THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY OPERETTA COMPANY

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY OPERETTA COMPANY
presents
A musical by ALAIN BOUBLIL & CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG
The University Theatre
Craigie Hall, The University of Calgary
2500 University Dr. NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
www.miss-saigon.ca
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY OPERETTA COMPANY
presents a musical by
ALAIN BOUBLIL & CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG
Music Artistic Director
CLAUDE-MICHEL Dr. COLLEEN WHIDDEN
SCHÖNBERG
Production Manager
Lyrics BYRON REDD
RICHARD MALTBY, JR
& ALAIN BOUBLIL Stage Manager
SANDRA DRAG
Adapted from original
French lyrics Conductor
ALAIN BOUBLIL WENDY FREEMAN
Additional material Costumes
RICHARD MALTBY, JR FRANK MACLEOD
All songs © Alain Boublil Music Ltd, (ASCAP)
Stock and Amateur Performance Rights licensed by
Music Theatre International, Inc,
545 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
Tel (212) 868.6668 Fax (212) 643.8465
Miss Saigon artwork design © Cameron MacKintosh Ltd
Miss Saigon artwork designed by Dewynters PLC London
Original poster design by Kira Sams
Illustration, poster and programme design by Nelson Agustín
The University Theatre
Craigie Hall, The University of Calgary
2500 University Dr. NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
The little Vietnamese girl was about to board a
plane from Ho Chi Minh Airport for the United
States of America where her father, and ex-GI
she had never seen, was waiting for her. Her
mother was leaving her there and would never
see her again.
Behind this particular picture lay a background
of years of enquiries and bureaucratic formalities,
in order to find the ex-solider from the other side
of the world, with whom the woman had shared a
brief moment of her life.
She knew, as only a mother could, that beyond
this departure gate there was both a new life for
her daughter and no life at all for her, and that
she had willed it.
I was so appalled by the image of this deliberate
ripping apart that I had to sit down and catch
my breath. I suffered for the mother as though
I might see my own little boy leaving me forever
and I suffered for the child as though in my
early youth I had been forcibly removed from my
parents. Was that not the most moving, the most
staggering example of ‘The Ultimate Sacrifice’,
as undergone by Cio-Cio San in Madame
Butterfly, giving her life for her child?
This photograph was for Alain and I, was the
start of everything...
CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG, October 1985
INSPIRATION
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
Many of us only confront the reality of armed conflict
as surreal images through the media. Miss Saigon
takes each audience member on his or her own
journey through the effects of war on young and old,
rich and poor, fortunate and the downcast. It depicts
the personal cost of war: shattered dreams, physical
agony, lost love, fatherless children. The story of Chris
and Kim is universal in that it shows the far reaching
effects of strife. Such conflicts are not restricted to
history but continue in our world today.
I well remember the autumn afternoon in Paris.
Between two chords of the keyboard, I broke
for coffee and thumbed through a magazine
someone had left on the piano.
I had no idea how important this simple action
would be for me. There was no way I could
predict the impact of this photograph.
The silence of this woman stunned by her grief
was a shout of pain louder than any of the
earth’s laments. The child’s tears were the final
condemnation of all wars which shatter people
who love each other.
It has been my pleasure to work with this company on
our production of Miss Saigon. This cast, made up of
university students, alumni, and community members,
brings to the stage a passion and energy that brings
this musical to life. The students involved in the show
come from a variety of faculties including engineering,
law, medicine, business, and fine arts. The alumni
and community cast members, with a plethora of
backgrounds, add to the richness and depth of the
stage experience. The cast has had the pleasure of
working with a complete pit orchestra, also made up of
university students and community members.
Special thanks to Byron Redd who took on many
leadership roles in this company and let his passion for
the art permeate every endeavor.
Enjoy the performance,
Dr. COLLEEN WHIDDEN
Artistic Director
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Artists from all backgrounds will join to present
one of the musical theatre world’s most popular
productions from January 14 – 23, 2010.
The cast of 49 and a 24-piece pit orchestra
will present a unique version of Boublil and
Schönberg’s Miss Saigon.
“We’re a dynamic and diverse group that loves
to perform; this group is special,” explains
Dr. Colleen Whidden, artistic director of the
University of Calgary Operetta Company. “Every
year our cast gets better. I often find myself
thinking this is one of the most amazing casts
I have ever worked with. The depth of their
singing, acting and dancing skills is immense.
