Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon is a modernized re-telling of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon. The musical tells the ill-fated love story of Kim, a young woman in Saigon, and an American G.I., Chris.
This page contains affiliate links and as an associate Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Where to watch:
Cinema (Screenings between Sept 22, 2024 - June 11, 2025. UK and Northern Ireland only.)
DVD
Blu-ray
Amazon
BroadwayHD
Netflix (UK)
Cinema (Screenings between Sept 22, 2024 - June 11, 2025. UK and Northern Ireland only.)
DVD
Blu-ray
Amazon
BroadwayHD
Netflix (UK)
Stage Production Notes
The original production of Miss Saigon opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on September 20, 1989 and went on to run for ten years. The production featured stand-out performances by Filipino actor Lea Salonga as Kim, and Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer, who both went on to win Olivier and Tony awards for their performances.
Produced by impresario Sir Cameron Macintosh, the lavish Miss Saigon churned excitement with the presence of an actual helicopter landing on stage.
The Broadway production opened at the Broadway Theatre on April 11, 1991, and also ran for ten years. The musical received much criticism for utilizing yellow-face in its casting of Caucasian actor Jonathan Pryce as a Eurasian character.
Miss Saigon has since been performed around the world.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Miss Saigon in 2014, Cameron Macintosh announced a London revival. On the first day that tickets were released to the public, the show broke office records.
The revival of Miss Saigon opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on May 21, 2014. It featured an 18-year-old Eva Noblezada in her West End debut as Kim, and Alistair Brammer as Chris.
The production received mixed, though generally positive, reviews. Henry Hitchings of The Standard described the revival as “visually rich” and praised the performances of the cast, particularly the “remarkable find” of Eva Noblezada. Writing for the Telegraph, Charles Spencer also praised Noblezada, and noted the “cinematic fluency” of the production.
A special gala was held on September 22, 2014. When the tickets went on sale, 18,000 eager fans reportedly crashed the website and the show sold out within minutes.
Following the gala performance, members of the original cast performed songs from the show at the curtain call.
The gala performance aired on BBC Radio 2 on September 28, 2014, and the recording was made available for one week on the BBC Radio 2 website.
The gala was also filmed and released for special one-day only screenings in the UK and USA. See below for more information.
In 2017, the 25th Anniversary production transferred to Broadway where it opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 23. Eva Noblezada and Alistair Brammer reprised their roles for the Broadway production.
Like the London production, the Broadway transfer received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the stunning lighting and sets, and Eva Noblezada’s incredible performance.
After 24 previews and 340 performances, Miss Saigon closed on Broadway on January 14, 2018.
The UK production toured the United Kingdom and Ireland throughout 2018, and productions were were slated for Australia and Germany in 2018.
The original production of Miss Saigon opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on September 20, 1989 and went on to run for ten years. The production featured stand-out performances by Filipino actor Lea Salonga as Kim, and Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer, who both went on to win Olivier and Tony awards for their performances.
Produced by impresario Sir Cameron Macintosh, the lavish Miss Saigon churned excitement with the presence of an actual helicopter landing on stage.
The Broadway production opened at the Broadway Theatre on April 11, 1991, and also ran for ten years. The musical received much criticism for utilizing yellow-face in its casting of Caucasian actor Jonathan Pryce as a Eurasian character.
Miss Saigon has since been performed around the world.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Miss Saigon in 2014, Cameron Macintosh announced a London revival. On the first day that tickets were released to the public, the show broke office records.
The revival of Miss Saigon opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on May 21, 2014. It featured an 18-year-old Eva Noblezada in her West End debut as Kim, and Alistair Brammer as Chris.
The production received mixed, though generally positive, reviews. Henry Hitchings of The Standard described the revival as “visually rich” and praised the performances of the cast, particularly the “remarkable find” of Eva Noblezada. Writing for the Telegraph, Charles Spencer also praised Noblezada, and noted the “cinematic fluency” of the production.
A special gala was held on September 22, 2014. When the tickets went on sale, 18,000 eager fans reportedly crashed the website and the show sold out within minutes.
Following the gala performance, members of the original cast performed songs from the show at the curtain call.
The gala performance aired on BBC Radio 2 on September 28, 2014, and the recording was made available for one week on the BBC Radio 2 website.
The gala was also filmed and released for special one-day only screenings in the UK and USA. See below for more information.
In 2017, the 25th Anniversary production transferred to Broadway where it opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 23. Eva Noblezada and Alistair Brammer reprised their roles for the Broadway production.
Like the London production, the Broadway transfer received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the stunning lighting and sets, and Eva Noblezada’s incredible performance.
After 24 previews and 340 performances, Miss Saigon closed on Broadway on January 14, 2018.
The UK production toured the United Kingdom and Ireland throughout 2018, and productions were were slated for Australia and Germany in 2018.
Filmed Production Notes
Although the 25th Anniversary Gala performance was filmed live, additional “covering shots” were filmed in January 2016 and edited into the final film. Producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh noted that “It was decided not to digitally remove the stage microphones to remind viewers this was a stage event rather than a film.”
Releasing a filmed live version of the show before its Broadway opening was considered risky by some, however Mackintosh believed the film to be “the greatest cinematic trailer for a theatrical production that’s ever been produced.”
The trailer for the film was billed as a “theatrical trailer,” blurring the lines between cinema and theatre.
In reviewing the screening for What’s On Stage, Ben Hewis stated that the capture felt “cinematic,” and praised the way “Universal’s ultra-high-definition cameras bring everything into razor sharp focus in a way that wasn’t possible on the Prince Edward Stage.”
