Chua and Kunze both appeared in the same roles — lovers Kim and Chris, respectively — in the Broadway run of Miss Saigon. Bruce Lumpkin directs the 1989 musical by Les Miserables creators Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, and lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. The tale of an American soldier in 1975 Vietnam, and the Vietnamese woman he leaves behind, will open May 25. Performances continue to July 17 on the WST Mainstage.
The cast includes Kate Fahrner (Ellen), Angelica-Lee Aspiras (Assistant Commissar/Gigi), Philip Michael Baskerville (John) and Mel Sagrado Maghuyop (Thuy). Local child actors Isabella Le (performing weekdays) and Ella Hampton (performing weekends) will both make their Walnut debuts sharing the role of Tam.
The ensemble includes Joey Abramowicz, Billy Bustamante, Jeffrey Coon, Nina Crupiti, Ben Dibble, Delius Doherty, Shane Donovan, Janelle Dote, Jamison Foreman, Charles Hagerty, Makoto Hirano, Nam Holtz, Joanne Javien, Adam Kaokept, Leon Le, LaMae, Benjamin Michael, JP Moraga, Manna Nichols, Enrico Rodriquez, Jee Teo and Allen F. Weaver.
Joining Lumpkin on the production team are choreographer Michelle Gaudette and musical director Douglass G. Lutz, plus scenic designer John Farrell, lighting designer Jack Jacobs, sound designer David Temby and costume designer Colleen Grady.
For tickets and information, call (215) 574-3550 or (800) 982-2787. Tickets are also available online by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.