The energy they bring to the stage is contagious
and the emotion and commitment they bring to
this storyline is moving.”
This is the sixth full-scale production mounted
by the UofC Operetta Company. Past shows
include Trial by Jury, Pirates of Penzance, West
Side Story and Dido and Aeneas. Auditions are
always open-call and more information can be
found at www.ucalgaryoperetta.ca.
Miss Saigon is presented through special
arrangement with Music Theatre International
(MTI).
SYNOPSIS
Set in 1975 during the final days of the American
occupation of Saigon, Miss Saigon is an epic love
story about the relationship between an American
GI and a young Vietnamese woman.
Kim is working in a sleazy Saigon night club
owned by a notorious wheeler-dealer known as
‘The Engineer’. John, an American GI, buys his
friend Chris the services of Kim for the night.
That night will change their lives forever.
Three years later, the US Army has fled Saigon.
Chris has returned to America and is now married
to Ellen, an American woman. He believes that
Kim is dead. However, Kim has left Saigon and
is living in poverty with her three year old son,
Tam in Bangkok. Chris finds out that Kim is alive
and has borne him a son and so returns to Asia in
search of Kim and Tam.
When Kim learns that Chris is in Bangkok with
his new wife all her hopes to be reunited with him
disappear. She is desperate for her son to have a
future in America with his father and will make
the ultimate sacrifice to achieve this.
MUSICAL NUMBERS
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
The performance contains sexuality, adult themes and violent situations. Strobe lights,
gunshots and artificial smoke are employed as special effects. Viewer discretion is advised.
There will be a 15-minute intermission between acts.
ACT ONE
Saigon - April 1975
Overture
The Heat is On in Saigon
The Movie in My Mind
The Transaction
The Dance
Why God, Why?
This Money is Yours
Sun and Moon
Unicorn
The Telephone Song
The Deal
The Ceremony (Dju Vui Vay)
Thuy’s Intervention
The Last Night of the World
The Orchestra
The Engineer, Bar Girls, Marines,
Civilians and Vietnamese Officers
Gigi, Kim and Bar Girls
The Engineer, John, Chris, Kim,
Marines and Crowd
Chris, Kim and The Engineer
Chris
Chris and Kim
Kim and Chris
Kim and Chris
Chris and John
Chris and The Engineer
Kim, Chris and Bar Girls
Thuy, Chris and Kim
Kim and Chris
Ho Chi Minh City - April 1978
The Morning of the Dragon/
The Fall of Saigon
Thuy, Vietnamese Soldiers,
The Engineer, Assistant Commissar
I Still Believe
Kim and Ellen
Coo-Coo Princess
The Engineer, Kim, Thuy and Soldiers
Thuy’s Death
The Engineer, Kim, Thuy
Vietnamese Soldiers and People
This is the Hour
If You Want to Die in Bed
The Engineer
Let Me See His Western Nose
The Engineer and Kim
I’d Give My Life For You
Kim and Refugees
GET INVOLVED IN UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
Interested in playing a role in an upcoming production with the UofC
Operetta Company? We’re always on the lookout for musicians, set and
costume designers, staging support and prospective cast members for
our January and June productions. For more information, or to schedule
an audition accordingly, please contact Dr. Colleen Whidden or Byron
Redd at operetta@ucalgary.ca — or visit our website at
www.ucalgaryoperetta.ca.
The UofC’s Operetta Company is pleased to also officially announce its
June 2010 production — Offenbach’s My Night at Jacques. If you are
interested in learning more about the production - or in securing a spot
on our audition list — please e-mail us at the above coordinates.
www.stor ybooktheatre.org
403-216-0808
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ACT TWO
Entr’acte
The Orchestra
Atlanta - September 1978
Bui-doi
The Revelation
John and Choir
John, Chris and Ellen
Bangkok - October 1978
What a Waste
The Engineer, Siamese Vendors
and American Tourists
Please
John and Kim
Chris is Here
Club Owner, John, The Engineer and Kim
The Guilt Inside Your Head
Thuy’s Ghost
Saigon - April 1975
Kim’s Nightmare (I-III)
John, Chris, Kim, American Soldiers
and Vietnamese People
Bangkok - October 1978
Sun and Moon (Reprise)
Room 317
Her or Me
The Confrontation
Paper Dragons
The American Dream
Finale - This is the Hour (Reprise)
Kim
Kim and Ellen
Ellen
Ellen, Chris and John
The Engineer and Kim
The Engineer and Choir
Kim and Chris
CAST
SELINA WONG (Kim)
Selina is overjoyed to be singing in her favorite musical
of all time, Miss Saigon. She has completed her classical
voice training, receiving her ARCT with the Royal
Conservatory of Music. She has won numerous awards
and scholarships including the Calgary Stampede 2002
Youth Talent Showdown and the Young Albertan Award.
