Gillespie, who plays Chris, the male romantic lead opposite Jennifer Paz, who plays Kim. Gillespie talks about playing the challenging role.
“He’s a marine on his second tour of duty,” Gillespie said, “and it’s a great role for an actor to play because it’s a very conflicted role. He has a lot of conflict and he doesn’t really know where to turn in the beginning of the show. Then he has this chance meeting with Kim and she unlocks this light inside of him, and he falls in love. It’s a great transformation to get to do. He has this great revelation of love and joy in his life again.”