Director’s Note
It has been an absolute pleasure directing Miss Saigon. I have not directed a show as complicated and challenging since Les Miserables in 2013. Miss Saigon is a show that I saw live back in 1997, and stayed with me ever since. It’s a beautiful show that requires mature actors that sing, act, and dance.
A big thank you to the entire cast of Miss Saigon, for your dedication and hard work. Thank you to the parents for allowing your children to spend their free time and weekends at Broadway Kids Studio for the past 2 months. They have been a jot to work with and make me a better director everyday.
Thank you to Raul for your amazing musical direction and dedication as well. To my husband Aadil, thanks for understanding a director’s life, and keeping the kids entertained during all the long tech rehearsals. Break a leg to the cast and crew!
Michelle Ameerally
Musical Director’s Notes
I had not seen a production of Miss Saigon before I started working on the show. I had listened to a couple of songs and knew it was written by the same team of composer/lyricist that wrote Les Miserables. Needless to say the music is beautiful and emotional, but the dramatic content of the book blew me away. The dramatic love story between Kim and Chris is supported wonderfully with the emotional melodies and intricate music arrangements, and I knew it was going to be a new challenge for our young professionals to perform with the intensity the show requires. I am very fortunate to work with such a talented cast. Week after week, every single cast member showed me that they are capable of bringing to life three-dimensional characters in such a complicated story.
I could mention all the challenges we had during the rehearsal process, but at the end they are anywhere as important as the final result portrayed by such a talented and mature cast.
I would like to thank my wife and kids for their constant support; I couldn’t do anything without you. I want to say thank you to my fellow instructors and staff at Broadway Kids for making my life easier when I needed to focus on rehearsals, and to Michelle Ameerally for letting me be part of such a wonderful show.
Last, but not least, let me thank the cast. You guys have shown me once more that a good show is not about age, but about dedication, commitment, and talent. I can only see great thinks for all of you in the future.
Raul Rivera