Previous credits include Pirates of Penzance, Frog and
Toad and Honk!. She would like to thank the UofC
Operetta Company for this amazing opportunity and all
of her wonderful family and friends for their continued
love and support. Special thanks to her husband Nicolas
for helping her practice the kissing scenes.
BRYAN SMITH (Chris)
Bryan is thrilled to be performing with such an amazing
and talented group. His passion for musical theatre
has allowed him to perform such diverse roles as:
Will Parker in Oklahoma! (FRC), Jesus in Jesus Christ
Superstar (TPF), Mickey Johnstone in Blood Brothers
(CMT), and participated in the reality TV show Triple
Sensation (CBC). Bryan can be seen in the upcoming
Canadian premier of the musical Austentatious
(FMTG) in March. When not performing, Bryan enjoys
snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking and generally
warmer weather than what we experience here in
Calgary. Much love to family and friends for all of their
amazing support.
DEAN COMBITIS (The Engineer)
Dean is attending University of Calgary, residing in the
basement of Craigie Hall, surfacing occasionally for
meals and/or cell phone reception, studying for a BFA in
theatre. Dean thoroughly enjoyed bringing ‘the Engineer’
to life and working closely with this year’s talented cast.
Dean thought it was important to mention that he
doesn’t speak in third person unless he’s writing up a
bio. Prior musical credits include Footloose, Grease,
Rent (Summerstock Calgary) and West Side Story (UofC
Operetta Co.)
Running Crew Alison Mesheau
James Tonkin
Elena Kay
Aleida Whidden
Steven Johns
Kira Sams
Weapons Specialist Robert Smith
Rehearsal Accompanists Ben Kim
David Brandman
Jocelyn Hoover
Jen Kwong
David Morin
Jennifer Billard
Ryan Nolin
Marketing Erin Bacon
JoAnn Reynolds
Nicole Tagg
Joseph Bardsley
Maria Fernandez
Byron Redd
Pit Orchestra Music Coordinator Joseph Bardsley
Official Photographer Ryan Michelsen / www.dimages.ca
Original Poster Design Kira Sams
Special Thanks
Ron Miller
Dr. William Jordan
Tim Hudson
Kerry Miller
Rhonda Mottle
Rob Smith
Reed Francis
Cappuccino Musical Theatre
Workshop Theatre
Storybook Theatre
Front Row Centre Players
Susan Wong
Ester Balekjian
University School
Gwen McGowan
D.W. von Kuster
Janice McInulty
CBC Radio
Dimages Photograpic
Ken Chung & 007Airsoft
Jeff Baker & CapitalAirsoft
Barry Zarokostas
Seong-Cheol Son
Eddy Hadden
University Theatre Services
University of Calgary Music Department
University of Calgary Program of Dance
University of Calgary Drama Department
University of Calgary FASST Office
Erin Bacon
Nicole Tagg
JoAnn Reynolds
Doug & Sophia Yeung
John & Evonne Wong
Claire Carolan
SHAW Cable
Calgary Herald
Calgary Sun
Armour Equipment
OnSite Security
CityTV
Starr Turpel & Derks Formal Wear
PRODUCTION TEAM
Artistic Director
Production Manager
Assistant Director
Stage Manager
Pit Orchestra Director
Fight Choreographer
Costume Design
Costume Assistants
Choreography
Hair & Makeup
Set Design
Set Contruction
Set Painting
Properties Master
Properties
Light Design
Light Operators
Sound Design
Sound Operator
Dr. Colleen Whidden
Byron Redd
Byron Redd
Sandra Drag
Wendy Freeman
Haysam Kadri
Frank MacLeod
Myrna Weiden
Brenda Goyetche
Kerry Miller
Anna Hansen
Dana Cook
Jocelyn Hoover
Eden Hildebrand
Devon Hall
Colleen Whidden
Judy Warwicker
Colleen Whidden
Byron Redd
Steven Robinson
Laura Palacios
Alberto Nettel-Aguirre
Ron Miller
James Tonkin
John Whidden
Aleida Whidden
Laura Palacios
Herta Fidler
Claire Carolan
Ron Miller
Rhonda Mottle
Reed Francis
John Whidden
Byron Redd
Steve Isom
Thomas Hall
Aleida Whidden
Byron Redd
Byron Redd
PHIL FRIAS (John)
Philip made his musical theater debut in Grade
four starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat. Ever since then he’s never looked back.
