The Heat Is on in Saigon

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The curtains closed on the beloved Miss Saigon on January 14 after its revival on the Broadway stage. The musical opened on March 23, 2016, and was composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics from Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. Under director Cameron Mackintosh, it was nominated for two Tony Awards in 2017. Eva Noblezada (Kim) was nominated for Best Actress in a musical, and the show was also nominated for Best Revival.

Based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Madame Butterfly, the musical tells the story of Chris, an American fighting in the Vietnam War, and Kim, a Vietnamese woman whose town and family has been destroyed. During a night spent at Dreamland, a bar and brothel that Chris unwillingly frequents with his fellow soldiers, Chris meets and falls in love with Kim who is forced to seek employment at the brothel due to her circumstances. Both characters recognize that the other is different from anyone whom they have met and decide to commit themselves to one another. However, when Chris is forced to return back to the United States, Kim is left behind in Vietnam.

The show brings to life the stories of the soldiers coming home from the war, the people of Vietnam who were brave enough to either stay or attempt to escape to freedom, and those close to the returning soldiers. Its timeless themes of love, perseverance, and the effects of war on different groups in society are sure to touch the hearts of all members of the audience. Standout numbers such as “Last Night of the World,” “The Movie in My Mind,” and “The American Dream” convey the emotions and meaning behind the show. The combined talent of the writers, lyricists, actors, and director makes Miss Saigon a devastatingly beautiful show that is sure to drive even the least emotional individuals to tears. Fans of the theater eagerly await to see what comes next for this classic musical.