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Colleen Johnson as the Vietnamese woman Kim, and Blake Davey and the American soldier Chris.
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WIU University Theatre Presents "Miss Saigon"

November 12, 2009

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MACOMB, IL - - Currently in production by the Western Illinois University Theatre, "Miss Saigon" is showing at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Nov. 12 through Saturday, Nov. 14 in the Hainline Theatre.

Based on Puccini's opera, "Madame Butterfly," "Miss Saigon" centers on the love between a strong-willed Vietnamese woman, Kim, played by senior music theatre major Colleen Johnson (Effingham, IL), and an American soldier, Chris, played by sophomore music theatre major Blake Davy (Morris, IL), during the Vietnam War. When Saigon falls and the old city disappears forever under the red banners and yellow stars of the Viet Cong, Chris--not knowing that Kim is pregnant--is forced to retreat. He returns home and marries. However, a few years later he and his wife return to find Kim, who is determined to make Chris take their son back to the United States.

Directing the play is egla Hassan, theatre professor and head of Western's Master of Fine Arts directing program. It is from the book by Alain Boublil and Claude Michel-Schönberg, with music by Michel-Schönberg and lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.

Cast members include MFA student Brian LeTraunik (Chicago, IL); seniors and music theatre majors Lee Bussie (Lake Beach, IL) and Lily Blouin (Anchorage, AK); junior Anna Zerwer (East Peoria, IL); and sophomores Bailey Holland (Cedar Rapids, IA) and Anna Cline (Grafton, WI), along others.

Tickets - - $14 for the public and $12 for senior citizens (55 and older) as well as for students with an ID; in addition, Western freshmen and sophomores are admitted free with an ID - - are available from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Hainline Box Office, (309) 298-2900 or online at wiu.edu/theatre and click on Current Season & Tickets in the left navigation bar then on "The Season: University Theatre and University Dance Theatre.

For more information, call the theatre department at (309) 298-1543.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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