Some of his credits include The King and I, Joseph for
a second time, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Pied Piper,
Evita and many others. Philip’s first show in Calgary was
none other than West Side Story which was last year’s
show with the UofC Operetta Company. He is thrilled
to be working again with such a great direction team of
Wendy, Colleen and Byron. Other Calgary shows since
West Side Story have included Blood Brothers, Grease
and Sweeney Todd. Look for the upcoming production
from Morpheus Theatre, The Mikado which you can see
Philip make his G&S debut as Nanki-Poo. He hopes you
all enjoy Miss Saigon. Watch out for the helicopter.
JOMAR FERRERAS (Thuy)
Jomar is proud to be working with such a diverse and
talented cast for his first production with the UofC
Operetta Company! He is proud to be a born and bred
Calgarian, performing for theatre companies in Calgary
since 2001. Favourite roles include Joseph (Joseph and
the Technicolor Dreamcoat), Lumiere (Beauty and the
Beast), Troy Bolton (HSM 1 & 2). It feels good to make
it into the Second Act again. Theatre is essentially his
day job, considering he spends his nights perfecting
characters, monologues, and accents on unsuspecting
patients and coworkers at the PLC as a practicing
Registered Nurse. He’ll soon be taking his craft a bit
more seriously with formal training in the US this
coming fall. Much credit goes to Patrice Barnes for
moulding him into a tenor. Thanks to Colleen and Byron
for giving him the opportunity to finally be a bad guy.
Much love to Mom, Dad, Nady, Aries and baby Kalli
for their support. Thank you to Maria for always being
there. And he knows Nay is looking down from the best
seat in the house. Thuy figures if things don’t work out
with Kim, there’s a Vietnamese lady he’s had his eye on
for a while.
ROSANNA REDD (Ellen)
Rosanna started showing her vocal prowess at a very
young age, when she came home from Sunday school
proudly stating to all who would listen, “I was the
loudest singer.” From such “humble” beginnings,
Rosanna has developed her musical and theatrical
talent through private vocal lessons and participating in
festivals, competitions, and community theatre. She is
in her final semester of a Bachelor of Education degree
combined with her Bachelor of Music. She is grateful
for the opportunity to perform with this talented cast
and crew. Previous credits include: Saturday’s Warrior,
Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat, Trial by Jury, Pirates of Penzance,
Down in the Valley, West Side Story, and Dido and
Aeneas.
Kayla MacKenzie (Gigi)
Miss Saigon is one of the many productions Kayla has
been a part of - and definitely one of her favorites.
Impressed by the talent surrounding her within this
production, she strives to achieve her goal of landing
centre stage someday soon.
Kayla is a music student at the University of Calgary
and a full-time singer in a country rock band
performing regularly in Calgary called Prairie Heat.
Blessed to have been granted the role of Gigi, Kayla
hopes to see you all back in the audience when she
hits New York’s Broadway.
FRANK MACLEOD Costumes
Frank was educated at Dalhousie University
in Halifax as an actor. While at school, he was
inspired by Robert Doyle, a Stratford Festival
designer who was Artist in Residence and ran the
Costume Studies Program. Frank started to hang
out in the costume department and learned to sew.
He made a peasant shirt by the end of the first
year. He earned extra credits by working costume
crew for main stage productions, and that was
that. When people stopped paying Frank to act,
a friend said “Designers are hard to come by, you
can always do that.” That was over 30 years ago.
Somewhere along this long journey, Frank picked
up the phrase “You can have it right or you can
have it now but you can’t have it right now,” which
became his mantra. He wants to thank Colleen for
“letting him go” and the producer, Byron, for his
help in so many ways and unending support.
Mimi
Yoshi Kristy Kaga
Yvonne
Britt Van Groningen
BYRON REDD Production Manager
Byron Redd, a native of Calgary, got his technical
theatre debut at age three when his parents found him
toggling the knobs on the family stereo system. From
there, in 6th grade, when the school principal offered to
train him on an audio mixer for microphones and music
at school assemblies…he never looked back.
