Miss Saigon to open in Melbourne

Opera Australia today confirmed Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Miss Saigon, featuring an extraordinary cast of talented performers from across the Asia-Pacific region, will play at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre from October 29th, for a strictly limited season. 

Miss Saigon’s Australian cast will be led by Seann Miley Moore as the Engineer, Abigail Adriano as Kim, Nigel Huckle as Chris, Kerrie Anne Greenland as Ellen, Nick Afoa as John, Laurence Mossman as Thuy, and Kimberley Hodgson as Gigi. 

Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan is thrilled to be presenting another of Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed productions to Melbourne audiences, after breaking box office records earlier this year with The Phantom of the Opera. 

Miss Saigon is regarded as one of the most critically-acclaimed and popular musicals of all time, with an incredible catalogue of music, enjoyed by millions around the world. 

It is a powerful and moving story that looks at the complex nature of love, whilst set against the destruction and violence of war, and examining the aftermath it leaves. What I find particularly exciting is to see this story now told by a largely Australian cast – which will really showcase the depth of talent we have in this country. 

To bring this powerful and moving story to life, we’ve cast 42 of the most incredible performers, singers, dancers and acrobats from across Australia-Pacific who will undoubtedly capture the hearts and minds of audiences night after night, said Ms Allan. 

Speaking to the announcement, Cameron Mackintosh said;

Miss Saigon has been a phenomenal success around the world since it opened in 1989, and like many musicals its story has proved timely and timeless. Boublil and Schönberg’s powerful story is so heartfelt that it never fails to move audiences night after night in a unique way. Over 25 years ago we brought the original production to Australia, but this time Australian audiences will be getting my latest production, which was a sensational success in London, Broadway and across America. 

Our brilliant Australian cast have found the true heart of the story of Miss Saigon and its contemporary resonance. I can’t wait to see them electrify the stage as they turn the Heat back on.

Created by the same minds that brought the world Les Misérables, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, Miss Saigon is a heart-wrenching story of love and loss set in war-torn Vietnam. It tells the story of a young Vietnamese woman named Kim, who falls in love with an American G.I. named Chris, but their love is ripped apart by the fall of Saigon. 

 

 

Since its premiere in London in 1989, Miss Saigon has won 70 major theatre awards, including two Olivier Awards, three Tony Awards, and four Drama Desk Awards. It has been seen by 38 million people worldwide and performed in 15 different languages, in over 32 countries and 350 cities. The musical features an unforgettable score, including classic hits like ‘The Heat is On in Saigon,’ ‘The Movie in My Mind,’ ‘Last Night of the World’ and ‘American Dream.’ The original production also premiered in Australia in 1995. 

Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Miss Saigon opened in London in May 2014 to record-breaking advance sales and critical acclaim, it then opened on Broadway and a hugely successful US Tour followed with The New Yorker calling it “A Dynamite Broadway revival”. The Daily Telegraph (UK) wrote, “This thrilling new production spills out beyond theatre and speaks directly to the times we live in – magnificent performances.” The Daily Mail said, “The greatest musical of all-time just got even better!” and The London Times called the production “thrilling, soaring and spectacular.” 

Miss Saigon has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and Alain Boublil, adapted from original French lyrics by Alain Boublil, with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler. The new production is directed by Laurence Connor with musical staging by Bob Avian and additional choreography by Geoffrey Garratt. Production design is by Totie Driver and Matt Kinley based on an original concept by Adrian Vaux; costume design by Andreane Neofitou; lighting design by Bruno Poet; projections by Luke Halls; sound design by Mick Potter; and orchestrations by William David Brohn. Music supervision is by Alfonso Casado Trigo and Guy Simpson. 

 

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Season Details

Sydney 

Dates: 17 August to 13 October 2023
Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House 

Melbourne 

Dates: 29 October to 3 December 2023
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre 

Tickets for the Melbourne season of Miss Saigon will go on sale Tuesday 6 June. To receive the most up-to-date information about the production and priority booking, sign up to the waitlist: www.miss-saigon.com.au