{the 99 cent} Miss Saigon : Stripped-down abstract musical performance March 10, 2006

The excessive '80s musical comes down to earth in a stripped-down abstract performance.

Thursdays-Saturdays
March 9-11, March 16-18, March 23-25
7:30pm

Sliding Scale $10-15, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Reservations: (510) 547-8932.

The story of a doomed romance between a local prostitute and an American GI during the last days of the Vietnam War, Miss Saigon has fascinated countless protestors, critics and audiences with its uneasy balance of awkward politics and its undeniable appeal. Ten Red Hen's 99-cent production of Miss Saigon is an attempt to do the unimaginable: present this epitome of late 20th century musical excess as a piece of poor theater. Using abstraction, movement and irrational earnestness. They have extracted the pure exuberance of musical theater from its traditionally heavy melodrama and production values. A non-theatrical setting and stripped-down orchestra of actors further distinguish this production's deconstructionist innovation. (Runs Thursdays through Saturdays until March 25th).

Ten Red Hen's 99-cent production of Miss Saigon is an attempt to do the unimaginable: present this epitome of late 20th century musical excess as a piece of poor theater. All the problems of the show - the huge orchestrations, sets, costumes, and yes, the helicopter - have been re-imagined and solved purely through performance. Using abstraction, movement and irrational earnestness, we have extracted the pure exuberance of musical theater from its traditionally heavy melodrama and production values. A non-theatrical setting and stripped-down orchestra of actors further distinguish this production's deconstructionist innovation.

Cast and Crew
Brittany Bexton (Ellen), Erick Casanova (Thuy), George Chan (John), Jane Chen (Kim), Jenny Cho (Ensemble), Kazumi Kusano (Ensemble), Dave Malloy (Chris), Teresa Moore (Ensemble), Dale Murphy (Ensemble), Andre Nigoghossian (Guitar), Issabella Shields (Ensemble), Raphi Soifer (Ensemble), Alexis P. Wong (Gigi)
and European-American actor Mark Romyn as The Engineer

Director: Maya Gurantz
Musical Director: Dave Malloy
Design Consultant: Jon Wai-keung Lowe
Choreographic Assistance: Tracy Dorrance
Vocal Assistance: Alexis P. Wong

keywords: theatre, music, drama, musical, show, performance

Event submitted by Eventful on behalf of geode.