After attending Frances Kelsey Secondary with a focus
in the technical theatre program, he earned a Bachelor
of Commerce and Bachelor of Computer Science. He
branched out and became a business man, working
in corporate revenue management and residential
mortgage financing. However, a wise professor once
commented, “Byron…should keep one eye turned to
the arts…” and so, throughout university and beyond,
he has continually dabbled in stage management, light/
sound design, and studio recording/mixing. Previous
credits include: Oliver Twist, Cabaret, Grease, The
Dresser, Pirates of Penzance, Down in the Valley, West
Side Story and Friday Theatre.
SANDRA DRAG Stage Manager
Sandra loves theatre and everything there is to love
about making the “magic” on-stage. Though not her
first stage management experience, she is happy and
excited to be making her production crew debut with
the UofC Operetta Co. on a great show like Miss Saigon.
Her previous credits include: The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow, Revenge of the Space Pandas, The Man Who
Came to Dinner, Gone with the Wind and Improv Club. She
brings extensive and varied experience to her role as
stage manager. From high school on up she has worked
in costumes, sound, lights, and stage management.
Sandra could not be where she is today without a big
thank-you to Daniel Bontje and Peter Aitchison.
Yvette
Aubrey Rosales
Vietnamese Dancers
Sunny Eom
Mada Wentzel
Chelsea Orza
Eden Hildebrand
Britt Van Groningen
Kayla MacKenzie
Yoshi Kristy Kaga
Aubrey Rosales
Jocelyn Hoover
Tania Cheema
Tam
Stephen Yeung
Isaac Wong
Marines / Vietcong
Danny Li
Kevin Leitch
John Whidden
Norman Poole
Alberto Nettel-Aguirre
Stephen Robinson
Kristian Lo
David Mottle
Jordan Atkins
Colton Duane
Travis Gaetz
Devon Hall
David Ng
Vietnamese Women
May Wong
June Wong
Rhonda Mottle
Maram Ghaleb
Megan Hodgson
Isabel Chan
Jennifer Kwong
Christine Baker
Judy Warwicker
Claudia Chan
Hannah Lee
Gillian Siddall
Maria Fernandez
Sharon Duval
Lily Truong
Euna Namkoong
ORCHESTRA
Conductor
Wendy Freeman
Violin 1 Zachary Shand
Anita Bailey
Violin 2 Megan Falk
Piccolo/Flute Terri Shouldice-Rieb
Alto Flute Matthew McGuigan
Oboe/English Horn Amber Torguson
Bassoon Robyn Phillips
Clarinet Adriana van Leeuwen
Tenor/Alto Saxophone Dustin Stirling
Trumpet/Fluglehorn Roy Styan
Trumpet 2 Elena Samoilova
Horn 1 Jordanna Branham
Horn 2 Joseph Bardsley
Trombone Nick Turnbull
Bass/Tuba Stephen Hilton
Percussion Lucas Badenduck
Matt Ryan
Piano Jennifer Clarke
Keyboard 1, 2, 3 Dr Colleen Whidden
Wendy Freeman
PRODUCTION TEAM
COLLEEN WHIDDEN Artistic Director
Colleen Whidden recently completed her doctoral
program in music education at the University of Calgary.
She formed the University of Calgary Operetta Company
in 2007 after having directed numerous secondary
and community musical theatre productions in British
Columbia. Colleen has directed such shows as Pirates
of Penzance, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mikado, Down in
the Valley, Grease, Trial by Jury, Guys and Dolls, Forty
Second Street, Brigadoon, and Joseph and the Technicolor
Dreamcoat. Colleen is thrilled to again be working with
this talented theatre company on Miss Saigon.
WENDY FREEMAN Conductor / Pit Orchestra Director
Wendy Freeman received a Bachelor of Music from the
University of Calgary, a Bachelor of Education from
the University of Windsor, and an Honour Specialist
in Music at Queen’s University. She also completed
a Master of Music, specializing in Conducting
Performance at the University of Calgary and is currently
a PhD student enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Graduate
Program. Her work uses motion capture technology as a
pedagogical tool for Secondary Music Educators.
She is the pit orchestra director of the University of
Calgary Operetta Company and is a resident guest
conductor and sessional instructor for the Adult
Recreation Choir Society’s Up2Something Choir. Wendy
is an associate conductor with the Calgary Concert Band.
She is currently on maternity leave as a Fine Arts Learning
Leader and Music Director at David Thompson School,
where she conducts the Symphonic Band, Senior and
Junior Concert Bands, Jazz Band, Choir, and oversees the
Musical Theatre Production and Percussion area.