"Miss Saigon" to be performed in CFA Oct. 29, 30

Buffalo, NY-- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present "Miss Saigon" at 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 in the Mainstage Theatre located in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. Tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Aug. 24. The performances are sponsored by GEICO. Media sponsor is WBEN-AM.

Set in 1975 during the final days leading up to the American evacuation of Saigon, "Miss Saigon" is the story of two young lovers torn apart by the fortunes of destiny and held together by a burning passion and the fate of a small child. This musical, from the creators of "Les Misérables," with its soaring melodies and powerful emotions, has captured hearts -- and awards -- around the world.

"Miss Saigon" is written by Alain Boublil (book, lyrics and original French lyrics), Claude-Michel Schönberg (book and music) and Richard Maltby Jr. (lyrics), and was originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, in September 1989. Subsequently, the production opened on Broadway in April 1991 with three North American companies following. This newly conceived touring production that will play the Center for the Arts is produced by Big League Theatricals.

"Miss Saigon" is directed by Mitchell Lemsky, who previously served as associate director of "Miss Saigon" for the Broadway and U.S. Touring productions, as well as productions in Canada, Germany and Japan. Musical staging is provided by Jodi Moccia, who previously served as associate choreographer for the Broadway, U.S. Touring and Toronto productions.

The seventh longest running show in Broadway history, and one of the greatest stage successes ever, "Miss Saigon" has grossed more than $1.7 billion worldwide and won 30 awards. Internationally, the musical has been performed in 18 countries in nine different languages, and has been seen by more than 31 million people worldwide. More than 13.2 million people in North America have seen "Miss Saigon."

The Broadway production of "Miss Saigon" received 11 Tony Award nominations in 1991, including Best Musical, and won three. "Miss Saigon" also received the Outer Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical. The London production received Best Musical honors from The Evening Standard Awards and the London Theatre Critics Circle Awards.

Tickets for "Miss Saigon" are $56, $52, $48, and UB Student Balcony $30. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.