Hewis’ previously negative opinion of filmed live theatre was changed by the screening, and he encouraged others to get to the screening –
Although the 25th Anniversary Gala performance was filmed live, additional “covering shots” were filmed in January 2016 and edited into the final film. Producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh noted that “It was decided not to digitally remove the stage microphones to remind viewers this was a stage event rather than a film.”
Releasing a filmed live version of the show before its Broadway opening was considered risky by some, however Mackintosh believed the film to be “the greatest cinematic trailer for a theatrical production that’s ever been produced.”
The trailer for the film was billed as a “theatrical trailer,” blurring the lines between cinema and theatre.
In reviewing the screening for What’s On Stage, Ben Hewis stated that the capture felt “cinematic,” and praised the way “Universal’s ultra-high-definition cameras bring everything into razor sharp focus in a way that wasn’t possible on the Prince Edward Stage.”
Hewis’ previously negative opinion of filmed live theatre was changed by the screening, and he encouraged others to get to the screening –
If you saw the production at the Prince Edward, go see this broadcast. If you didn’t see the production at the Prince Edward, go see this broadcast. If you’re not a fan of theatre on screen, go see this broadcast – you might just be converted, like me.”
Audiences enjoyed the screening as evidenced by tweets collected by the production on Storify, and reading tweets with the hashtag #MissSaigon25th. As has occurred at other filmed live screenings, audience members reported clapping after songs, and desiring to see the production live. Many tweets mentioned the strong emotional impact of the show, and repeatedly mentioned the need for tissues!
The filmed live 25th Anniversary production is available to view on DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from these links), BroadwayHD, and Netflix (UK).
The filmed live 25th Anniversary production is available to view on DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from these links), BroadwayHD, and Netflix (UK).
Miss Saigon Production Credits
Theatre: Prince Edward Theatre, London
Producer: Cameron Mackintosh
Book: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby Jr.
Director: Laurence Connor
Musical Director: James Moore
Orchestrations: William David Brohn
Choreography: Bob Avian
Scenic Design: Totie Driver, Matt Kinley
Costume Design: Andreane Neofitou
Lighting Design: Bruno Poet
Sound Design: Mick Potter
Video Design: Luke Halls
Cast:
Eva Noblezada (Kim), Alistair Brammer (Chris), Hugh Maynard (John), Tamsin Carroll (Ellen), Kwang-Ho Hong (Thuy), Jon Jon Briones (Engineer), Rachelle Ann Go (Gigi)
Theatre: Prince Edward Theatre, London
Producer: Cameron Mackintosh
Book: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby Jr.
Director: Laurence Connor
Musical Director: James Moore
Orchestrations: William David Brohn
Choreography: Bob Avian
Scenic Design: Totie Driver, Matt Kinley
Costume Design: Andreane Neofitou
Lighting Design: Bruno Poet
Sound Design: Mick Potter
Video Design: Luke Halls
Cast:
Eva Noblezada (Kim), Alistair Brammer (Chris), Hugh Maynard (John), Tamsin Carroll (Ellen), Kwang-Ho Hong (Thuy), Jon Jon Briones (Engineer), Rachelle Ann Go (Gigi)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Rosie Bannister, “18K people crash Miss Saigon gala website,” “What’sOnStage” (Aug 26, 2014)
- Michael Billington, “Miss Saigon review - an old tale put across with exemplary vigour,” The Guardian (May 21, 2014)
- Peter Bradshaw, “Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary Performance review – a long haul,” The Guardian (Oct 13, 2016)
- Ben Brantley, “Review: Return of the Little Copter That Wowed in ‘Miss Saigon’” New York Times (March 23, 2017)
- Jesse Green, “Theater Review: Why Are We in Miss Saigon?,” Vulture (March 23, 2017)
- Breanne L. Heldman, “Miss Saigon: EW stage review,” Entertainment Weekly (March 23, 2017)
- Adam Hetrick, Robert Viagas, “London Miss Saigon Gets Screening at North American Cinemas Today,” Playbill, (Sep 22, 2016)
- Ben Hewis, “Review: Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary Performance (in cinemas)” What’s on Stage (Sep 30, 2016)
- Henry Hitchings, “Miss Saigon, Prince Edward Theatre - review,” The Standard (May 22, 2014)
- Rachel Jessop, “Miss Saigon Coming to UK Cinemas,” Official London Theatre, (Aug 3, 2016)
- Glenn Rice, “Miss Saigon: Prince Edward Theatre,” Theatre People (May 22, 2014)
- David Rooney, “'Miss Saigon': Theater Review,” The Hollywood Reporter (March 23, 2017)
- Marilyn Stasio, “Broadway Review: ‘Miss Saigon’ Returns to New York,” Variety (March 23, 2017)
- Charles Spencer, “Miss Saigon, Prince Edward Theatre, review: 'superbly slick’” The Telegraph (May 22, 2014)
- Margaret Vermette, “Miss Saigon Review,” The Musical World of Boubil and Schönberg, (May 25, 2014)
- Kelly West, “See Original Miss Saigon Cast Members Perform in This Amazing 25th Anniversary Gala Video,” CinemaBlend, (2014)
Websites
- Miss Saigon Broadway, “Miss Saigon: Cast & Creative,” Accessed via http://www.saigonbroadway.com/cast-and-creative/
Written by Luisa Lyons (December, 2016, updated January 2018)