School breaks ground with 'Miss Saigon'

Las Vegas Academy is first high school to stage the show

Advertisement

As theater students at the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts prepare to kick off their production of "Miss Saigon," they also are preparing to literally set the stage for future high school productions of the musical.

"What makes this performance particularly special is that this is the world premiere of the adapted student edition of 'Miss Saigon,' " said Robert Connor, the musical's director and an acting teacher at the academy.

In anticipation of the performances that began Thursday, the academy worked with Music Theatre International and Cameron Mackintosh, the creators of "Miss Saigon," to adapt the musical for high school performance.

"We worked with them to adapt this so it's more suitable for a high school audience and a high school cast," Connor said.

Cast members said the opportunity to be involved with the musical's national premiere has highlighted the rehearsal process.

"Generally, you get one (musical) that has already been done, and there is a foundation already," said Veronica Domingo, 17, a senior who will play the lead part of Kim. "This is one of the few musicals where we can be the first and have the opportunity to set the foundation. And that is a great honor for us. We know others will follow this foundation and part of what we did will be carried on."

Connor described the musical as "a little edgy."

"It's set during the Vietnam war, and the lead, Chris, finds love in a very topsy-turvy environment," he said. "He finds peace with a girl, Kim, who is basically a call girl. The content from the original production is very edgy -- the language is strong, the costumes are risque -- so we have cleaned it up a little."

However, Connor said the adaptation doesn't take away all of the original production's punch.

"It still reflects the expression of the creators, but makes it more appropriate for high school," he said. "The audience can come and not feel uncomfortable with the material."

Representatives from MTI visited the school to observe the production's progress and to work with students.

"That they came out here to work with us was very special and a great honor," Connor said. "It shows that the Las Vegas Academy has a reputation of doing great shows."

Connor said the production will follow the original score, though some lyrics will be slightly reworked. The show runs about two and a half hours.

In professional productions, "Miss Saigon" is generally performed by a cast of about 38 actors, Connor said. For the academy's production, about 63 students will act and an additional 50 to 60 students will participate in the technical backstage aspects of the show.

The production also will include a full pit orchestra.

"This is a totally student-driven show, and as a teacher, I think these performance opportunities are priceless and I want to offer them to as many students as possible," Connor said. "I'm proud that our students really take ownership of the productions and what they're doing."

Connor will rotate students through scenes based on their skill sets and has double and triple cast the musical's seven lead parts. Different students will take turns playing the leads during the performances.

"In scenes with a lot of singing, we'll rotate in our stronger singers and the same for dancing and the other skill sets," he said.

Joey de Benedetto, 17, a senior playing the lead part of Chris, said the number of students involved with the production has been a boon.

"People who have never done musicals before are doing this -- everyone is learning from everyone else and everyone is doing a great job," he said.

The Las Vegas Academy theater program also rented the costumes and props for the show from Fullerton Civic Light Opera.

"We'll have everything, including the helicopter, which will be the authentic size with the propeller and everything," Connor said. The school's $16 million state-of-the-art Lowden Theatre is large enough to accommodate all of the professional stage props.

Connor said professional technicians from shows on the Strip, including Cirque du Soleil, also have volunteered to work with the school's technical students.

"We are a college preparatory program, and one of our goals is to train these young people to go on to theater programs across the country," he said. "Some of that preparation starts on the stage."

John Morris, the academy's technical director and lighting designer for "Miss Saigon," said renting all of the props from a professional company has made setting the stage easier, though the musical was "gonna take a lot of rehearsal to work through a lot of logistical stuff."

"We're lucky though because we have kids who want to be here," he said. "We all work together as teachers and colleagues."

Connor believes working on such an advanced production will have a big impact on his students.

"These things can be life changing," he said. "I have other students who have gone on to careers in TV and film and stage, who've said experiences they had in high school inspired them to go on."

And while cast members admitted that preparing for the musical has been really hard at times, they seem to agree that the hard work has been worthwhile.

"Not a lot of high schools in the country get the opportunities that the Las Vegas Academy does," de Benedetto said. "We're really blessed."

"Miss Saigon" will run today and Saturday and Feb. 9-10 and 15-17 at 7 p.m. at the Lowden Theatre for the Performing Arts, Ninth Street and Clark Avenue. Admission is $18. For reservations, call (800) 585-3737, or visit www.starticketsplus.com.