A helicopter touched down at the Miracle Theatre last Friday night at the opening night performance of the international Broadway sensation Miss Saigon. In a moving display of theatrical spectacle complete with all of the Broadway goodies including innovative sets, flashy costumes and booming voices, a packed house was treated to a homegrown production of this classic love story from Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil.
Chairman of the Board Dr. Lawrence E. Stein, Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein and Artistic Director David Arisco were on hand to greet guests as the crowd enjoyed a pre and post show reception courtesy of Bacardi, U.S.A., Premiere Beverage Co., Ortanique On the Mile, and Starbucks Coffee, with music by Bravo Musicians.
On behalf of Actors’ Playhouse, Barbara Stein thanked honored guests and loyal patrons as well as the show’s sponsors including AirBerlin, Intercontinental Miami, The Arthur F. And Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald, NBC 6, Comcast, the Spanish Broadcasting System, and Funding Arts Network.
Among the night’s guests were Mayor Donald and Jeannett Slesnick, Commissioner Wayne “Chip” Withers and wife Cindy, Former Mayor Dorothy and Jack Thomson, School Board members Dr. Marta Perez and Dr. Larry Feldman, Robert Hill of InterContinental Hotel Miami and wife Breda, Kathryn Dinkin of Wachovia Bank, Joseph Garcia of Spanish Broadcasting System, Cindy Hutson and Delieus Schirley of Ortanique On The Mile, and 600 other distinguished guests and sponsors.
Critics and audience members alike were wowed by the stunning performance of this daring mega-musical by a talented cast and creative team under the direction of Artistic Director David Arisco. Fueled by raw emotion, Miss Saigon tells the tattered love story of an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman who fall in love during the turmoil of the Vietnam War only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years creates an unparalleled drama and a must see musical theatrical experience.
“Ranges from exquisite beauty to fabulous tawdriness… wondrous to watch,” says theatre critic for The Miami Herald, Christine Dolen. Ron Levitt of Florida Media News calls it “a five-star Broadway-worthy production… a stellar production with an A-one cast and technical genius.”
You can catch Miss Saigon and its talented cast, many of who have played in this show across the country, including one from the Broadway production, now through April 4 at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $42, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $50. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday.
Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through the group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.
Three show subscription packages are now available to the remainder of the 2009-2010 season starting at $87, which includes: Miss Saigon, the world premiere play Unreasonable Doubt by Michael Mckeever (May 12 – June 6, 2010) and Are We There Yet? by James Hindman, Ray Roderick and Cheryl Stern with music by John Glaudin (July 7 – August 15, 2010).
Actors’ Playhouse subscribers receive guaranteed best seating and pricing, lost ticket insurance, generous membership benefits to Coral Gables’ finest restaurants and discounts on single tickets, among other benefits. To become a part of the Miracle as an Actors’ Playhouse subscriber, call 305.444.9293 or order online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.
Actors’ Playhouse, the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the Miracle Theatre, has an agreement with Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors, New York. Under the leadership of Founding Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein and Artistic Director David Arisco, Actors’ Playhouse was named South Florida’s Theatre Company of the Year in 2008 for overall season excellence and community outreach by the Carbonell Committee and in 2009 Artistic Director David Arisco received the industry’s highest acknowledgement with the George Abbott Award for his 21-years of artistic excellence in South Florida. Actors’ Playhouse is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization, one of eight major Florida professional theatre companies, and one of twenty-one major cultural institutions in Miami Dade County. In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors’ Playhouse produces a year-round five-show season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children’s Theatre Festival, and a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program.
This event is made possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables, with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, The Cultural Affairs Council, The Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and by the following sponsors: AirBerlin, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, The Arthur F. And Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald, NBC 6, Comcast, the Spanish Broadcasting System, and with support from the Funding Arts Network.